Vertiport Battery Charging Control for Multi-Aircraft Pack Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging systems for electric or hybrid-electric aircraft are inefficient due to the time-consuming process of charging individual battery packs and the need for significant ground charging infrastructure, while also requiring careful management of battery pack constraints, charging infrastructure constraints, and vertiport operation constraints.
Innovation Solution
A charging and cooling system that controls charging and cooling operations across multiple aircraft at a vertiport, utilizing a control unit that communicates with the aircraft's battery management system, ground charging station, and user input devices to manage charging commands and thermal regulation based on battery state and flight plan data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual battery packs are charged separately, then battery pack constraints can be managed, but charging time increases and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple battery packs into a single charging system architecture where multiple packs can be charged simultaneously through a unified charging bus and control unit. This merging approach allows the system to manage battery pack constraints collectively while reducing total charging time compared to individual charging of each pack separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple battery packs of different types and configurations through a single charging infrastructure. The control unit can adaptively manage charging parameters for different battery packs simultaneously, providing multi-functional charging capabilities that reduce both time and infrastructure requirements.
2Productivity
If multiple aircraft charge simultaneously, then productivity increases, but charging infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging infrastructure is segmented into modular components including individual charging modules, a central charging bus, and distributed control units. This segmentation allows multiple aircraft to charge simultaneously through standardized modular interfaces, increasing productivity while keeping each module's complexity manageable and scalable.
Solution Approach 2:
A central control unit acts as an intermediary between multiple charging modules and the charging infrastructure. This mediator coordinates charging operations, manages power distribution, and balances load across the system, enabling simultaneous charging of multiple aircraft while simplifying the overall infrastructure management through centralized intelligence.
3Ease of operation
If charging operations are controlled manually, then operational flexibility is maintained, but operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging control system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor battery pack status, charging progress, and system conditions. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts charging parameters and sequences, providing operational flexibility through adaptive control while significantly reducing the time required compared to manual monitoring and adjustment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system implements self-service capabilities where the control unit autonomously manages charging operations based on pre-programmed protocols and real-time sensor data. The system can independently determine optimal charging sequences, adjust parameters, and monitor completion, maintaining operational flexibility through programmable autonomy while eliminating time-consuming manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for the configuration and control of charging and cooling systems for aircrafts driven by electric propulsion systems and in other types of vehicles. In some embodiments, a method of charging an aircraft is disclosed comprising: receiving a mode of operation indicating whether battery packs of the aircraft are connected in parallel prior to joining a charging bus, receiving charging protocol information, and controlling charging operations of the battery packs based on the mode of operation and the charging protocol information.