Electrical Controller for Engine-Driven Electric Machine Inertia Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) systems designed for specific engines face challenges when controlling electric machines with different moments of inertia, leading to potential instability and the need for costly recertification or addition of heavy flywheels to simulate inertia.
Innovation Solution
An electrical controller adapts to receive rotational speed data from an engine controller, determines torque based on target and actual moments of inertia, and controls the electric machine to maintain operating limits, simulating the inertia of the target mechanical device without recertification or adding weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a FADEC controller is designed and certified for a specific engine model with a target moment of inertia, then the controller ensures stable operation within safety limits for that engine model, but the controller cannot be used with electric machines having different moments of inertia without costly recertification
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adapts its control parameters based on the actual moment of inertia of the connected electric machine. Instead of being fixed for a specific engine model, the controller adjusts its behavior in real-time to match the inertial characteristics of the connected load, enabling universal compatibility while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller modifies its operating parameters (such as fuel injection timing, valve actuation, and ignition timing) based on detected moment of inertia values. This parameter adaptation allows the same controller to safely operate across different engine-machine configurations without recertification.
2Reliability
If heavy flywheels are added to simulate the target moment of inertia, then the engine operation stability is maintained, but the system weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical flywheel inertia simulation with an electronic control system. Instead of adding physical mass to simulate moment of inertia, the controller uses sensor data and algorithms to detect the actual inertia and adjust control parameters accordingly, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than physically altering the system to match target inertia, the controller changes its control parameters based on the actual moment of inertia detection, achieving stable operation without adding physical weight.
3Reliability
If the FADEC controller undergoes extensive testing and certification for various flight envelopes, then the controller achieves high reliability and safety, but the certification process becomes costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed with universal adaptability to work with multiple engine models and electric machine configurations. This universality reduces the need for extensive model-specific certification by demonstrating that the controller maintains safety and reliability across different applications through adaptive parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor system parameters and adjust control actions accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures safe operation across different flight envelopes and configurations, reducing certification requirements by demonstrating inherent safety through adaptive behavior rather than exhaustive pre-certification testing.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure describes a system that includes an engine having a shaft that rotates around an axis of rotation, an engine controller configured to control the engine, an electric machine mechanically coupled to the shaft of the engine, and an electrical controller. The engine controller is configured to control the engine using control techniques configured for a mechanical device having a target moment of inertia around the axis of rotation. The electric machine has an actual moment of inertia around the axis of rotation that is different from the target moment of inertia. To supplement control of the engine due to the difference in moments of inertia, the electrical controller is configured to receive a rotational speed of the shaft, determine a torque for the shaft based on the speed of the shaft, and control the electric machine to apply the torque to the shaft.