Aircraft Power Management via Hybrid Bus Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft power management systems are limited in their ability to rapidly respond to throttle requests, particularly in unmanned drones, where quick changes in propeller speed are necessary, often resulting in reduced operational capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An electric power management system that includes a power plant, battery, and propeller drive units interconnected via a power bus, with a controller that switches between slow and fast throttle modes to rapidly adjust power distribution, allowing the propeller drive units to draw additional power from the battery when the power plant cannot keep up with sudden speed changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the power plant alone supplies power to the propeller drive unit, then the system structure is simple, but the response speed to throttle requests is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power plant and battery into a hybrid power management system where both power sources work together through a common power bus. The controller coordinates power distribution from both sources, enabling rapid response to throttle requests by drawing supplemental power from the battery when needed, while maintaining relatively simple system architecture through shared infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The power bus serves multiple functions by distributing power from both the power plant and battery to various system components including the propeller drive unit, avionics, and auxiliary loads. The controller also performs multiple functions by managing power flow, monitoring system state, and coordinating between different power sources and loads.
2Productivity
If the power plant generates power at a slow rate, then the system is stable, but the propeller drive unit cannot quickly increase speed when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is pre-charged during normal operation when the power plant can supply sufficient power, storing energy in advance for future high-power demands. This preliminary energy storage enables the system to rapidly increase propeller drive unit speed when needed without compromising overall power supply stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that coordinates power flow between the power plant, battery, and propeller drive unit. It monitors system state and dynamically adjusts power distribution, switching between power sources as needed to achieve both rapid speed increase and maintain power supply stability.
3Loss of time
If the battery is used to quickly increase propeller drive unit speed, then the response time is reduced, but the battery depletes faster
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic charging and discharging cycles of the battery. During normal cruise conditions, the battery is charged from the power plant. When rapid throttle response is needed, the battery discharges to supplement power. This periodic action pattern allows the system to achieve fast response when needed while managing overall battery energy consumption.
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 system enhances vehicle performance by enabling rapid response to throttle requests, increasing propeller drive unit speed without being limited by the power plant's current power generation, thereby improving operational capabilities, especially in high-demand situations like takeoffs and landings or in hostile environments.
Implementation Method 1
a battery interconnected with the power bus. The battery may be configured to be charged from power generated by the power plant and that is supplied from the power plant to the battery via the power bus
Data Source
AI summary
An electric power management system of a vehicle may interconnect a power plant, a propeller drive unit, and a battery via a bus. A command limiting controller may direct the operation of the power plant and the propeller drive unit in fast and slow modes of operation, the fast mode of operation operating at a higher bus voltage than at a slow mode of operation. The command limiting controller may generate a bus current to drive the propeller drive unit according to a command limiting, voltage-versus-current curve that adjusts the bus current depending on an amount of voltage on the power bus; where the command limiting curve includes a minimum voltage portion, a maximum voltage portion and a control range therebetween having upper and lower voltage limits and upper and lower current limits for enhanced reliability and stable control of the propeller drive unit.