Aircraft Power Supply Voltage Sharing for Hybrid Source Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for hybridizing electrical sources in aircraft, such as emergency wind turbines and fuel cells, face inefficiencies and complexity in optimizing power usage, often leading to oversized and underutilized equipment due to reliance on frequency sharing models and complex control algorithms.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that optimize electrical consumption in real-time by coordinating main and auxiliary sources based on the voltage of the electrical network, eliminating the need for current measurements and communication between sources, and using pre-configured static voltage characteristics to adjust power supply, thereby simplifying implementation and avoiding complex control algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If frequency sharing model is used to hybridize electrical sources, then power distribution can be managed, but device complexity and control algorithm complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex frequency measurement and communication requirements from the power management system. Instead of measuring frequency and communicating between sources, the invention uses only voltage measurements at each source, eliminating the need for complex control algorithms while maintaining power distribution capability
Solution Approach 2:
Each electrical source autonomously determines its own power contribution based on local voltage measurements and pre-configured static characteristics. The sources self-regulate without requiring communication or coordination with other sources, simplifying the overall system control architecture
2Productivity
If current measurements and communication between sources are implemented, then power optimization can be achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the requirements for current measurements and inter-source communication from the system. Power optimization is achieved through voltage measurements only, which are already available at each source without additional sensors or communication infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical network voltage acts as an intermediary that carries information about the overall system state. By measuring voltage instead of current, the system indirectly obtains power distribution information without requiring direct measurement or communication between sources
3Reliability
If emergency wind turbine is oversized to meet peak demand, then power reliability is improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power sharing between the emergency wind turbine and auxiliary electrical source based on real-time voltage conditions. The auxiliary source activates when voltage drops indicate high demand, allowing the wind turbine to be sized for average rather than peak demand, reducing weight while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary electrical source provides partial power support during peak demand periods rather than requiring the wind turbine to handle all peak loads alone. This allows the wind turbine to be downsized while the auxiliary source supplements power when needed
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A method for supplying electrical power to an electrical load (2) in an aircraft, said method comprising: - supplying of electrical power to the electrical load (2) by a main electrical power generating source (1); - measuring an instantaneous parameter characterising the main source (1); - determining a usage level of the main source (1) on the basis of the measured instantaneous parameter; - adjusting the voltage of the main source (1) as a function of the usage level; - measuring a voltage output from the main source (1); - comparing the voltage or the usage level with a predetermined threshold value; and - supplying of electrical power to the electrical load (2) by an auxiliary source (3) for storing electrical power when the measured voltage is less than the predetermined threshold value, so as to supply additional electrical power to the electrical load (2).