Method and system for adaptive power management

• US 8,209,101 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Breit, Joseph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US11/512,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20080058998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,128 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/80
• 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 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading

Abstract

In a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, electrical power is adaptively managed. A profile of predetermined threshold levels of electrical loading is developed for phases of an operation. A profile of electrical loading is developed for the phases of the operation such that electrical loading is substantially a same predetermined margin below the predetermined threshold levels during the phases of the operation. During the phases of the operation, operational data indicative of an electrical power generation system'"'"'s actual ability to support electrical loading and/or actual electrical loading is received. The profile of the predetermined threshold levels and/or the profile of electrical loading is adjusted responsive to the operational data such that electrical loading is maintained substantially the same predetermined margin below the predetermined threshold levels during the phases of the operation.

Claims

1. A method of adaptively managing electrical power on an aircraft, the method comprising:

developing a profile of a plurality of threshold levels of electrical loading for a plurality of phases of a flight of an aircraft by analyzing at least one source of information chosen from a flight plan and historical electrical loading data, the plurality of phases of the flight including gate, start, taxi from gate, climb, cruise, descent, and taxi to gate;

developing a profile of electrical loading for each of a plurality of flight-related systems and a plurality of aircraft cabin systems for the plurality of phases of the flight wherein the profile of electrical loading indicates;

maintaining electrical loading below the threshold levels by substantially a same predetermined margin during the plurality of phases of the flight; and

sequencing electrical loads over time periods within a particular phase of the flight to substantially equalize electrical loading over the time periods during the particular phase of the flight;

receiving in-flight data during the plurality of phases of the flight where the in-flight data is indicative of at least one parameter chosen from an ability of an electrical power generation system of the aircraft to support electrical loading and a level of electrical loading, the in-flight data being received from at least one data source chosen from an electronic engine control system and a load controller; and

adjusting at least one profile chosen from the profile of the plurality of threshold levels and the profile of electrical loading responsive to the in-flight data such that electrical loading is maintained below the threshold levels by at least the predetermined margin during the plurality of phases of the flight.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the profile of the plurality of threshold levels and the profile of electrical loading; and

adjusting at least one profile chosen from the profile of the plurality of threshold levels and the profile of electrical loading responsive to the comparison such that electrical loading is maintained substantially the same predetermined margin below the threshold levels during the plurality of phases of the flight.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein developing the profile of the plurality of threshold levels includes:

determining an initial threshold level above which electrical load is not to be added to the electrical power generation system;

analyzing when in the flight the initial threshold level will be reached;

establishing threshold levels below the initial threshold level when the initial threshold level will not be reached; and

establishing threshold levels above the initial threshold level when the initial threshold level will be reached.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sequencing the electrical loads includes:

scheduling a first electrical load to operate at its maximum electrical loading level in one of the time periods of the particular phase of the flight; and

scheduling a second electrical load to operate at its maximum electrical loading level in another of the time periods of the particular phase of the flight.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein:

threshold levels are established below the initial threshold level during the gate, start, taxi from gate, descent, and taxi to gate phases; and

threshold levels are established above the initial threshold level during the climb and cruise phases.

6. A system to adaptively manage electrical power on an aircraft, the system comprising:

a first input interface configured to receive planning data regarding a flight, the flight including a plurality of phases including gate, start, taxi from gate, climb, cruise, descent, and taxi to gate, the planning data including at least one data set chosen from a flight plan and historical electrical loading data;

a second input interface configured to receive from an electronic engine control system, during the plurality of phases of the flight, first in-flight data indicative of an ability of an electrical power generation system of an aircraft to support electrical loading;

an input/output interface configured to receive from at least one load controller, during the plurality of phases of the flight, second in-flight data indicative of electrical loading; and

a processor including;

a first processing component configured to develop a profile of a plurality of threshold levels of electrical loading for the plurality of phases of the flight;

a second processing component configured to develop a profile of electrical loading for each of a plurality of flight-related systems and for a plurality of aircraft cabin systems for the plurality of phases of the flight such that electrical loading is substantially a same predetermined margin below the threshold levels during the plurality of phases of the flight;

a third processing component configured time periods within a particular phase of the flight to substantially equalize electrical loading over the time periods during the particular phase of the flight; and

a fourth processing component configured to adjust at least one profile chosen from the profile of the plurality of threshold levels and the profile of electrical loading responsive to the second in-flight data such that electrical loading is maintained substantially the same predetermined margin below the threshold levels during the plurality of phases of the flight.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first processing component is further configured to:

determine an initial threshold level above which electrical load is not to be added to the electrical power generation system;

analyze when in the flight the initial threshold level will be reached;

establish threshold levels below the initial threshold level when the initial threshold level will not be reached; and

establish threshold levels above the initial threshold level when the initial threshold level will be reached.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the second processing component is further configured to:

schedule a first electrical load to operate at its maximum electrical loading level in one of the time periods of the particular phase of the flight; and

schedule a second electrical load to operate at its maximum electrical loading level in another of the time periods of the particular phase of the flight.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one load controller includes a controller chosen from a motor controller and a solid state power controller.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the input/output interface is further configured to provide control data to the at least one load controller for controlling at least one load.

