Aircraft Electrical Network Reconfiguration via Distributed State Tables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft electrical-energy supply networks are inflexible, complex, and difficult to reconfigure due to centralized monitoring systems, requiring dedicated systems for each aircraft type and version, and are cumbersome to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized monitoring system using a plurality of protection and distribution devices connected by a communication bus, each device determining its location, selecting configuration tables, receiving state tables, applying job-related rules to control contactors, and updating state tables to manage the network flexibly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized monitoring system is used to control the electrical-energy supply network, then the system can monitor and reconfigure the network, but the wiring becomes complex and the system is difficult to maintain and adapt to changes
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized monitoring system is divided into multiple decentralized protection and distribution devices, each capable of autonomous operation. Each device determines its own location in the network, selects appropriate configuration tables, and controls its own contactors independently, eliminating the need for complex centralized wiring while maintaining monitoring capabilities through peer-to-peer communication via state table exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection and distribution devices are designed as universal units that can function in any location within the electrical-energy supply network. Each device contains a complete set of configuration tables and can adapt to different network configurations, allowing the same hardware to serve multiple roles and reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If a centralized monitoring system is used, then the system can manage the electrical-energy supply network, but it is difficult to adapt to modifications and requires dedicated systems for each aircraft type
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static, pre-configured centralized architecture to a dynamic decentralized architecture where each protection and distribution device can independently adapt to network changes. Devices dynamically determine their location, select configuration tables based on current network state, and exchange updated state tables to reflect modifications, enabling the system to adapt to different aircraft types and configurations without requiring dedicated hardwired systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses configurable parameters stored in configuration tables that can be modified to adapt to different aircraft types and network configurations. Each protection and distribution device contains a set of configuration tables with job-related rules that can be selected and applied based on the device's location and network state, allowing flexible adaptation without hardware changes.
3Ease of operation
If configuration tables are fixed in each protection and distribution device, then the device can operate autonomously, but changing the electrical-energy supply network over time becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback through the exchange of state tables between protection and distribution devices. Each device monitors its own operational state and the states of other devices, then uses this feedback information to select appropriate configuration tables and update its job-related rules. This allows devices to maintain autonomous operation while adapting to network changes through continuous information exchange.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for monitoring an electrical-energy supply network of an aircraft, wherein the electrical-energy supply network includes a plurality of protection and distribution devices connected together by at least one communication bus. According to the invention, each protection and distribution device: determines its location in the network, selects a configuration table associated with its location, receives a state table from each other protection and cutoff device, applies at least a part of the state tables to a job-related rule determining whether a contactor of the protection and cutoff device must be open or closed, controls the contactor according to the result of the job-related rule, and transfers an updated state table to each other protection and cutoff device.