Method and system for improving electrical load regeneration management of an aircraft
US8288885B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 2008 |
| Grant date | Oct 16, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Regenerated power from actuation loads of an aircraft may be returned to the distribution bus of the aircraft. In the past, actuators were either hydrostatic or pneumatic. With the furtherance of more electric architecture (MEA) aircraft, there has been an increase in electrical actuation modes. The power or current exchange between electrical buses and the electromechanical and electro-hydrostatic flight control actuators is bidirectional, resulting in a need to accommodate regenerative power. Conventional methods may use shunt regulation to dissipate regenerated power. These methods require additional cooling to reject the heat generated. This regenerated power is wasted as dissipated heat. The present invention, on the other hand, may dump the regenerated power back to a power sink, such as into ancillary electrical loads or to the starter/generator as mechanical (kinetic) energy. In the present invention, the energy may not be wasted nor may it generate excessive heat that needs to be dissipated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.