Hybrid Powertrain Fault Simulation for Aircraft Training
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Solution Overview
Problem
Training pilots to handle faults in hybrid propulsion systems with multiple heterogeneous powertrains is challenging due to differences in power regimes and dynamics, and existing methods either compromise safety or representativeness, especially when simulating faults in aircraft with redundant powertrains where one powertrain is idled, leading to long reactivation times and degraded safety during actual faults.
Innovation Solution
A method that simulates a fault by reducing the instantaneous power of the primary powertrain to a stable intermediate level and increasing the secondary powertrain's power within limits, ensuring the total power remains below the secondary's maximum, while monitoring for actual faults and rapidly reactivating the simulated faulty powertrain to maintain minimum required power for safe flight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the faulty powertrain is set to idle to simulate fault conditions, then the training represents actual fault conditions, but the reactivation time becomes very long and safety is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by maintaining the faulty powertrain at a non-zero operating point (intermediate power level) rather than idle, fundamentally changing the operational state parameter. This allows the powertrain to remain responsive while simulating fault conditions, resolving the contradiction between representativeness and reactivation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-positioning the faulty powertrain at an intermediate operating point before actual fault occurrence during training. This preliminary state ensures the powertrain is already responsive and can be quickly activated if needed, avoiding long reactivation times while maintaining training realism.
2Reliability
If the secondary powertrain operates at high power to compensate for the faulty primary powertrain, then the total power remains sufficient for safe flight, but the secondary powertrain becomes excessively loaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes to dynamically adjust the operating point of the secondary powertrain based on actual flight conditions and fault simulation requirements. This allows the secondary powertrain to operate at optimal levels that ensure safe flight while avoiding excessive loading, resolving the contradiction between safety and component stress.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the training simulates fault conditions with reduced power, then pilots can train under degraded conditions, but the operational powertrain must maintain responsiveness for actual faults
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by maintaining the faulty powertrain at an intermediate operating point during training, pre-positioning it in a state that preserves responsiveness. This ensures that if an actual fault occurs during training, the powertrain can be quickly activated without compromising either the training realism or the responsiveness requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the powertrain operating point adjustable and responsive rather than fixed. The system can dynamically switch between training mode (simulating fault conditions) and actual operation mode, ensuring the powertrain maintains responsiveness while enabling realistic training scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for training a pilot to cope with a fault affecting one powertrain of a hybrid propulsion system for an aircraft. The aircraft includes, connected in parallel to a transmission unit, n powertrains (where n≥2), including a first and a second powertrain that are heterogeneous in nature. It involves, during a flight of the aircraft, simulating a fault affecting the first powertrain while, at the same time as performing the simulation, checking the status of the n powertrains of the propulsion system. If a fault affecting one of the n powertrains is detected, the simulation is halted and the instantaneous power delivered by at least one of either the first or the second powertrain is increased so that the sum of the instantaneous powers delivered by the n powertrains is ≥ a minimum total instantaneous power required for the aircraft to continue its flight.