Aircraft Nacelle Control System Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing systems for controlling actuators in aircraft nacelles lack high availability, leading to potential operation in degraded modes and mechanical blockages, which can compromise the reliability of the thrust reverser and secondary nozzle section variation systems.
Innovation Solution
A system with two separate control units, each powering and controlling distinct motors, ensuring that the thrust reverser and secondary nozzle section variation systems can maintain operation even if one control unit fails, with independent power sources and locking mechanisms to prevent mechanical blockages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single control system is used to control multiple actuators, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases due to potential common failures
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into two independent control units, each capable of controlling at least one motor. This segmentation allows the system to maintain functionality even if one control unit fails, thereby resolving the contradiction between simplified structure and high reliability by creating modular, independent control pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
Each control unit is given specific local functionality to control particular motors, rather than a centralized uniform control approach. This allows different parts of the system to have specialized control capabilities, improving overall reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through distributed control architecture.
2Reliability
If redundant control units are implemented, then the reliability increases through fault tolerance, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into two independent control units with distinct control capabilities. Each unit can independently operate motors, creating natural redundancy without requiring complex interconnections or centralized coordination mechanisms, thus limiting the increase in complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each control unit is designed with universal capability to control motors, allowing either unit to take over full control responsibilities if needed. This multi-functionality provides robust fault tolerance while maintaining relatively simple individual unit designs, balancing reliability improvement against complexity increase.
3Reliability
If independent power sources are provided for each control unit, then the reliability is enhanced through electrical independence, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is segmented into independent power sources for each control unit, ensuring that electrical failures in one unit do not affect the other. This segmentation provides electrical independence and enhanced reliability while keeping each power subsystem relatively simple and efficient.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system for controlling a plurality of actuators (15) that can displace a mobile panel (13, 17) pertaining to a nacelle (1) of an aircraft, said system comprising at least two motors (16) that can drive the actuators (15). The system also comprises two separate control units (33, 35), each unit being configured in such a way as to control and feed at least one motor that is not fed or controlled by the other control unit. The invention also relates to a nacelle comprising such a system.