METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A method (100) for controlling an electrical distribution system (1), comprising a data concentrator (2) connected to a plurality of sensors (6), each sensor (6) being associated with a protection and communication device (4) connected between the sensor (6) and the concentrator (2), the concentrator (2) and each protection and communication device (4) each comprising electronic circuitry for implementing the management method (100).The control method (100) comprises at least the following steps: - configuring (101) a data list and a transmission frequency for each protection and communication device (4) according to the sensor (6) and an associated electrical load; - acquiring (102) a signal from a sensor (6) and transmitting it to the corresponding protection and communication device (4); - transmitting (103) a predefined data or calculation corresponding to the acquired signal, the transmission being carried out by the corresponding protection and communication device (4) to the concentrator (2) and the transmission being carried out at the configured transmission frequency. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 4.

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of electrical distribution system control, and more particularly to the field of electrical distribution system control for aircraft. STATE OF PRIOR ART

[0002] Aircraft include electrical distribution systems in a known manner.

[0003] In a conventional manner, electrical distribution networks include a large number of sensors that can transmit signals to a data concentrator.

[0004] Currently, very little real-time data is acquired on the status of the electrical distribution system. In fact, only limited information concerning self-diagnostics (called Built-in Tests) or consumption calculations is transmitted for feedback purposes, fault diagnosis assistance, or maintenance. The low level of information transmitted to the concentrator is due to bandwidth limitations in the electrical distribution network and the low processing power of the sensors. Indeed, if all the sensors send data simultaneously, the electrical distribution system's communication network does not have sufficient bandwidth and becomes saturated. Furthermore, the amount of data transmitted would be too large for a standard aircraft computer, causing it to become overloaded.Indeed, in a typical scenario, an aircraft's electrical distribution network comprises at least two hundred electrical load sensors. If each sensor transmits current and voltage measurements at a standard frequency of 10 kHz and a data rate of 64 Mb / s, then the quantity and flow of data far exceed what a standard electrical distribution network can handle. Furthermore, the computing power required to extract all the necessary information (impedance, power factor, and potentially many other parameters) from the raw data collected would be excessive and would exceed what is typically possible with an aircraft's onboard sensor computer.

[0005] Thus, in this context, it is necessary to provide a method for controlling an electrical distribution system that allows for the retrieval, as regularly as possible, of a large amount of data, relevant according to the loads associated electrical signals from the electrical distribution network sensors, without saturating the communication network bandwidth of the electrical distribution system and without saturating the on-board computers. Description of the invention

[0006] To this end, according to a first aspect, a method for controlling an electrical distribution system is proposed, comprising a data concentrator connected to a plurality of sensors, each sensor being associated with a protection and communication device connected between the sensor and the concentrator. The concentrator and each protection and communication device each include electronic circuitry to implement the control method. The control method comprises at least the following steps:

[0007] - configure a data list and a transmission frequency for each protection and communication device depending on the sensor and the load associated with it;

[0008] - acquire a signal from a sensor and transmit it to the protection device and corresponding communication;

[0009] - transmitting data or a predefined calculation corresponding to the acquired signal, the transmission being carried out by the corresponding protection and communication device to the concentrator and the transmission being carried out at the configured transmission frequency.

[0010] Thus, the method cleverly proposes configuring each protection and transmission device to transmit only the necessary data at a predetermined frequency. This arrangement saves bandwidth on the electrical distribution system and prevents saturating the data concentrator, while allowing for the most regular transmission of relevant data based on the associated electrical loads corresponding to the signal acquired by the sensor. In other words, the method makes it possible to retrieve, almost in real time, a large amount of data from the sensors of the electrical distribution network, without saturating the bandwidth of the electrical distribution system or the data concentrator.

[0011] According to a particular provision, the step of configuring the data list and the transmission frequency associated with each protection and communication device includes the transmission by the concentrator, to each protection and communication device, of configuration parameters specific to each protection and communication device.

[0012] According to a particular provision, the step of configuring the data list and the transmission frequency associated with each protection and communication device communication, includes the recording of configuration parameters on a non-volatile memory medium of each protection and communication device.

