Vehicular power distribution system and method

• US 7,550,866 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lorhammer, Kurt, Szydlo-Moore, Joanna A., Breit, Joseph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US11/613,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• 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: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• 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 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• 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 distribution system for a vehicle is provided. The power distribution system includes a network incorporating at least one load. At least a first and a second power source are connected to the network. The first power source is located and connected proximal to the load and the second power source is located distal from the load. A generator may be connected to the network distally from the first and second loads and configured to supply power to at least one of the first and second loads. The generator may be configured such that power is supplied selectively when power from at least one of the first and second power sources is less than respectively required by the first and second loads. The first and second power sources may be configured to be regenerated by the generator. The network may include more highly power-rated components in areas configured for higher power transmission and more lowly power-rated components in areas configured for lower power transmission.

Claims

1. A power distribution system for a vehicle comprising:

a network including at least a first load and a second load; and

at least a first and a second power source connected to said network, said first power source is located and connected proximal to the first load and said second power source is located distal from the first load, said second power source is located and connected proximal to the second load and said first power source is located distal from the second load; and

said first power source is connected in series with the first and second loads.

2. A power distribution system for a vehicle comprising:

a network including at least a first load and a second loads;

at least a first and a second power source connected to said network, said first power source is located and connected proximal to the first load and said second power source is located distal from the first load, said second power source is located and connected proximal to the second load and said first power source is located distal from the second load; and

a generator connected to said network distally from the first and second loads, said generator configured to supply power to at least one of the first and second loads.

3. A power distribution system according to claim 2, wherein said first and second power sources are configured to selectively supply at least some power to said network.

4. A power distribution system according to claim 2, wherein said first and second power sources are configured to be regenerated by said generator.

5. A power distribution system according to claim 2, wherein said generator is configured to selectively supply power to the first and second loads when power from at least one of said first and second power sources is less than respectively required by the first and second loads.

6. A power distribution system according to claim 2, wherein said generator is coupled to an engine of the vehicle, and at least one of said first and second power sources is configured to supply power to said engine.

7. A power distribution system for a vehicle comprising:

a network including at least a first load and a second load; and

at least a first and a second power source connected to said network, said first power source is located and connected proximal to the first load and said second power source is located distal from the first load, said second power source is located and connected proximal to the second load, and said first power source is located distal from the second load; and

at least one of said first and second power sources is selected from the group consisting of;

a generation device and a storage device.

8. A power distribution system according to claim 7, wherein the storage device selected from the group consisting of:

a fuel cell, a battery, a capacitor, an ultra-capacitor, a turbine, a micro-turbine, and a flywheel.

9. A power distribution system according to claim 7, wherein the generation device is selected from the group consisting of:

an electrical generator and one or more solar cells.

10. A power distribution system for a vehicle comprising:

a network including at least first and second loads; and

at least a first and a second power source connected to said network, said first power source is located proximal to the first load, said second power source is located proximal to the second load, and each of said first and second power sources is configured to supply power to the first and second loads, at least one of said first and second power sources is a storage device selected from the group consisting of;

a fuel cell, a battery, a capacitor, an ultra-capacitor, a turbine, a micro-turbine, and a flywheel.

11. A power distribution system according to claim 10, wherein said network includes more highly power-rated components in areas configured for higher power transmission and more lowly power-rated components in areas configured for lower power transmission.

12. A power distribution system according to claim 10, wherein said network includes a plurality of loads, wherein said at least first and second power sources include a plurality of power sources interconnected to form a power source network, and wherein multiple electrical connections exist between said power source network and said network such that at least one load of the plurality of loads is configured to be supplied by multiple power sources.

13. A power distribution system according to claim 10, wherein each of said first and second power sources is configured to supply power in parallel to the first and second loads.

14. A power distribution system for a vehicle comprising:

a network including at least first and second loads;

at least a first and a second power source connected to said network, said first power source is located proximal to the first load, said second power source is located proximal to the second load, and each of said first and second power sources is configured to supply power to the first and second loads, and a generator connected to said network distally from the first and second load, said generator configured to supply power to at least one of the first and second loads.

15. A power distribution system according to claim 14, wherein said first and second power sources are configured to selectively supply at least some power to said network.

16. A power distribution system according to claim 14, wherein said first and second power sources are configured to be regenerated by said generator.

17. A power distribution system according to claim 14, wherein said generator is configured to selectively supply power to the first and second loads when power from at least one of said first and second power sources is less than respectively required by the first and second loads.

18. A power distribution system according to claim 14, wherein said generator is coupled to an engine of the vehicle, and at least one of said first and second power sources is configured to supply power to said engine.

19. An air vehicle comprising:

an air vehicle structure including an elongated body and at least one wing extending laterally from the body;

a network for distributing power within at least part of the body, said network including one or more loads distributed within the body; and

one or more power sources located in the body and connected to said network for supplying multiple of the loads and at least one of said power sources is a storage device selected from the group consisting of;

a fuel cell, a battery, a capacitor, an ultra-capacitor, a turbine, a micro-turbine, and a flywheel.

20. An air vehicle according to claim 19, wherein said network includes more highly power-rated components in areas configured for higher power transmission and more lowly power-rated components in areas configured for lower power transmission.

21. A air vehicle according to claim 19, wherein said network includes a plurality of loads, wherein said one or more power sources include a plurality of power sources interconnected to form a power source network, and wherein multiple electrical connections exist between said power source network and said network such that at least one load of the plurality of loads is configured to be supplied by multiple power sources.

22. An air vehicle according to claim 19, further comprising at least one generation device coupled to and located in an area of the wing and connected to said network.

23. An air vehicle according to claim 22, wherein at least some of said sources are configured to be regenerated by said generation device.