Aircraft Ground Power Transformer With Swappable Energy Stores
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ground power supply systems for aircraft emit pollutants and are costly, with battery-based systems requiring frequent replacement and hydrogen fuel cell systems facing hydrogen storage challenges, leading to inefficiencies and high resource demands.
Innovation Solution
A system with a mobile transformer unit and separate energy stores on independent vehicle chassis, allowing for alternating connection to a voltage transformer, enabling efficient energy distribution and reducing the need for multiple units by allowing simultaneous recharging of energy stores.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If mobile units with combustion engines and generators are used for ground power supply, then power supply capability is ensured, but emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the power supply function into two independent mobile units: a transformer unit with voltage transformer and a storage unit with energy store. This segmentation allows the storage unit to be exchanged quickly (like fuel tanks) while the transformer unit remains stationary, eliminating combustion engine emissions while maintaining reliable power supply capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the energy storage function from the voltage transformation function, placing them in separate mobile units. The energy store is taken out as a replaceable component (similar to a fuel tank), allowing rapid exchange without waiting for recharging, thus eliminating emissions from combustion engines while ensuring continuous power supply.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If mobile units with batteries and voltage converters are used for ground power supply, then emissions are reduced, but the number of units required increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the system into a stationary transformer unit and a replaceable storage unit, the invention eliminates the need for multiple complete mobile units. The storage unit can be quickly exchanged at the transformer unit, reducing the total number of units required compared to systems where entire mobile units with integrated batteries must be replaced or recharged.
3Reliability
If entire mobile units with batteries are exchanged for recharging, then continuous power supply is maintained, but time is lost during recharging
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the transformer unit from the storage unit, allowing the storage unit to be quickly exchanged while the transformer unit remains in place. This is analogous to exchanging a fuel tank rather than the entire vehicle, dramatically reducing the time needed to restore power supply capability compared to recharging entire mobile units with integrated batteries.
4Device complexity
If voltage conversion and energy storage are combined in one mobile unit, then system complexity is reduced, but mobility and flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the system into a transformer unit and a storage unit that can be independently positioned and connected. This segmentation increases flexibility and adaptability, allowing the storage unit to be moved to different locations and connected to different transformer units as needed, while maintaining relatively simple system structure through standardized interfaces.
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 achieves low-emission, cost-effective power supply by minimizing unnecessary movement of voltage converters and energy stores, optimizing resource use, and ensuring continuous power delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage transformer mounted on the first vehicle chassis. The voltage transformer has an input and an output
Data Source
AI summary
A system for ground power supply of aircraft includes at least one mobile transformer unit having a first vehicle chassis and a voltage transformer mounted on the first vehicle chassis; at least two energy stores which can be alternately connected to an input of the voltage transformer in order to supply the voltage transformer with electric energy; and a supply cable for ground power supply of one of the aircraft. The supply cable is configured to be connected to an output of the voltage transformer. Each of the at least two energy stores is part of one of at least two mobile storage units each including a second vehicle chassis. The first vehicle chassis of the transformer unit and each of the second vehicle chassis of the at least two mobile storage units are moveable on the ground independently on each other.