[0013] According to a particular provision, the step of configuring the data list and the transmission frequency associated with each protection and communication device includes a prior step of deleting previously recorded configuration parameters.

[0014] According to a particular provision, the data transmission step includes a calculation of the data based on the acquired signal and a specific calculation instruction for each protection and communication device.

[0015] According to a particular provision, the calculation instruction is a configuration parameter.

[0016] According to a particular arrangement, the acquired signal corresponds to a measurement of a quantity chosen from voltage, current or temperature.

[0017] According to another aspect, an electrical distribution system is proposed which includes a data concentrator connected to a plurality of sensors, each sensor being associated with a protection and communication device connected between the sensor and the concentrator, the concentrator and each protection and communication device each comprising electronic circuitry to implement the control process comprising at least the following steps: - configure a list of data and a transmission frequency associated with each protection and communication device based on the sensor and an electrical load associated with it; - acquire a signal from a sensor and transmit it to the corresponding protection and communication device; - transmit a predefined data or calculation corresponding to the acquired signal, the transmission being carried out by the corresponding protection and communication device to the concentrator and the transmission being carried out at the configured transmission frequency.

[0018] According to a particular provision, each protection and communication device includes a non-volatile memory medium.

[0019] According to another aspect, an aircraft is proposed comprising an electrical distribution system according to the invention.

[0020] According to another aspect, a computer program product is proposed comprising program code instructions for executing the process according to the invention, when said instructions are executed by at least one processor.

[0021] According to another aspect, a non-transient storage medium is proposed on which is stored a computer program comprising program code instructions to execute the process according to the invention, when said instructions are read from said non-transient storage medium and executed by a processor. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of at least one exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0023] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates an architecture of a distribution system electric according to the invention;

[0024] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates the architecture of a data concentrator;

[0025] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the architecture of a protection and communication ;

[0026] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a method for controlling a distribution system electric.

[0027] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF IMPROVEMENTS

[0028] Electrical distribution system

[0029] With reference to [Fig.1], according to a first aspect, an electrical distribution system 1 is proposed.

[0030] The system 1 includes a data concentrator 2 (i.e., an on-board computer). According to a particularly advantageous arrangement, the concentrator 2 is a standard computer of an aircraft electrical distribution system 1.

[0031] Typically, the concentrator 2 is a computer system comprising electronic circuitry configured to implement a method 100 for controlling the electrical distribution system 1 of an aircraft.

[0032] As schematically shown in [Fig.2], the computer system forming the hub 2 may include, connected by a communication bus 210: a processor 201; a random access memory 202; a read-only memory 203, for example of type ROM (“Read Only Memory”) or EEPROM (“Electrically-Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory”); a storage unit 204, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a storage media reader, such as an SD card reader (“Secure Digital”); and an input / output interface manager 205.

[0033] The processor 201 is capable of executing instructions loaded into RAM 202 from ROM 203, external memory, a storage medium (such as an SD card), or a communication network. When the hub 2 is powered on, the processor 201 is capable of reading instructions from RAM 202 and executing them. These instructions form a computer program enabling the implementation, by processor 201, of process 100 and the steps described here.

[0034] All or part of the process 100 and the steps described below can thus be implemented in software form by executing a set of instructions by a programmable machine, for example a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a microcontroller, or implemented in hardware form by a dedicated machine or component, for example a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit). Generally, the concentrator 2 includes electronic circuitry adapted and configured to implement, in software and / or hardware form, the processes and steps described below in relation to the concentrator 2 in question.

[0035] Furthermore, the electrical distribution system 1 comprises a plurality of sensors 6. The sensors 6 are known sensors and will not be described in further detail in this document. According to a particular arrangement, the sensors 6 are adapted to acquire signals corresponding to current, intensity, and / or temperature values. It is specified that, according to other embodiments, the sensors 6 can be adapted to acquire other physical quantities.

[0036] Each sensor 6 is associated with a protection and communication device 4 connected between the sensor 6 and concentrator 2. Each protection and communication device 4 allows the protection of electrical lines of the electrical distribution system 1.

