Fuel Cell Ground Power Unit with Battery Inverter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ground power units for aircraft rely on engine-driven generators, which produce air pollution and noise, and fuel cell power plants cannot directly deliver AC power suitable for aircraft, requiring additional conversion and management to recharge battery packs effectively.
Innovation Solution
A ground power unit incorporating a rechargeable battery pack, an inverter to convert DC power to AC, a fuel cell power plant connected via a converter to recharge the battery pack, and a controller to manage charging conditions and power delivery, allowing on-demand remote power supply to aircraft with reduced pollution and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an engine-driven generator is used to supply power to aircraft, then reliable AC power at 400 Hz can be delivered, but air pollution and noise are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the power supply function into two independent parts: a fuel cell power plant for generating electrical energy and a rechargeable battery pack for storing and delivering power. This segmentation allows the fuel cell to operate independently without direct connection to the aircraft, eliminating noise and pollution at the aircraft location while maintaining reliable power supply through the battery interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The rechargeable battery pack serves as an intermediary between the fuel cell power plant and the aircraft electrical system. The battery receives electrical energy from the fuel cell and delivers it to the aircraft, decoupling the polluting power generation process from the power delivery point and enabling clean on-demand power supply.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a fuel cell power plant is used to provide power, then reduced pollution and noise are achieved, but the system cannot directly deliver AC power suitable for aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The rechargeable battery pack acts as an intermediary that accepts DC power from the fuel cell and can deliver AC power to the aircraft through its integrated inverter system. This intermediary component bridges the incompatibility between fuel cell DC output and aircraft AC requirements without modifying the fuel cell itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the direct mechanical coupling of engine-driven generators with an electrical energy storage and conversion system. The battery pack with its inverter substitutes the direct AC generation mechanism, enabling fuel cell DC power to be converted into aircraft-compatible AC power through electrical conversion rather than mechanical direct connection.
3Device complexity
If a converter is added to recharge the battery pack from the fuel cell, then the system complexity increases, but effective power management and charging control are enabled
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the battery pack's charging conditions and automatically adjusts the converter's operation accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to optimize charging parameters in real-time, manage power flow between fuel cell and battery, and ensure safe and efficient energy transfer without manual intervention.
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 solution provides efficient, on-demand AC power to aircraft with reduced environmental impact by using a fuel cell power plant to recharge a battery pack, which can supply power to aircraft without engine operation, ensuring reliable and uninterrupted power with minimal startup time and reduced noise and pollution.
Implementation Method 1
a fuel cell power plant which is connected to the rechargeable battery pack via a converter, which converter is arranged to convert the current and/or voltage from the fuel cells
Implementation Method 2
an inverter comprising an input which is connected to the rechargeable battery pack, and an output for connecting the ground power unit to the external load, wherein the inverter is arranged to convert DC electrical power from the rechargeable battery pack into an AC power output
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a ground power unit for supplying electrical power to an external load, such as an aircraft, the ground power unit comprises: a rechargeable battery pack, an inverter comprising an input which is connected to the rechargeable battery pack, and an output for connecting the ground power unit to the external load, wherein the inverter is arranged to convert DC electrical power from the rechargeable battery pack into an AC power output, a fuel cell power plant which is connected to the rechargeable battery pack via a converter, which converter is arranged to convert the current and/or voltage from the fuel cells to a level which allows to charge the rechargeable battery pack, and a controller which arranged for controlling the converter based on the power level of the rechargeable battery pack or on the amount of electrical power demanded by said load.