Electrical Power Fault Isolation by Progressive Load Re-Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical power systems for aerial vehicles face challenges in identifying and isolating faults without disabling entire power supply channels, leading to high complexity and mass, and existing fault detection systems are unreliable in low impedance systems.
Innovation Solution
An electrical power system with a distribution network and control system that isolates all devices during a fault, progressively re-couples them in a predetermined order, and identifies the fault set for isolation, prioritizing critical loads and using multiple networks for redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple independent power supply channels are provided to ensure safe operation, then system reliability is improved, but installation mass and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power supply into multiple independent channels, each capable of operating autonomously. When a fault is detected in one channel, only that specific channel is isolated while others continue operating, achieving reliability through segmentation without requiring complete system redundancy
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between power supply channels based on fault conditions. The control system monitors impedance changes in real-time and automatically transitions loads from affected channels to healthy channels, maintaining reliability through dynamic adaptation rather than static redundancy
2Reliability
If multiple independent power supply channels are provided to ensure safe operation, then system reliability is improved, but installation mass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power system is divided into separable channels that share common infrastructure (distribution network, control system) while maintaining independent power sources. This segmentation allows reliability through channel independence without duplicating entire power supply systems, reducing mass compared to fully redundant architectures
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution network and control system serve multiple functions across different power channels. The same distribution network carries power from multiple sources, and the control system manages fault detection and channel switching for all channels, eliminating the need for separate dedicated infrastructure in each channel
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If complex fault detection devices are used to detect and isolate faults, then fault detection capability is improved, but device complexity and reliability of detection system worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing power distribution infrastructure itself to detect faults. By monitoring impedance changes in the distribution network during normal operation, the system identifies faults without requiring separate detection devices. The distribution network provides both power delivery and fault detection functions
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary that translates impedance measurements from the distribution network into fault isolation actions. Rather than using complex dedicated detection devices, the control system processes electrical parameter changes and coordinates channel switching based on these measurements
4Measurement precision
If auto-reclose devices or insulation monitoring devices are positioned at various points to detect faults, then fault location identification is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system serves as a centralized intermediary that collects impedance data from the distribution network and determines fault locations through analysis. This eliminates the need for multiple distributed detection devices at various points, achieving fault location identification through centralized processing rather than distributed sensing
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution network components serve dual purposes: power delivery and fault detection. The same electrical parameters measured for power management provide fault location information, eliminating the need for separate detection devices and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an electrical power system 201, 202, 203, 204 comprising a plurality of electrical devices 212-216; 242-248, a distribution network 205 and a control system 290. The control system 290 is configured to detect an electrical fault associated with the distribution network 205 based on a signal received from a sensor 280 and is further configured to perform a fault procedure 320 in response to detection 310 of an electrical fault, the fault procedure comprising: (a) controlling 322 a plurality of switches 222-226; 232-238 such that all of the electrical devices 212-216; 242-248 are isolated from the distribution network; (b) subsequently controlling 324 the switches 222-226; 232-238 to progressively re-couple at least some of the plurality of electrical devices 212-216; 242-248 to the distribution network 205 in a re-coupling order and monitoring for re-detection 310 of an electrical fault based on a signal received from the sensor 280 as the electrical devices 212-216; 242-248 are progressively re-coupled; (c) identifying 325 a set of one or more of the plurality of electrical devices 212-216; 242-248 re-coupled to the distribution network 205 to cause the re-detection 310 of the electrical fault, the set of one or more electrical devices 212-216; 242-248 being a fault event set; and controlling 326, 328 at least one of the plurality of switches to isolate the fault event set from the distribution network 205.