Electric Aircraft Charging Connector Short Circuit Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle charging systems for aircraft lack effective monitoring for short circuits, which can cause damage or fires, posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a resistance sensor connected to DC and AC pins and a ground pin to measure resistance and a controller to compare the measured resistance to a threshold, disengaging the charging circuit if a short circuit is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing charging systems are used without monitoring, then the charging process is simple and fast, but short circuits can occur causing damage or fires
Solution Approach 1:
The resistance sensor performs preliminary detection of resistance values between charging pins and ground pin before charging begins. The controller compares these pre-measured resistance values against threshold values to detect potential short circuit conditions in advance, preventing harmful effects before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
A resistance sensor is introduced as an intermediary component between the charging pins and the controller. This sensor acts as a mediator that continuously monitors resistance values and transmits this information to the controller, enabling indirect detection of short circuit conditions without directly interfering with the charging process.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If resistance monitoring is added to detect short circuits, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring function is localized to specific critical points in the charging system - specifically measuring resistance between individual charging pins (AC pin, DC pin) and the ground pin. This targeted local monitoring approach detects short circuit conditions at their source without requiring system-wide complex monitoring infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors changes in resistance values as a key parameter to detect short circuit conditions. By continuously measuring and comparing resistance values against threshold values, the system can identify when resistance drops indicate a short circuit, enabling detection through parameter change rather than direct fault detection.
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 enables safer charging by detecting short circuits and preventing damage or fires, ensuring the safety of the aircraft and surrounding areas.
Implementation Method 1
a resistance sensor configured to measure a resistance datum, the resistance datum including a first resistance, the first resistance including a measurement of resistance between the direct current pin and the ground pin
Data Source
AI summary
An electric aircraft charging connector, including a direct current pin and/or an alternating current pin. The connector including a ground pin, the ground pin providing a grounded connection. The connector also including a resistance sensor, the resistance sensor electrically connected to the direct current pin and/or the alternating current pin, and the ground pin, the resistance sensor configured to measure a resistance datum, the resistance datum including: a first resistance, the first resistance comprising a measurement of resistance between the direct current pin and the ground pin; and a second resistance, the second resistance comprising a measurement of resistance between the alternating current pin and the ground pin. The connector also including a controller, the controller configured to: receive the resistance datum from the resistance sensor; and compare the resistance datum to a threshold resistance datum.