[0037] According to the embodiment shown schematically in [Fig.3], each protection and communication device 4 comprises electronic circuitry configured to implement a method 100 for controlling the electrical distribution system 1 of an aircraft.

[0038] As schematically shown in [Fig.4], each protection and communication device 4 may include, connected by a communication bus 410: a processor 401; a random access memory 402; a read-only memory 403, for example of type ROM (“Read Only Memory”) or EEPROM (“Electrically-Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory”); a storage unit 404, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a storage media reader, such as an SD (“Secure Digital”) card reader; and an input / output interface manager 405.

[0039] The processor 401 is capable of executing instructions loaded into RAM 402 from ROM 403 (non-volatile memory), external memory, a storage medium (such as an SD card), or a communication network. When each protection and communication device 4 is switched on Under voltage, the processor 401 is capable of reading instructions from RAM 402 and executing them. These instructions form a computer program enabling the implementation, by the processor 401, of process 100 and the steps described here.

[0040] All or part of the method 100 and the steps described below can thus be implemented in software form by executing a set of instructions by a programmable machine, for example a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a microcontroller, or be implemented in hardware form by a dedicated machine or component, for example a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit). Generally, each protection and communication device 4 includes electronic circuitry adapted and configured to implement, in software and / or hardware form, the methods and steps described below in relation to each protection and communication device 4 in question.

[0041] Furthermore, the electrical distribution system 1 comprises a plurality of electrical lines of known structures which will not be detailed in this document.

[0042] Aircraft

[0043] According to another aspect, an aircraft is proposed comprising the electrical distribution system 1.

[0044] Management method

[0045] According to another aspect, a method 100 for controlling the electrical distribution system 1 is proposed which includes at least the following steps:

[0046] - configure (step 101) a data list and a transmission frequency associated with each protection and communication device 4 depending on the sensor 6 and an electrical load associated with it;

[0047] - acquire (step 102) a signal from a sensor 6 and transmit it to the device protection and communication 4 corresponding;

[0048] - transmit (step 103) a predefined data or calculation corresponding to the signal acquired, the transmission being carried out by the corresponding protection and communication device 4 to the concentrator 2 and the transmission being carried out at the configured transmission frequency.

[0049] Thus, method 100 cleverly proposes configuring each protection and transmission device 6 to transmit data at a predetermined frequency. This arrangement saves bandwidth in the electrical distribution system 1 and prevents saturating the data concentrator 2 or the protection devices 4, while also allowing for the most regular transmission possible of data corresponding to the signal acquired by the sensor 6, and adapted to the computing power of the protection and communication device 4 and the electrical load. associated. Thus, in other words, process 100 makes it possible to recover, almost in real time, a large amount of data adapted to the electrical loads supplied from the sensors of the electrical distribution network, without saturating the bandwidth of the electrical distribution system and without saturating the data concentrator 2 or the protection and communication devices 4.

[0050] Typically, the acquired signal corresponds to a measurement of a quantity chosen from voltage, current, or temperature. It should be noted that, according to other embodiments, the acquired signal may correspond to other physical quantities.

[0051] It is specified that according to a particularly advantageous provision, step 101 of configuring a list of data and a transmission frequency associated with each protection and communication device 4 is carried out according to the sensor 6 and an electrical load which are associated with the protection and communication device 4.

[0052] In a particularly advantageous way, step 101 of setting up a data list and a transmission frequency for each protection and communication device 4, includes the transmission 1011 by the concentrator, to each protection and communication device, of configuration parameters specific to each protection and communication device.

[0053] Even more advantageously, the configuration step 101 of a transmission frequency of each protection and communication device includes the recording 1012 of the configuration parameters on a non-volatile memory medium 404 of each protection and communication device 4.

[0054] In addition, according to a particular provision, step 101 of configuring a transmission frequency of each protection and communication device 4 includes a prior step of deleting previously recorded configuration parameters 1010.

