Actuator Inertia Device for Peak Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Propulsion motors with orientable rotors face challenges in efficiently managing high peak power requirements for steerable blades, leading to design constraints and excessive energy dissipation during brake operations, while existing solutions require redundant and bulky components to meet certification standards.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an inertia device within the rotor's power supply circuit that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy for storage and back into electrical energy, allowing the electrical source to supply only average power and eliminating the need for dissipation resistors, with redundant power supply circuits sharing a common inertia device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the electrical source is sized to supply peak power for high amplitude motor movement, then the actuator can perform high power operations, but the source size and power transmission requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The inertia device stores mechanical energy in advance during periods when the actuator does not require peak power. This preliminary energy storage allows the system to deliver high peak power when needed without requiring the electrical source to be continuously sized for maximum power output, thus reducing the ongoing power transmission requirements from stator to rotor.
2Power
If the electrical source supplies power continuously at peak capacity, then the actuator can respond to high power demands, but most of the power must be dissipated in the dissipation resistor during brake operation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of dissipating the energy generated during brake operation as waste heat in a resistor, the system recovers this energy by channeling it to the inertia device where it is converted to mechanical energy and stored. This energy recovery process significantly reduces the amount of power that would otherwise be lost, improving overall system efficiency.
3Reliability
If redundant electrical systems are provided to meet certification rules, then the propulsion engine meets safety requirements, but the number of dissipation resistors and heat sinks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inertia device serves multiple functions within the redundant power supply system. It can store energy for high power motor operations, absorb energy during brake operations, and support either power supply circuit when redundancy is required. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dissipation resistors and heat sinks for each redundant circuit, significantly reducing the volume of heat dissipation components while maintaining the required reliability and redundancy.
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 reduces the peak power requirements for the electrical source, minimizes energy dissipation during brake operations, and provides redundancy in the power supply system, resulting in a more compact and efficient actuation device for steerable blades.
Implementation Method 1
an inertia device carried by the rotor and connected to said power supply circuit, said inertia device being able to convert electrical energy coming from said power supply circuit into mechanical energy, to store said energy mechanism, and converting said mechanical energy into electrical energy intended for said supply circuit
Implementation Method 2
the inertia device comprises a rotary member... capable of storing kinetic energy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to an actuation device (1) of an adjustable member supported by a rotor of a propulsion engine, said actuation device including: at least one electrical source (2, 2'); an electric actuator (3) for adjusting said adjustable member; and a power supply circuit (4, 4') connecting said electrical source (2, 2') to said actuator (3). Said actuation device is characterized in that it also includes an inertia device (5) connected to said power supply circuit (4, 4'), said inertia device (5) being capable of: converting electrical power from said power supply circuit (4, 4') into mechanical power; storing said mechanical power; and converting said mechanical power into electrical power going to said power supply circuit (4, 4').