Aircraft Power Module Cooling Channel With Airflow Deflectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power modules in aircraft face challenges in efficiently dissipating heat due to thermal insulation and weight restrictions, particularly in high-temperature environments, and require improved cooling methods that can handle high power densities and thermal peaks.

Innovation Solution

A power assembly design with integrated cooling elements extending into a channel, utilizing deflectors to direct airflow for enhanced heat dissipation without thermal interfaces, allowing simultaneous cooling of multiple modules and reducing overall weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If separate mounting of battery and motor is used, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of repairVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power assembly is divided into distinct functional modules: a battery module with mounting flange and a motor module with corresponding mounting structure. These modules can be separately mounted, disassembled, and repaired independently while maintaining overall system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The battery is positioned to be received within a battery recess of the motor housing, creating a nested arrangement where the battery module is partially contained within the motor module structure, reducing overall assembly footprint while maintaining modularity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Device complexity

If integrated mounting of battery and motor is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of repair deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidease of repair
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The power assembly is divided into distinct functional modules: a battery module with mounting flange and a motor module with corresponding mounting structure. These modules can be separately mounted, disassembled, and repaired independently while maintaining overall system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The battery is positioned to be received within a battery recess of the motor housing, creating a nested arrangement where the battery module is partially contained within the motor module structure, reducing overall assembly footprint while maintaining modularity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If battery is fixed to motor housing, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The battery and motor are pre-assembled into an integrated power assembly with defined mounting interfaces during manufacturing. This preliminary integration ensures proper alignment and secure connection, while the standardized flange structure enables quick field replacement without complex alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The power assembly is divided into distinct functional modules: a battery module with mounting flange and a motor module with corresponding mounting structure. These modules can be separately mounted, disassembled, and repaired independently while maintaining overall system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3766098B1Power assembly, in particular for an aircraft
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER
  • EP3766098B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3766098B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3766098B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention concerns a power assembly (1) comprising at least two power modules each comprising at least one component to be cooled, for example an electronic chip, mounted on a base from which cooling elements (4) extend, and a hollow body comprising a channel (13) for flow of a coolant fluid (29), each power module being mounted on said body so that the cooling elements (4) extend at least partially into said channel (13) through an opening of the body, at least one deflector (21, 22, 23, 24) being mounted in said channel (13) between the cooling elements (4) of the two modules (2) in such a way as to force the coolant fluid (29) to flow in the zone of the channel (13) comprising the cooling elements (4).