[0055] Thus, in other words, step 101 of configuring the transmission frequency includes a pre-configuration of each protection and communication device 1. This pre-configuration includes a reset (erasure and then save) of the parameters, which ensures that process 100 is executed with the correct parameters. Typically, configuration step 101 can be performed each time the aircraft in which the electrical distribution system 1 is installed is started.

[0056] According to a particular arrangement, the data transmission step 103 includes a calculation 1031 of the data based on the acquired signal and a specific calculation instruction for each protection and communication device. In other words, according to this arrangement, each transmitted data item is calculated by the protection and communication device 4 that transmits it, which makes it possible to reduce the calculation load of the concentrator 2. In other words, unlike known processes which have all the calculations performed by the concentrator, this arrangement allows part of the calculations to be offloaded to the protection and communication devices 4.

[0057] According to a further specific provision, the calculation setpoint is a configuration parameter. Thus, according to this provision, the calculation setpoint is configured for each protection and communication device during step 101.

[0058] Program product

[0059] According to another aspect, a computer program product is proposed comprising program code instructions for executing process 100 when said instructions are executed by at least one processor 201 and / or 401.

[0060] Storage medium

[0061] According to another aspect, a non-transient storage medium is proposed on which is stored a computer program comprising program code instructions to execute process 100.

Claims

Claims

1. Method (100) for controlling an electrical distribution system (1), comprising a data concentrator (2) connected to a plurality of sensors (6), each sensor (6) being associated with a protection and communication device (4) connected between the sensor (6) and the concentrator (2), the concentrator (2) and each protection and communication device (4) each comprising electronic circuitry for implementing the management method (100), the control method (100) being characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps: - configuring (101) a data list and a transmission frequency for each protection and communication device (4) as a function of the sensor (6) and an electrical load associated therewith; - acquiring (102) a signal from a sensor (6) and transmitting it to the corresponding protection and communication device (4);- transmitting (103) a predefined data or calculation corresponding to the acquired signal, the transmission being carried out by the corresponding protection and communication device (4) to the concentrator (2) and the transmission being carried out at the configured transmission frequency.;

2. Method (100) according to claim 1, wherein the step (101) of configuring the data list and the transmission frequency associated with each protection and communication device (4), comprises the transmission (1011) by the concentrator, to each protection and communication device (4), of configuration parameters specific for each protection and communication device (4).

3. Method (100) according to claim 2, wherein the step (101) of configuring the data list and the transmission frequency associated with each protection and communication device (4), comprises recording (1012) the configuration parameters on a non-volatile memory medium (403) of each protection and communication device (4).

4. Method (100) according to claim 3, in which the step (101) of configuring the data list and the transmission frequency associated with each protection and communication device (4) comprises a prior step (1010) of deleting parameters of previously saved configuration.

5. Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the step of transmitting (103) data comprises a calculation (1031) of the data as a function of the acquired signal and a specific calculation instruction for each protection and communication device (4).

6. Method (100) according to claims 2 and 5 in combination, wherein the calculation instruction is a configuration parameter.

7. Method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the acquired signal corresponds to a measurement of a quantity chosen from voltage, current or temperature.

8. Electrical distribution system (1) characterized in that it comprises a data concentrator (2) connected to a plurality of sensors (6), each sensor (6) being associated with a protection and communication device (4) connected between the sensor (6) and the concentrator (2), the concentrator (2) and each protection and communication device (4) each comprising electronic circuitry for implementing the control method (100) comprising at least the following steps: - configuring (101) a data list and a transmission frequency associated with each protection and communication device (4) as a function of the sensor (6) and an electrical load associated therewith; - acquiring (102) a signal from a sensor (6) and transmitting it to the corresponding protection and communication device (4);- transmitting (103) a predefined data or calculation corresponding to the acquired signal, the transmission being carried out by the corresponding protection and communication device (4) to the concentrator (2) and the transmission being carried out at the configured transmission frequency.;

9. System (1) according to claim 8, wherein each protection and communication device (4) comprises a non-volatile memory medium (403).

10. Aircraft comprising an electrical distribution system (1) according to any one of claims 8 or 9.

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