Aeronautics Power Supply Network Selection Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power supply systems in aeronautics switch between networks unnecessarily, leading to component wear and instability due to untimely switching during micro-cuts or voltage disappearances, which reduces their lifespan and creates disturbances.

Innovation Solution

A power supply system with an energy converter and control means that selectively switches between power supply networks based on input voltages, storage voltage, and predetermined energy levels, inhibiting unnecessary switches by requiring a specific energy threshold or storage capacity to be met before switching, and using unidirectional diodes to prevent energy transfer between networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the power supply system switches between networks as soon as the voltage threshold is crossed, then the system responds quickly to voltage disappearances, but the components are unnecessarily tired and their lifespan is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speed to voltage thresholdVSAvoidlifespan of components
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by checking whether the energy storage means has sufficient capacity before initiating a network switch. The control means evaluates the energy storage status in advance, and only authorizes switching when the storage capacity is adequate to sustain the load during the transition. This prevents premature switching that would otherwise occur immediately at voltage threshold crossing, thereby reducing unnecessary component operation and extending component lifespan while maintaining adequate response to genuine power failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If the power supply system switches between networks as soon as the voltage threshold is crossed, then the system maintains voltage stability, but instabilities and disturbances are created in the power supply networks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput voltage stabilityVSAvoidinstabilities and disturbances
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control means performs a preliminary check of the energy storage means capacity before authorizing a network switch. This advance evaluation ensures that switching only occurs when the energy storage can adequately support the transition, preventing switches during insufficient storage conditions that would cause output voltage instability. By gating the switching decision behind the energy storage status, the system maintains voltage stability while avoiding the harmful instabilities and disturbances that result from untimely switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the number of switches between networks is reduced, then component lifespan is prolonged, but the response to genuine power failures may be delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifespan of componentsVSAvoidresponse reliability to power failures
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control means continuously monitors and evaluates the energy storage means capacity in advance before a power failure occurs. This preliminary assessment ensures that when a genuine power failure happens, the system is already prepared to switch if the energy storage capacity is sufficient. This approach reduces the number of unnecessary switches by preventing switches during micro-cuts when storage is adequate, while maintaining response reliability to genuine failures by ensuring the switching capability is pre-validated based on energy storage status.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the energy storage means capacity and using this information to control the switching decision. The control means receives feedback about the energy storage status and adjusts the switching behavior accordingly - inhibiting switches when storage is insufficient and enabling switches when storage is adequate. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system responds reliably to genuine power failures while avoiding unnecessary switches, thereby extending component lifespan without compromising response reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2608346B1Power supply system with prioritised network selection
Publication Date: 2017.04.26 THALES SA
  • EP2608346B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2608346B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2608346B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The system (10) has a set of controllable energy transfer units (T1-TN), where each of the energy transfer unit is connected to a set of power supply networks (R1-RN). An energy converter (16) is connected to an output of the set of controllable energy transfer units. The energy transfer units are utilized for selection of a power source from the set of power supply networks. A control unit (14) is utilized for controlling the energy transfer units for selection of the power source as a function of input voltages (V1-VN) and storage voltage (Ve).