Aerial Electric Propulsion Backup Battery for Emergency Power Reserve
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric propulsion systems for aerial vehicles face challenges in accurately estimating the available electrical energy in power batteries, leading to the need for significant energy margins and increased aircraft mass due to uncertainty in battery charge levels, especially during emergencies.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a backup battery that is not used in normal power mode, allowing it to maintain maximum charge and accurately power the motors during emergencies, reducing the energy margin required and minimizing aircraft mass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a significant electrical energy margin is maintained to ensure sufficient power for emergency landing, then safety is improved, but aircraft mass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power battery system is segmented into multiple individual power batteries, each capable of independently powering all electric motors. This segmentation allows the aircraft to maintain safety by having redundant power sources without requiring a large aggregate energy margin, as only one battery needs to be fully charged for emergency operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring the charge level of each power battery and proactively managing power distribution before an emergency occurs. The control system ensures that at least one battery maintains sufficient charge for emergency landing, reducing the need for excessive energy margins across the entire system.
2Measurement precision
If the charge level of power batteries is monitored to ensure accurate energy estimation, then mission planning accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each power battery is equipped with self-monitoring capabilities that automatically track its own charge level and communicate this information to the control system. This self-service approach provides accurate energy estimation without requiring complex external monitoring infrastructure, as each battery manages its own state information.
3Reliability
If multiple power batteries are used to power electric motors with reconfiguration mechanisms, then reliability in case of battery failure is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power battery functionality into independent, interchangeable units. Each power battery is designed to be independently replaceable and capable of full system power, simplifying the reconfiguration process compared to traditional systems where batteries work in parallel and must be reconfigured through complex electrical switching networks.
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 solution ensures sufficient electrical energy for emergency maneuvers by accurately determining the backup battery's charge, thereby reducing the energy margin and aircraft mass compared to prior art solutions.
Implementation Method 1
an additional power battery, referred to as a backup battery, adapted to be connected to the electric motors via the electrical distribution network
Implementation Method 2
The electric propulsion system is configured to power the electric motors in at least two different power modes
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to an electrical propulsion system (20) for an aerial vehicle, including a plurality of electric motors (21), a plurality of power batteries (22) for powering said electric motors with electrical power, and an electrical power distribution network connecting said power batteries to the electric motors, said electrical propulsion system (20) further including an emergency battery (25), suitable for being connected to the electric motors by the electrical power distribution network, and said electrical propulsion system is configured to power the electric motors according to at least two different power supply modes: - a normal power supply mode, in which the emergency battery (25) does not power any of the electric motors (21), said electric motors being powered by the power batteries (22), - an emergency power supply mode, in which the emergency battery (25) powers at least one electric motor (21).