TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is generally directed to power systems. More specifically, this disclosure is directed to a mobile hybrid electric power system.

BACKGROUND

Existing portable power generator sets (“gensets”), such as for radar and launcher applications, typically require the ability to connect in parallel to a utility grid, with the ability to switch the load's power source between the genset and grid. However, a utility grid typically operates at a different frequency and different voltage level than is required by the load. As a result, large and heavy power transformers are often used to achieve grid matching. For these applications, the size and weight of the required transformers are prohibitive to mobility. In addition, energy storage is required to maintain power to the loads during the genset to grid, or grid to genset switch transition periods, which may be minutes in duration.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to a mobile hybrid electric power system.

In a first embodiment, a system includes a prime mover configured to rotate a shaft. The system also includes a wound rotor induction generator (WRIG). The WRIG includes a rotor coupled to the shaft of the prime mover and configured to rotate when the shaft rotates, where the rotor includes a polyphase rotor winding. The WRIG also includes a polyphase stator winding electrically connected to a utility source and a load. When the stator winding receives first power from the utility source, the WRIG is configured to transform at least one of a voltage and a frequency of the first power before outputting at least a portion of the first power to the load. When the stator winding does not receive the first power from the utility source, the WRIG is configured to generate second power due to kinetic energy of the rotor, and output at least a portion of the second power to the load. The system also includes an energy storage bank, which receives and stores a second portion of the first or second powers, for use to power the load during transitions between the first and second power sources

In a second embodiment, a system includes a prime mover configured to rotate a shaft. The system also includes a WRIG. The WRIG includes a rotor coupled to the shaft of the prime mover and configured to rotate when the shaft rotates, where the rotor includes a polyphase rotor winding. The WRIG also includes a first polyphase stator winding electrically connected to a utility source and a load. The WRIG further includes a second stator winding electrically connected to an energy storage bank. When the first stator winding receives first power from the utility source, the WRIG is configured to transform at least one of a voltage and a frequency of the first power before outputting at least a portion of the first power to the load. When the first stator winding does not receive an adequate amount of the first power from the utility source, the WRIG is configured to generate second power due to kinetic energy of the rotor and output at least a portion of the second power to the load. This second power may be combined with a contribution of power from the utility source if the two sources are of the same frequency.

In a third embodiment, a device includes a rotor configured to be coupled to a shaft of a prime mover and rotated when the shaft rotates, where the rotor includes a polyphase rotor winding. The device also includes at least one stator winding configured to be electrically connected to a utility source and a load. When the at least one stator winding receives first power from the utility source, the device is configured to transform at least one of a voltage and a frequency of the first power before outputting at least a portion of the first power to the load. When the at least one stator winding does not receive the first power from the utility source, which may be deficient in voltage magnitude, deficient in power rating, or have a loss of one of more phases in a polyphase system, the device is configured to generate second power due to kinetic energy of the rotor and output at least a portion of the second power to the load.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

