System and method for transferring power between an aircraft power system and energy storage devices

• US 8,058,749 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Radun, Arthur Vorwerk
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US12/433,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 307 64- 66, 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/16 using dynamo-electric machines coupled to flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1492 by means of controlling devices between the generator output and the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

A method for transferring power in an aircraft between an energy storage device and a power system. The method includes determining an amount of power required by the power system, determining a predetermined amount of power from a generator, comparing the power required by the power system to the predetermined power of the generator, and transferring power to the energy storage device from the power system or to the power system from the energy storage device based on the comparing.

Claims

1. A method for transferring power in an aircraft between an energy storage device and a power system, the method comprising:

determining an amount of power required by the power system;

determining a predetermined power of a generator;

comparing the power required by the power system to the predetermined power of the generator; and

transferring power to the energy storage device from the power system or to the power system from the energy storage device based on the comparing.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is a battery, a capacitor, a super capacitor, or a fly wheel.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power system is a 270 Vdc power system.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein power is transferred from the energy storage device to the power system if the predetermined power of the generator is less than the amount of power required by the power system.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein power is transferred from the power system to the energy storage device if the predetermined power of the generator is greater than the amount of power required by the power system.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

determining the predetermined power of the generator;

comparing the power required by the power system to the predetermined power of the generator; and

transferring power to a first energy storage device and/or a second energy storage device from the power system, or to the power system from the energy storage device and/or an additional energy storage device based on the comparing.

7. An aircraft power system configured to transfer power between one or more energy storage devices and a power system, the system comprising:

a processor programmed to;

determine an amount of power required by the power system;

determine a predetermined power of a generator;

compare the power required by the power system to the predetermined power of the generator; and

transfer power to at least one of the one or more energy storage devices from the power system or to the power system from the at least one of the one or more energy storage devices based on the comparing.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the energy storage device is a battery, a capacitor, a super capacitor, or a fly wheel.

9. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the power system is a 270 Vdc power system.

10. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein power is transferred from the energy storage device to the power system if the predetermined power of the generator is less than the amount of power required by the power system.

11. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein power is transferred from the power system to the energy storage device if the predetermined power of the generator is greater than the amount of power required by the power system.

12. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

determine the predetermined power of the generator and;

compare the power required by the power system to the predetermined power of the generator; and

transfer power to the at least one of the one or more energy storage devices and/or an additional energy storage device of the one more energy storage devices from the power system, or to the power system from the energy storage device and/or the additional one of the one or more energy storage devices based on the comparing.

13. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the second energy storage device is a battery, a capacitor, a super capacitor, or a fly wheel.

14. An electric accumulator unit (EAU) configured to transfer power between one or more energy storage devices and a power system, the EAU comprising:

the one or more energy storage devices; and

a computing device comprising;

a determining component for determining a power required by the power system and a power available from the one or more energy storage devices;

a comparing component for comparing the power required by the power system to the power available from at least one of the one or more energy storage devices; and

an energy transfer converter for transferring power to the at least one of the one or more energy storage devices from the power system or for transferring power to the power system from the at least one of the one or more energy storage devices based on the comparing.

15. An EAU in accordance with claim 14, wherein the one or more energy storage devices are one of or a combination of the following:

a battery, a capacitor, a super capacitor, and a fly wheel.

16. An EAU in accordance with claim 14, wherein power is transferred from the at least one of the one or more energy storage devices to the power system if the computed predetermined generator power is less than the amount of power required by the power system.

17. An EAU in accordance with claim 14, wherein power is transferred from the power system to the at least one of the one or more energy storage devices if the computed predetermined generator power is greater than the amount of power required by the power system.

18. An EAU in accordance with claim 14, wherein the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device are connected in a series within two bidirectional up/down converters.

19. An EAU in accordance with claim 14, wherein the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device are connected in parallel within two bidirectional up/down converters.

20. An EAU in accordance with claim 19, further comprising a third energy storage device connected in a series with the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device within three bidirectional up/down converters.