Series Motor-Generator Power System With Decoupler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power systems for hybrid or electric propulsion aircraft require complex and heavy architectures to connect motor-generator components, which can lead to reliability issues due to the need for redundancy and flexibility in speed, torque, and power generation.
Innovation Solution
A power system with motor-generator components connected in series via a common shaft, utilizing de-couplers to disconnect faulty components, allowing the system to maintain operation with a redundant component, and featuring actuators and bias elements to manage the disconnection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If motor-generator components are connected in series via a common shaft, then weight and space efficiency are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to lack of redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the motor-generator components into separable modules that can be independently connected or disconnected from the common shaft. Each motor-generator component has its own coupling mechanism, allowing individual isolation without affecting the entire system. This segmentation enables weight reduction through selective operation while maintaining reliability through fault isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling between motor-generator components and the common shaft is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system can change its configuration in real-time by engaging or disengaging specific components based on operational requirements or fault conditions. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt between compact operation mode and fault-tolerant mode.
2Reliability
If de-couplers are added to enable disconnection of faulty components, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The de-coupling function is merged with the existing coupling mechanism. The same connector element that joins the motor-generator component to the common shaft also provides the disconnection capability. By combining these functions into a single integrated mechanism, the system achieves reliability improvement without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates self-protective features where the de-coupler can automatically disconnect faulty components without requiring complex external control systems. The connector element is designed to detect fault conditions and initiate disconnection autonomously, reducing the need for additional sensors, controllers, and wiring.
3Reliability
If redundancy is implemented to improve reliability, then system reliability is improved, but weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes its operational parameters dynamically by activating or deactivating specific motor-generator components based on real-time conditions. Instead of maintaining constant redundancy, the system adjusts its configuration to use only the necessary number of components for current operational demands, reducing weight while maintaining required reliability levels.
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
The solution provides a space-efficient, low-weight power system with improved reliability by enabling the disconnection of faulty motor-generator components, ensuring continued operation of the aircraft even if one component fails, thereby enhancing overall system reliability and reducing weight and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator may be an electromagnetic actuator
Data Source
AI summary
A power system for an aircraft comprises: a first motor-generator component; a second motor-generator component; a common shaft, wherein the first and second motor-generator components are connected to the common shaft in series; and a de-coupler operable to disconnect the first motor-generator component from the common shaft.