Aircraft Power Bus Segmentation for Fault-Isolated Electrical Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft electrical supply networks with a single distribution bus are vulnerable to failures, leading to the unavailability of propulsion electric motors and potential flight safety risks, while segmenting the network with multiple batteries increases mass and cost.
Innovation Solution
An electrical energy supply network with multiple generators connected to two distribution buses, equipped with contactors to connect or disconnect these buses, and energy storage means like batteries with DC/DC converters, allowing for fault isolation and load segregation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If all power sources are connected to a single distribution bus, then the network structure is simple, but the occurrence of a failure leading to the loss of the distribution bus makes the electrical loads unavailable, which is detrimental to flight safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrical supply network into multiple independent distribution buses (at least two), each capable of supplying electrical loads independently. This segmentation allows the network to continue operating with partial capacity even when one bus fails, thereby improving flight safety without requiring a completely complex reconfiguration of the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces contactors that can dynamically change the connectivity state of the distribution buses, switching between connected and disconnected states based on operational conditions or failure detection. This dynamic parameter change allows the system to adapt to failures and maintain reliability while keeping the basic network structure relatively simple.
2Reliability
If the electrical supply network is segmented with multiple distribution buses and each connected to separate batteries, then the loss of a distribution bus is prevented, but the mass and cost increase due to requiring as many batteries as there are distribution buses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the battery resources across multiple distribution buses, allowing a single battery or fewer batteries to serve multiple buses through the contactor system. This combining approach maintains the fault tolerance benefits of segmented buses while reducing the total number of batteries required, thereby decreasing network mass and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The contactor system provides multi-functionality by enabling batteries to be shared across multiple distribution buses and allowing the system to operate in different configurations (connected or disconnected states). This universal approach allows the same battery resource to serve multiple functions and multiple buses, reducing the overall battery count while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical energy supply network of an aircraft equipped with a plurality of electrical loads to be supplied includes at least two generators of a turbogenerator of the aircraft, each suitable for providing an electrical energy source, and at least one stator associated with a rectifier. The stators of the generators are mounted in parallel on at least two distribution buses designed to supply the plurality of electrical loads. The supply network also includes contactors suitable for electrically connecting or disconnecting the distribution buses from each other.