EMERGENCY POWER SOURCES FOR PROPULSION SYSTEMS

• US 20160304214A1
• Filed: 04/20/2015
• Published: 10/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Himmelmann, Richard A., Bosomworth, Charles E. III
• Application Number:
  US14/691,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20160304214A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/02 Aircraft characterised by the type or position of power plants fuselages specially adapted for mounting power plants B64C1/16; wings specially adapted for power plants B64C3/32
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/026 comprising different types of power plants, e.g. combination of a piston engine and a gas-turbine Hybrid electric aircraft B64D27/33
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 41/00 Power installations for auxiliary purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/12 using turbine engines, e.g. turbojets or turbofans
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/206 the vehicles being airscrew driven
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A hybrid-electric propulsion system includes a motor drive and a rechargeable energy storage system electrically connected to the motor drive. A gas turbine engine is operatively connected to the motor drive and the rechargeable energy storage system. An emergency power source is operatively connected to the motor drive. The emergency power source is a primary battery in electrical communication with the motor drive. A method for providing emergency power to a hybrid electric propulsion system includes determining whether one of a main engine power source and a rechargeable energy storage system are available for powering a motor drive. The method includes initiating a primary battery for powering the motor drive if the main engine power source and the rechargeable energy storage system are unavailable.

Claims

1. A hybrid-electric propulsion system comprising:

a motor drive;

a rechargeable energy storage system electrically connected to the motor drive;

a gas turbine engine operatively connected to the motor drive and the rechargeable energy storage system; and

an emergency power source operatively connected to the motor drive, wherein the emergency power source is a primary battery in electrical communication with the motor drive.

2. A hybrid-electric propulsion system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a high-speed electric machine operatively connected between the gas turbine engine and the motor drive.

3. A hybrid-electric propulsion system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a bi-directional DC to DC converter/battery charger electrically connected between the motor drive and the rechargeable energy storage system.

4. A hybrid-electric propulsion system as recited in claim 1, wherein the emergency power source is a single-use emergency power source.

5. A hybrid-electric propulsion system as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary battery is a carbon-zinc battery.

6. A hybrid-electric propulsion system as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary battery is a lithium coin battery.

7. A hybrid-electric propulsion system as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary battery is an alkaline MnO₂ battery.

8. A hybrid-electric propulsion system as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary battery is a lithium cylindrical battery.

9. A hybrid-electric propulsion system as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary battery is a Zinc-air battery.

10. A hybrid-electric propulsion system as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary battery is a Zinc-Ag₂O battery.

11. A hybrid-electric propulsion system as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary battery is a Zinc-HgO battery.

12. A hybrid-electric propulsion system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an electric propeller and drive motor electrically connected to the motor drive.

13. A hybrid-electric propulsion system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second motor drive operatively connected to the rechargeable energy storage system, the gas turbine engine, and the emergency power source.

14. A method for providing emergency power to a hybrid electric propulsion system:

determining whether one of a main engine power source and a rechargeable energy storage system are available for powering a motor drive; and

initiating a primary battery for powering the motor drive if the main engine power source and the rechargeable energy storage system are unavailable.