Electric Powertrain Control Limits for Shared Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hybrid-electric and all-electric propulsion systems for aircraft lack efficient methods for independent power control and energy management across multiple powertrains, leading to suboptimal energy utilization and scalability issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a power control unit with control modules that determine power level commands based on upper and lower control limits, allowing each powertrain to operate independently without supervisory control, by calculating available and apportioned power capacities to balance loads and prioritize requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a supervisory control system is used to manage multiple powertrains, then centralized coordination is achieved, but system complexity and communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into independent power control units, each managing a specific powertrain. Each unit has local control logic that autonomously determines power level commands based on system state, eliminating the need for complex centralized supervision while maintaining coordinated operation through shared energy storage system constraints.
2Adaptability or versatility
If power level commands are independently determined by each power control unit, then scalability is improved, but coordination between powertrains may be suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
Each power control unit continuously monitors system state including energy storage charge levels and power demands from multiple powertrains. This feedback mechanism enables autonomous units to adjust their power level commands in real-time, optimizing energy utilization across the system while maintaining scalability. The control logic incorporates apportioned power capacity calculations that respond to system-wide conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system accommodates varying numbers of powertrains without modification, then adaptability increases, but control logic complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power control units are designed with universal control logic that can manage any number of powertrains connected to the shared energy storage system. Each unit implements the same apportioned power capacity calculation methodology, allowing the system to scale from two to many powertrains without requiring modifications to the fundamental control architecture or logic.
4Use of energy by moving object
If apportioned power capacity is calculated based on aggregate obverse power level requests, then energy distribution is optimized, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system calculates apportioned power capacity based on aggregate obverse power level requests from other powertrains, but only to the extent necessary for optimal energy distribution. The calculation focuses on determining upper and lower control limits for power level commands rather than performing exhaustive system-wide optimization, achieving good energy utilization with computationally efficient algorithms suitable for real-time control.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
A hybrid-electric or all-electric powertrain may include a power control unit electrically coupled to an energy storage system. The power control unit may determine a power level command based at least in part on a power level request for the powertrain, and a power level-UCL and/or a power level-LCL. The power level-UCL and/or the power level-LCL may be based at least in part on an aggregate obverse power level request representing a requested power level for one or more obverse powertrains electrically coupled to the energy storage system. The power level commands may be limited by the power level-UCL and/or the power level-LCL. The power level-UCL may be set equal to either an available discharge power capacity or an apportionate discharge power capacity. The power level-LCL may be set equal to either an available storage power capacity or an apportionate storage power capacity.