Power Distribution System Transient Overload Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrical power distribution systems, especially in aircraft, high transient power demands can exceed the power converter's threshold, leading to undesirable consequences such as saturation, overcurrent stress, overheating, and voltage drops, which can cause electrical loads to malfunction or oscillate.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a controller module receives power demands from solid state switching elements, compares them with a power demand threshold, and provides energy budgets to these elements, allowing them to limit the maximum energy delivery, ensuring the total current demand remains within the power converter's rated capabilities, using solid state power controllers like SiC or GaN switches for current limiting and prioritization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power converter is designed to meet peak transient power demands, then the power converter can supply all electrical loads during transients, but the power converter size, weight, and cost increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by predicting future power demands before they occur. The controller module receives predicted power demands from solid state power controllers and proactively determines energy budgets that prevent overcurrent conditions before they happen, rather than reacting after the converter is already overloaded
Solution Approach 2:
The controller module acts as an intermediary between the power converter and the solid state power controllers. It mediates the power distribution by receiving predicted demands, comparing them with converter capabilities, and allocating energy budgets that balance converter protection with load requirements, preventing the need for excessive converter sizing
2Power
If the power converter is designed with excessive capacity to handle peak demands, then transient power demands can be met, but the system complexity and energy storage component requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic power management where energy budgets are not fixed but are continuously adjusted based on predicted power demands and converter headroom. The controller module dynamically reallocates energy budgets among solid state power controllers as conditions change, allowing the system to adapt to varying load requirements without excessive fixed capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of power allocation from static converter capacity to dynamic energy budgets. By transforming the control parameter from fixed hardware capacity to flexible software-defined energy allocations, the system achieves peak power capability through coordination rather than through excessive physical capacity
3Productivity
If solid state power controllers are allowed to deliver full requested power, then individual load requirements are met, but the total current demand exceeds the power converter's rated capability causing overload
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by having solid state power controllers communicate predicted power demands back to the controller module. This feedback loop allows the controller to monitor total system demand, compare it with converter capabilities, and adjust energy budgets to prevent overload while maintaining efficient power delivery within safe limits
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by preventing overcurrent stress before it occurs. The controller module proactively limits energy budgets based on predicted demands and converter headroom, stopping harmful overcurrent conditions before they can damage the converter, rather than reacting after overload occurs
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for operating a power distribution system includes a power converter adapted to receive a power supply and convert the power supply to a power output, a set of solid state switching elements connected with the power output, a set of sensors adapted to sense a power demand at the set of solid state switching elements, and a controller module communicatively connected with the set of sensors and the set of solid state switching elements.