Hybrid Electric Engine Power Splitting for Fast Aircraft Thrust Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial aircraft using auto-throttle control experience fast low-amplitude transients and slow engine response due to turbomachinery and fuel system dynamics, impacting performance and passenger comfort.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a power splitting algorithm between hybrid electric motors connected to the low and high spools of an aircraft engine, utilizing a neural network to determine optimal power splits between fuel and electrical power, enhancing thrust response and maintaining constant fuel flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If aggressive fuel throttle command is used to maintain constant flight speed and altitude, then the auto-throttle control response is faster, but fast low-amplitude transients occur in the engine which impact performance and disable turbine active clearance control
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the power delivery system into two independent pathways: a conventional fuel throttle pathway for steady-state power control and a hybrid electric motor pathway for transient response. The hybrid electric motor is connected to the engine spool to provide direct mechanical assistance, while the fuel throttle maintains smooth, stable operation. This segmentation allows the aggressive response to be delivered through the electric motor without causing harmful transients in the fuel system.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid electric motor acts as an intermediary between the auto-throttle controller and the engine. Instead of directly commanding aggressive fuel flow changes, the controller commands the hybrid electric motor to provide the necessary torque assistance. This intermediary approach delivers the required thrust response while filtering out the harmful transients that would otherwise occur in the fuel system and turbine clearance control.
2Speed
If conventional fuel system dynamics are used, then the engine structure is simple, but the engine response is slow due to turbomachinery and fuel system dynamics which impacts ride quality and passenger comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges a hybrid electric motor with the existing turbomachinery engine to create a combined power delivery system. The hybrid electric motor is mechanically coupled to the engine spool, combining its fast electrical response characteristics with the engine's existing structure. This merging provides rapid thrust response for improved ride quality while leveraging the established simplicity and reliability of conventional turbomachinery architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system including a engine (114) having a low spool (112) and a high spool (110), a first hybrid electric motor (106) connected to the low spool (112) and a second hybrid electric motor (108) connected to the high spool (110). An auto-throttle (102) controls an amount of power provided to the engine (114) responsive to at least one aircraft parameter. A power splitting algorithm (104) implemented between the auto-throttle (102) and at least one of the first and second hybrid electric motors (106, 108) determines a power split dividing the total engine power into the power produced by burning fuel and electrical power provided to the at least one of the first and second hybrid electric motors (106, 108) responsive to control signals from the auto-throttle (102).