Actuator Control System Regenerative Energy Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles, such as aircraft, excess electrical power generated by actuators due to external mechanical forces or inertia is typically dissipated as heat, which is wasteful and undesirable, as it leads to thermal impacts on the system.
Innovation Solution
An actuator control system monitors the electrical power level on a bus and directs excess energy to an energy storage device when the power level exceeds the anticipated requirement, allowing for later use when needed, thereby preventing wastage and maintaining a consistent bus voltage waveform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If excess electrical power is dissipated through a dedicated resistive load, then the excess power is eliminated from the system, but thermal impacts and energy waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful excess electrical energy that would normally be wasted as heat into a beneficial resource by capturing it through a regenerative brake device. This captured energy is then stored in an energy storage device for later use, transforming what was previously a harmful waste product into a useful energy source that improves overall system efficiency and reduces thermal impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding excess electrical power through resistive loads, the system recovers this energy using a regenerative brake device during deceleration or downhill driving. The recovered energy is then stored in an energy storage device, allowing the system to reuse this energy later rather than losing it permanently, thereby reducing both energy waste and thermal generation.
2Loss of energy
If excess electrical power is captured and stored, then energy efficiency improves, but system complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The regenerative brake device serves multiple functions: it acts as a braking mechanism during deceleration, captures excess electrical energy during the braking process, and converts mechanical energy back to electrical energy for storage. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for braking and energy recovery, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while achieving energy efficiency improvements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the braking function with the energy recovery function into a single integrated regenerative brake system. Instead of having separate braking mechanisms and energy capture systems, the design combines these functions so that the braking process itself generates recoverable energy, reducing the number of independent components needed and simplifying the overall system architecture.
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
This solution prevents the wasteful dissipation of excess electrical energy as heat, allowing for the storage and later use of generated power, improving energy efficiency and reducing wear on system components by maintaining a smooth voltage waveform.
Implementation Method 1
A regenerative brake device captures energy generated by a vehicle's motion
Implementation Method 2
An energy storage device stores the captured energy
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator control system includes a controller and a buck-boost circuit. The controller is configured to direct power from a power source to an actuator. The actuator is coupled to a control device to apply a force related to operation of a vehicle. The buck-boost circuit is configured to direct excess power generated by the actuator to an energy storage device when an actuator power level satisfies an anticipated power level.