Aircraft Hybrid Energy Storage for Transient Power Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical energy storage and power distribution systems for aircraft, which rely on a single type of energy source, often lack the required power and energy density to ensure uninterrupted, fail-safe operation of mission-critical electrical energy sinks without significant oversizing, leading to weight increases and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid energy storage system that combines primary energy sources with a secondary energy source and a control unit, allowing for variable output voltage adjustments based on sensor data from the primary energy sources, thereby optimizing power distribution and reducing the need for oversized primary energy sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional single-type energy sources are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but power and energy density are insufficient for mission-critical operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a primary energy source (battery) and a secondary energy source (supercapacitor) into a hybrid energy storage system. The primary energy source provides stable voltage and long-term energy storage, while the secondary energy source handles high-power transient demands. This merging resolves the contradiction by achieving sufficient power and energy density through complementary energy sources while maintaining manageable system complexity through coordinated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic voltage adjustment in the secondary energy source to optimize power distribution. The output voltage of the secondary energy source is dynamically adjusted based on operating conditions to maximize its contribution during high-power transients while minimizing its impact during steady-state operation. This dynamic control enables the hybrid system to adapt to varying power demands, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
2Reliability
If primary energy sources are oversized to compensate for potential power loss, then reliability is improved, but weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges a primary energy source sized for normal operation with a secondary energy source sized for transient high-power demands. This combination eliminates the need to oversize the primary energy source to cover worst-case scenarios, as the secondary energy source absorbs the transient power peaks. The result is a significant weight reduction compared to using a single oversized energy source, while maintaining the required reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If electrically segregated energy sources are used, then overload protection is provided, but power interrupts may occur during failure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a DC/DC converter as an intermediary between the primary and secondary energy sources. This converter actively manages power flow between the two sources and to the load, enabling seamless transitions during failure conditions. The converter acts as a mediator that maintains power continuity by redistributing power from the secondary energy source when the primary energy source fails, while still providing overload protection through controlled power transfer.
4Reliability
If parallel-connected energy sources are used, then power continuity is maintained during failures, but very high overload currents occur until reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through DC/DC converters that continuously monitor system conditions and adjust power flow accordingly. The converters receive feedback on voltage, current, and power levels from both energy sources and the load, enabling real-time optimization of power distribution. This feedback mechanism prevents high overload currents by actively managing the contribution of each energy source based on instantaneous system state, while maintaining power continuity during failures.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present embodiments relate to an electrical system 150, and, more particularly, to an electrical system 150 for an aircraft 100 comprising one or more energy sinks 240 and a hybrid energy storage system 200. The hybrid energy storage system 200 may comprise one or more primary energy sources 210, a secondary energy source 220, and a secondary energy source control unit 230. The one or more primary energy sources 210 may be coupled to and supply power to the one or more energy sinks 440. The secondary energy source 220 may be coupled to the one or more primary energy sources 210 and adapted to supply power at a variable output voltage 324 to the one or more primary energy sources 210a to 210n.