Reconfigurable DC Power Channel Switching for Fault-Isolated Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical power systems in aerospace, particularly in more electric and hybrid electric aircraft, face challenges in ensuring fault-tolerant distribution of electrical power. These systems risk creating hazardous fault conditions and system certification issues due to the potential failure of electrical generation and distribution systems, which can affect critical loads like fuel and oil pumps.
Innovation Solution
The proposed electrical power system includes one or more rotary electric machines mechanically coupled to gas turbine engine spools, along with a set of converter circuits for AC-DC conversion. This system outputs multiple DC power channels, which are connected to a group of load channels through a switching arrangement. The system is designed to ensure that each load channel receives power from only one power channel, and in case of a fault, the switching arrangement modifies power sourcing to maintain system stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a non-dedicated electrical power system is used to power both engine accessories and non-engine aircraft electrical systems, then efficiency increases and weight/complexity reduces, but hazardous fault conditions may occur that affect critical loads
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical power distribution system is segmented into multiple independent DC power channels (at least two channels), where each channel can independently supply power to critical and non-critical loads. This segmentation ensures that a fault in one channel does not propagate to other channels, thereby maintaining system reliability while using a non-dedicated power system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
A reconfigurable switching arrangement acts as an intermediary between the DC power channels and the electrical loads. This switching arrangement dynamically connects or disconnects specific loads to specific power channels based on fault conditions, preventing fault propagation and ensuring continuous power supply to critical loads while managing the complexity of the non-dedicated system.
2Use of energy by moving object
If electrical loads are connected to a shared electrical distribution system, then system efficiency improves, but a fault in one load may affect the functionality of other loads especially critical loads
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical distribution system is divided into multiple independent DC power channels, with each channel capable of independently supplying power to various loads. Critical loads can be configured to receive power from multiple channels or be automatically switched to an alternate channel upon detecting a fault in the primary channel, thereby maintaining fault isolation while preserving system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates monitoring and control mechanisms that detect faults in electrical loads or power channels and automatically reconfigure the switching arrangement to isolate the faulted component. This feedback-based fault isolation ensures that efficiency is maintained by keeping healthy loads connected while preventing fault propagation to other loads.
3Reliability
If the switching arrangement dynamically reconfigures power channels to maintain system stability during faults, then fault tolerance improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switching arrangement is designed to be reconfigurable, allowing dynamic connection and disconnection of DC power channels to electrical loads based on operating conditions and fault states. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to faults by redistributing power through alternative paths, improving fault tolerance while managing complexity through controlled reconfiguration rather than static design.
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
The system achieves fault-tolerant electrical power distribution, ensuring that critical loads remain functional even if a fault occurs in the electrical generation or distribution system. This design prevents faults in one electrical load from affecting other loads, thereby maintaining the integrity of the wider electrical distribution system.
Implementation Method 1
a set of converter circuits connected to the one or more rotary electric machines for conversion between alternating current (ac) and direct current (dc)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Electrical power systems for distributing electrical power in arrangements comprising one or more gas turbine engines 101 are described. One such electrical power system comprises: one or more rotary electric machines 111-113, each mechanically coupled to a gas turbine engine spool; a set of converter circuits 203 connected to the one or more rotary electric machines 111-113 for conversion between alternating current (ac) and direct current (dc), wherein the one or more rotary electric machines 111-113 and the set of converter circuits 203 are arranged to output a number R ≥ 2 of dc power channels 206-209, each dc power channel 206-209 having a respective index r = (1, ..., R); and a group of N dc load channels 400-1200 connected to the R dc power channels 206-209 by a switching arrangement 410-1210, wherein each dc load channel 400-1200 has a respective index n = (1, ..., N) and R < N ≤ 2R. The switching arrangement 410-1210 is operable to connect the r-th power channel to the n-th load channel according to the relationship: rn={1,n=1n2andn2+1,1<n<Nandn=0mod2n−12andn+12,1<n<Nandn=1mod2R,n=N.