Electric Motor Speed Setpoint Balancing Without Inter-Motor Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electric or hybrid aircraft propulsion systems, the decentralised control of electric motors leads to disparities in power supply, causing overheating and potential failure, and existing methods to balance motors increase system complexity and are difficult to handle failures.
Innovation Solution
A balancing system that calculates a correction factor for each electric motor's speed setpoint based on a parameter like electric current, using a monotonic affine function and balancing gain, without requiring communication between motors, to reduce static errors and maintain propeller speed stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If decentralised control is used for each electric motor, then motor independence and control robustness are improved, but power supply disparity and overheating occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where each motor's controller monitors its own operating parameters (current, temperature, power output) and adjusts its speed setpoint accordingly. The controller reduces the speed setpoint when the motor exceeds predefined thresholds for current, temperature, or power disparity, creating a self-regulating system that balances power distribution across motors without requiring external communication.
Solution Approach 2:
Each motor controller independently manages its own balancing without needing communication with other motors. The system uses self-service by having each controller autonomously detect its own operational state and adjust its speed setpoint based on predefined criteria, eliminating the need for inter-motor communication while maintaining system balance.
2Reliability
If communication is established between electric motors for balancing, then power distribution is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the balancing function into independent operations at each motor controller. Instead of implementing a centralized communication system where motors exchange data, each controller independently executes balancing logic based on its own sensor inputs and predefined algorithms, dividing the complex communication task into simple, isolated decision-making units.
Solution Approach 2:
Each motor controller serves itself by autonomously determining its speed setpoint adjustments based on its own operational parameters. The system eliminates inter-motor communication by having each controller independently assess its power output, current, and temperature status and make self-adjustments, thereby reducing system complexity while achieving power balance.
3Reliability
If communication between motors is implemented, then motor balancing is achieved, but failure handling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into independent, isolated units where each motor controller operates autonomously. This segmentation means that a communication failure or malfunction in one motor's controller does not propagate to other motors, as there is no communication network connecting them. Each unit can be diagnosed and repaired independently, simplifying failure handling.
Solution Approach 2:
Each motor controller independently manages its own balancing function without relying on external communication. This self-service approach ensures that if one controller fails, the others continue to operate normally without being affected by the failure, making the system more resilient and easier to maintain.
Data Source
AI summary
A system (11) for balancing at least one parameter to be balanced of an electric motor of a propulsion system (1), in particular of an aircraft, includes at least two electric motors (3, 4) and a propulsion member (2) driven in rotation by said electric motors. The balancing system is configured to calculate a correction of the speed setpoint (Corr_Cons_VI, Corr_Cons_V2) as a function of a correction factor (F1, F2) of the speed setpoint depending on a parameter (P1, P2) of the associated electric motor that is intended to be balanced and on a speed setpoint (Cons_VH) of the propulsion member (2).