Power management installation in an aircraft

• US 20020175567A1
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precilec Co.
• Original Assignee: Precilec Co.
• Inventors: Marin-Martinod, Thierry
• Granted Patent: US 6,921,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/29
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/52 The controlling of the operation of the load not being the total disconnection of the load, i.e. entering a degraded mode or in current limitation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading

Abstract

A power management installation in an aircraft includes a power distribution network and at least two subscribers, each subscriber having loads consuming electric power and local control means. The power management installation has means for allocating, to each subscriber, a maximum total power for all the loads; means of evaluating for each subscriber, the total electric power consumed; and means for modifying the conditions for controlling the loads of each subscriber, according to the control loads of the subscriber, the total electric power consumed by the subscriber and the maximum total power allocated to the subscriber.

Claims

1. A power management installation in an aircraft including a power distribution network and at least two subscribers connected to the power distribution network, each subscriber having a set of loads, consuming electric power and local means controlling the loads, wherein the power management installation comprises:

(a) means for allocating, to each subscriber, a total maximum power for all the loads of the subscriber;

(b) means for evaluating, for each subscriber, the total electric power consumed; and

(c) means for modifying the conditions for controlling the loads of each subscriber, according to the controlled loads of the subscriber, the total electric power consumed by the subscriber and the total maximum power allocated to the subscriber.

2. A power management installation according to claim 1, comprising means of assigning, to each subscriber, at least one operating parameter for the subscriber and said means for allocating, to each subscriber, a total maximum power being adapted to allocate said total maximum power according to said at least one operating parameter or parameters of the subscriber.

3. A power management installation according to claim 2, wherein an operating parameter is a value representing a total available power for the subscriber.

4. A power management installation according to claim 1, wherein said means of evaluating, for each subscriber, the total electric power consumed comprise means of measuring, for each load, the power actually consumed.

5. A power management installation according to claim 1, wherein said means of evaluating, for each subscriber, the total electric power consumed comprise means of storing, for each load a nominal consumed power value and means of estimating the total electric power consumed from the nominal consumed power values for the loads actually in operation.

6. A power management installation according to claim 1, wherein said means of modifying the load control conditions include means of comparing the evaluation of the total electric power consumed and the maximum total power allocated and means for the priority control of some loads according to the result of the comparison of the evaluated consumed power and the maximum total electric power allocated.

7. A power management installation according to claim 6, wherein the priority control means include means of comparing said maximum total power allocated with at least one threshold value, and wherein said priority control means are adapted to select an operating mode defining priority rules, according to the result of said at least one comparison, and to apply the priority rules defined by the said operating mode selected.

8. A management installation according to claim 1, wherein said means of modifying the load control conditions are adapted to inhibit the functioning of some loads.

9. A management installation according to claim 1, wherein said means of modifying the load control conditions are adapted to reduce the power consumed by some loads.

10. A management installation according to claim 1, wherein said means for allocating a maximum total power to each subscriber include a local power management unit associated with each subscriber and a central power management unit connected to said local power management units by an information transfer network.

11. A management installation according to claim 10, wherein each local power management unit has a single current converter common to each of the loads.