Hybrid Electric Powerplant Control for Safe Torque Split Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control systems for hybrid electric powerplants face challenges in safely splitting functionality between different control lanes, leading to complexities in certification and potential safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A control system for hybrid electric powerplants that includes a heat engine controller, electric motor controller, and system protection modules to manage power settings, torque output, and protection commands for heat engines, electric motors, and propellers, with integrated feedback mechanisms for real-time control and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If functionality is split between different control lanes in hybrid electric powerplants, then control flexibility and functionality are improved, but safety risks and certification complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into separate control lanes (heat engine controller, electric motor controller, propeller controller) that operate independently but coordinate through a master controller. This segmentation allows each controller to specialize in specific functions while maintaining overall system flexibility and safety through distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
A master controller acts as an intermediary between the different control lanes, coordinating their operations and ensuring safe interaction. The master controller receives inputs from various controllers, processes them centrally, and distributes appropriate commands, thereby maintaining safety while enabling functional flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate controllers are used for heat engine, electric motor, and propeller, then control functionality is improved, but system complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges control functions by implementing a master controller that coordinates multiple specialized controllers (heat engine controller, electric motor controller, propeller controller). This hierarchical structure combines the benefits of specialized control with centralized coordination, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The master controller serves multiple functions by coordinating different control lanes, managing power distribution, and overseeing system-wide operations. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate dedicated controllers for each function, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Reliability
If comprehensive protection systems are implemented for overspeed, overcurrent, and overtemperature, then safety is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements preliminary protection actions by continuously monitoring parameters (speed, current, temperature) and automatically triggering protection mechanisms before dangerous conditions develop. The master controller and individual controllers are pre-programmed with protection logic that activates automatically when thresholds are approached, ensuring safety without requiring complex real-time decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
Comprehensive feedback mechanisms are implemented where sensors continuously monitor system parameters and feed information back to the controllers. The master controller and individual controllers use this feedback to adjust operations and trigger protection systems when necessary, creating a self-regulating safety network that maintains safety while managing complexity through automated feedback loops.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for a hybrid electric powerplant of an aircraft can include a heat engine controller configured to receive one or more power settings and to determine a heat engine setting and an electric motor setting. The heat engine controller can be configured to use the heat engine setting to control a heat engine system as a function of the heat engine setting to control torque output by a heat engine. The heat engine controller can be configured to output the electric motor setting. The system can include an electric motor controller can be operatively connected to the heat engine controller. The electric motor controller configured to receive the electric motor engine setting from the heat engine controller and to control an electric motor system as a function of the electric motor setting to control torque output by an electric motor. The system can include a system protection module that can be part of or connected to the heat engine controller and can be configured to provide one or more protection commands to directly control one or more heat engine protection systems and one or more electric motor protection systems.