Hydrogen-Electric Engine Power Switching for Backup Source Pre-Charge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional internal combustion aviation engines have numerous moving parts, leading to mechanical and thermal stresses, increased weight and volume, reduced reliability, shorter engine life, higher maintenance costs, and increased risk of accidents, especially in single-engine aircraft.
Innovation Solution
The development of an integrated hydrogen-electric engine system that utilizes a fuel cell stack to convert chemical energy into electrical energy, coupled with a motor assembly and a sophisticated energy source management system, including a controller for predictive fuel cell management and a wireless relay system for real-time and post-flight diagnostics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a traditional internal combustion engine is used, then propulsion function is achieved, but weight and volume increase due to numerous moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical internal combustion engine with an electric motor system driven by a fuel cell. This substitution eliminates numerous moving parts (pistons, valves, crankshafts) with electromagnetic components, significantly reducing mechanical complexity, weight, and volume while improving reliability through fewer failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters from chemical combustion to electrochemical conversion. The fuel cell converts chemical energy directly to electrical energy with high efficiency, eliminating the thermal efficiency limitations of combustion engines and reducing mechanical stress on components.
2Device complexity
If a single engine is used in aircraft, then simplicity is maintained, but safety risk increases due to lack of redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the propulsion system into multiple independent energy sources (fuel cell stack, battery system, capacitor) that can operate independently or in combination. This modular architecture provides redundancy while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized interfaces and control modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements predictive monitoring and pre-charging of backup energy sources before failures occur. The control system continuously monitors system state and automatically switches to backup power sources or pre-charges capacitors in anticipation of potential failures, cushioning against safety risks before they materialize.
3Strength
If traditional engine components are used, then mechanical strength is achieved, but maintenance costs increase due to wear and thermal stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical components subject to wear and thermal stress with electrochemical and electromagnetic components. The fuel cell stack, motor, and power electronics have no moving parts that experience friction or thermal cycling, eliminating the need for routine maintenance and reducing lifecycle costs.
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
This solution provides a lightweight, power-dense, and efficient propulsion system with reduced mechanical stress, improved reliability, lower maintenance costs, and enhanced safety by allowing for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
utilizes a fuel cell stack to convert chemical energy into electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
A multiple energy source management system for an integrated hydrogen-electric engine is disclosed, the system includes a first and a second energy source providing energy to the integrated hydrogen-electric engine. A pre-charge load to provide an energy demand to a selected energy source. A sensor monitoring a power output from the first and/or second energy source. A relay to switch between the first and second energy sources. A computer system to receive an output energy of the first energy source, determine if the output energy is below a threshold value, switch the relay from the first state to the third state for a predetermined period of time, based on the determination, pre-charge the second energy source by the pre-charge load; and switch the relay to the second state after the predetermined period of time.