Dual-Channel AC Power Sharing for Fault-Tolerant Aircraft Electrical Buses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional commercial aircraft AC power distribution systems lack robustness and redundancy, particularly in hybrid-electric propulsion systems, where efficient and safe transition of electrical power between electric machines is challenging, especially in cases of generation failures.
Innovation Solution
An AC electrical system with two electric machines coupled to respective spools of a gas turbine engine, featuring power converters and connection links for bidirectional power transfer, enabling smooth power sharing and fault-tolerant operation between the machines and electrical loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional AC power distribution system is used in hybrid-electric propulsion, then the system structure is simple, but the system lacks robustness and redundancy for safe operation
Solution Approach 1:
The power distribution system is divided into two independent electrical channels, each with its own electric machine, AC bus, and power conversion equipment. This segmentation creates redundant pathways for power flow, ensuring that if one channel fails, the other can continue to supply power to electrical loads, thereby improving robustness without requiring a complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates power converters and connection links that enable automatic power transfer between channels before a complete failure occurs. When degradation or failure is detected in one electric machine or channel, the system can proactively redirect power through the healthy channel, cushioning against total power loss and maintaining safe operation.
2Reliability
If electric power is transferred between electric machines in hybrid-electric propulsion, then power sharing and fault tolerance are improved, but the complexity of power conversion and control increases
Solution Approach 1:
Power converters serve as intermediary devices between the two electrical channels, facilitating controlled power transfer. These converters manage the complexity of bidirectional power flow, voltage matching, and synchronization, allowing fault tolerance and power sharing while containing the complexity within standardized power conversion modules rather than requiring complex custom control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The power conversion equipment is designed to perform multiple functions: normal power conversion, fault detection, automatic power transfer, and system protection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby improving fault tolerance without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If bidirectional power transfer is implemented between electrical channels, then continuous operation during failures is ensured, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor the status of both electrical channels, including voltage, current, and equipment health. This feedback enables automatic detection of failures and triggers appropriate power transfer actions, ensuring continuous operation while managing control complexity through closed-loop control rather than complex open-loop sequencing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to automatically detect failures and execute power transfer without requiring complex external control or manual intervention. The control logic is embedded within the power conversion equipment, allowing the system to self-manage the complexity of bidirectional power transfer and maintain continuous operation autonomously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides efficient, safe, and redundant power distribution, minimizing modifications to existing systems, and ensuring continuous operation by allowing power assist and fail-safe transitions between electric machines and loads.
Implementation Method 1
a first electric machine mechanically coupled with a first spool of a gas turbine engine and a second electric machine mechanically coupled with a second spool of the gas turbine engine
Data Source
AI summary
An AC electrical system for a vehicle and methods of operating the same are provided. In one aspect, an AC electrical system includes a first electric machine mechanically coupled with a first spool of a gas turbine engine and a second electric machine mechanically coupled with a second spool of the gas turbine engine. The system also includes a first AC bus and a second AC bus. A first electrical channel electrically couples the first electric machine to the first AC bus and a second electrical channel electrically couples the second electric machine to the second AC bus. The system also includes one or more connection links and one or more power converters for selectively electrically coupling the first and second electrical channels so that electrical power generated by one electric machine can be converted and shared with the other electric machine and electrical loads of the other channel.