Parallel Power Supply Load Sharing for Battery SoC Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical power systems in aircraft face challenges with uneven wear on batteries due to uneven power distribution, leading to inefficiencies and reduced system capacity.
Innovation Solution
A power balancing control scheme is implemented using multiple independent power supplies with DC/DC converters that regulate voltage on a common power bus, sharing load distribution to balance the State of Charge (SoC) of batteries while considering system constraints, allowing for autonomous load balancing without a master/slave architecture or high-speed communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple independent power supplies are used with integral control, then response speed to load changes is improved and voltage droop is prevented, but control complexity increases due to load sharing coordination
Solution Approach 1:
Each power supply unit autonomously determines its own power output based on real-time SoC status and system load requirements, without requiring centralized control or high-speed communication. The control system self-regulates load sharing by comparing its SoC with other units and automatically adjusting its power contribution accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the voltage setpoint parameter of each power supply based on its SoC status and load conditions. By changing the voltage reference parameter in real-time, the system enables fast response to load changes while maintaining proper load sharing among parallel power supplies.
2Reliability
If load distribution is balanced across multiple power supplies based on SoC, then battery wear is equalized and system capacity is maximized, but control scheme complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the SoC of each battery and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust power distribution. The feedback loop ensures that power supplies with lower SoC contribute less to the load, while those with higher SoC contribute more, thereby equalizing battery wear over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The load sharing ratio between power supplies is not fixed but dynamically adjusted based on real-time SoC conditions. The system adapts its control strategy continuously, allowing flexible power distribution that responds to changing battery states while maintaining overall system reliability.
3Reliability
If a master/slave architecture is avoided in favor of autonomous power supplies, then system reliability is improved and communication requirements are reduced, but load sharing coordination becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system equalizes the operational status of all power supply units by using a common voltage bus and standardized control algorithms. Each unit operates under equivalent control conditions based on its SoC, eliminating the need for master/slave hierarchy while achieving coordinated load sharing through equipotential operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures even wear on batteries, maximizes system capacity, and prevents voltage droop by allowing all power supplies to use integral control, providing faster responses to load changes and avoiding power supply failures.
Implementation Method 1
DC/DC converters can be used to regulate the voltage of the direct current transmitted to or from the battery system
Data Source
AI summary
A power system operable to implement a power balancing control scheme is provided. In one aspect, a power system includes multiple independent power supplies with independent batteries feeding onto a common power bus. The power supplies regulate the voltage on the common power bus at the same time. The power balancing control scheme, when implemented, causes the load on the common power bus to be shared among the individual power supplies with a specified load distribution. The specified load distribution can be set or determined to balance the State of Charge (SoC) of the batteries over time whilst taking into account the constraints or limits of the elements of the power system.