POWER REGULATING DEVICE FOR AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20100071371A1
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: ARENDT, Martin, FRAHM, Lars, WESTENBERGER, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 8,403,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/706
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/40 Combination of fuel cells with other energy production systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04082 Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04365 of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0444 Concentration; Density H01M8/04492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04626 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04805 of fuel cell exhausts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/2495 of fuel cells of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A power regulator and a process regulator, or a power regulating device for regulating hybrid energy sources are provided for an aircraft. The power regulator and process regulator is equipped such that the requirement of a required means of a consumer is measurable. In this arrangement the power regulating device is equipped such that a first operating characteristic of a first energy source and a second operating characteristic of a second energy source are determinable. By means of the first energy source a first requirement share can be generated, and by means of the second energy source a second requirement share of the required means can be generated. The power regulating device can regulate the first energy source and the second energy source such that depending on the first operating characteristic and on the second operating characteristic the first requirement share and the second requirement share of the required means can be provided to the consumer.

Claims

1. A power regulating device for regulating hybrid energy sources for an aircraft,

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that a requirement of a required means of a consumer is measurable;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that a first operating characteristic of a first energy source and a second operating characteristic of a second energy source are determinable;

wherein by means of the first energy source a first requirement share can be generated, and by means of the second energy source a second requirement share of the required means can be generated;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted for controlling the first energy source and the second energy source such that depending on the first operating characteristic and on the second operating characteristic the first requirement share and the second requirement share of the required means can be provided to the consumer; and

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that depending on a flight phase the first operating characteristic and the second operating characteristic are determinable.

2. The power regulating device of claim 1;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that the requirement for a required means of a further consumer is measurable;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted to control the first energy source and the second energy source such that depending on the first operating characteristic and on the second operating characteristic the first requirement share and the second requirement share of the required means can be provided to the further consumer.

3. The power regulating device of claim 2;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that in each case priority can be assigned to the consumer and to the further consumer;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that depending on a priority the required means can be supplied to the consumer and to the further consumer.

4. The power regulating device of claim 3;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that the priority can be assigned taking into account flight safety aspects.

5. The power regulating device of claim 1;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that by means of control of educts from one of the first energy source and the second energy source the first requirement share and the second requirement share of the required means can be provided.

6. The power regulating device of claim 1;

wherein the required means is selected from a group comprising electrical power and an additional product;

wherein the additional product is selected from the group comprising water, thermal energy and low-oxygen outgoing air.

7. The power regulating device of claim 1;

wherein at least one of the first energy source or the second energy source comprises a fuel cell system.

8. The power regulating device of claim 7;

wherein the fuel cell system comprises a compressor;

wherein the compressor is adapted to regulate an air supply or an oxygen supply of the fuel cell system;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted to regulate the compressor.

9. The power regulating device of claim 1;

wherein at least one of the first energy source and of the second energy source comprises an engine generator.

10. The power regulating device of claim 1;

wherein at least one of the first energy source and of the second energy source is further selected from a group comprising batteries, electrical direct-current generators, electrical alternating-current generators, storage batteries and solar cells.

11. The power regulating device of claim 1;

wherein the consumer and additional consumers are selected from a group comprising electrical direct-current systems, electrical alternating-current systems, water consumers, inerting systems and de-icing systems.

12. An energy system for an aircraft;

wherein the energy system comprises;

a power regulating device for regulating hybrid energy sources for the aircraft;

a first energy source with a first operating characteristic;

a second energy source with a second operating characteristic;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that a requirement of a required means of a consumer is measurable;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that the first operating characteristic of the first energy source and the second operating characteristic of the second energy source are determinable;

wherein by means of the first energy source a first requirement share can be generated, and by means of the second energy source a second requirement share of the required means can be generated;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted for controlling the first energy source and the second energy source such that depending on the first operating characteristic and on the second operating characteristic the first requirement share and the second requirement share of the required means can be provided to the consumer;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that depending on a flight phase the first operating characteristic and the second operating characteristic are determinable;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that a requirement of a required means of the consumer is measurable;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that the first operating characteristic and the second operating characteristic are determinable;

wherein by means of the first energy source a first energy share and by means of the second energy source a second energy share of the required means can be generated;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted to control the first energy source and the second energy source such that depending on the first operating characteristic and on the second operating characteristic the first requirement share and the second requirement share of the required means are profitable to the consumer;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that depending on the flight phase the first operating characteristic and the second operating characteristic are determinable.

13. A method for regulating hybrid energy sources for an aircraft, wherein the method comprises:

measuring the requirement of a required means of a consumer by means of a power regulating device;

determining a first operating characteristic of a first energy source and a second operating characteristic of a second energy source by means of the power regulating device;

generating a first requirement share of the required means by means of the first energy source and a second requirement share of the required means by means of the second energy source;

regulating the first energy source and the second energy source by means of the power regulating device such that depending on the first operating characteristic and on the second operating characteristic the first requirement share and the second requirement share of the required means are provided to the consumer; and

determining the first operating characteristic and the second operating characteristic depending on a flight phase by means of the power regulating device

14. An aircraft comprising a power regulating device for regulating hybrid energy sources for the aircraft,

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that a requirement of a required means of a consumer is measurable;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that a first operating characteristic of a first energy source and a second operating characteristic of a second energy source are determinable;

wherein by means of the first energy source a first requirement share can be generated, and by means of the second energy source a second requirement share of the required means can be generated;

wherein the power regulating device is adapted for controlling the first energy source and the second energy source such that depending on the first operating characteristic and on the second operating characteristic the first requirement share and the second requirement share of the required means can be provided to the consumer; and

wherein the power regulating device is adapted such that depending on a flight phase the first operating characteristic and the second operating characteristic are determinable.