11. A method of adaptively managing electrical power, the method comprising:

developing a profile of a plurality of threshold levels of electrical loading for each of a plurality of phases of an operation;

developing a profile of electrical loading for each of a plurality of flight-related systems and for a plurality of aircraft cabin systems for the plurality of phases of the operation and for each of a plurality of time increments into which the phases of operation are divided such that electrical loading is substantially equalized over the time increments of each of the plurality of phases and is substantially below the threshold levels by at least a predetermined margin during the plurality of phases of the operation;

receiving operational data during the plurality of phases of the operation including first operational data indicative of an ability of an electrical power generation system to support electrical loading and second operational data indicative of electrical loading; and

comparing the first operational data with the second operational data indicative of electrical loading to determine whether the electrical loading is below the ability of the electrical power generation system to support electrical loading by at least the predetermined margin.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising using stored power to power electrical loading when the electrical loading is greater than the ability of the electrical power generation system to support electrical loading.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing power when the electrical loading is less than the ability of the electrical power generation system to support electrical loading.

14. A system to for adaptively manage electrical power, the system comprising:

a power storage device;

a first input interface configured to receive data regarding an operation plan related to an operation, the operation including a plurality of phases;

a second input interface configured to receive, during the plurality of phases of the operation, first operational data indicative of an ability of an electrical power generation system to support electrical loading;

an input/output interface configured to receive, during the plurality of phases of the operation, second operational data indicative of electrical loading; and

a processor including;

a first processing component configured to develop a profile of a plurality of threshold levels of electrical loading for the plurality of phases of the operation;

a second processing component configured to develop a profile of electrical loading for each of a plurality of flight-related systems and for a plurality of aircraft cabin systems for the plurality of phases of the operation and for each of a plurality of time increments into which the plurality of phases are divided such that electrical loading is substantially equalized over the plurality of time increments within each of the plurality of phases and is substantially below the threshold levels by at least a predetermined margin during the plurality of phases of the operation; and

a third processing component configured to compare the first operational data with the second operational data indicative of electrical loading.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the third processing component is further configured to cause the power storage device to use stored power to power electrical loading when the electrical loading is greater than the ability of the electrical power generation system to support electrical loading.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the third processing component is further configured to cause the power storage device to store power when the electrical loading is less than the ability of the electrical power generation system to support electrical loading.

17. A method of adaptively managing electrical power for a plurality of time periods during one or more phases of an operation, the method comprising:

determining a threshold level of electrical loading supported by an electrical generation system for a particular phase of the one or more phases of the operation;

scheduling operation of each of a plurality of functional groups of loads such that;

a total level of the electrical loading of the plurality of functional groups is substantially equalized for the plurality of time periods within the particular phase; and

the total level of the electrical loading of the plurality of functional groups of loads is maintained below the threshold level of electrical loading for the particular phase by at least a predetermined margin;

receiving operational data during the operation indicative of a capacity of the electrical power generation system to generate electrical power; and

adjusting the total level of the electrical loading such that the total level of the electrical loading is maintained below the actual capacity of the electrical power generation system by at least the predetermined margin.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining the total level of electrical loading and the threshold level of electrical loading from historical data of one or more previous operations.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the total level of electrical loading and the threshold level of electrical loading are determined before commencing the operation according to a plan of the operation.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the operation includes a flight of an aircraft and wherein the one or more phases of the operation include:

a gate phase;

a start phase;

a taxi from gate phase;

a climb phase;

a cruise phase;

a descent phase; and

a taxi to gate phase.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of functional groups of loads includes cabin systems and flight systems.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the cabin systems include:

an environmental control system; and

a galley system.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the flight systems include:

a starter system;

a de-icing system;

an actuation system; and

an avionics system.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting the capacity of the electrical power generation system when the capacity of the electrical power generation system is not at least equal to the threshold level of electrical loading.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting an electrical load supplied to one of the plurality of functional groups when the capacity of the electrical power generation system is not at least equal to the threshold level of electrical loading.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising in response to determining that the capacity of the electrical power generation system exceeds the threshold level of electrical loading, storing electrical power exceeding the threshold level of electrical loading in an energy storage device.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising in response to determining that the threshold level of electrical loading exceeds the capacity of the electrical power generation system, drawing stored electrical power from the energy storage device to supplement the actual capacity of the electrical power generation system.

28. A system to adaptively manage electrical power for a plurality of time periods during each of a plurality of phases of an operation, the system comprising:

a first input interface to receive data regarding an operation plan for the plurality of phases of the operation;

a second input interface to receive, during the plurality of phases of the operation, data indicating a capacity of an electrical power generation system to support electrical loading; and

a power management system, wherein the power management system is configured to;

determine a threshold level of electrical loading supported by the electrical power generation system for a particular phase of the plurality of phases;

schedule operation of each of a plurality of functional groups of loads such that;

a total level of the electrical loading of the plurality of functional groups is substantially equalized for the plurality of time periods in the particular phase; and

the total level of the electrical loading of the plurality of functional groups is maintained below the threshold level of electrical loading by at least a predetermined margin;

receive data indicating a measured capacity of the electrical power generation system to support electrical loading; and

adjust the total level of the electrical loading such that the total level of the electrical loading is maintained below the measured capacity of the electrical power generation system by at least the predetermined margin.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the power management system determines the total level of electrical loading and the threshold level of electrical loading from historical data of one or more previous operations received via the first input interface.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the power management system determines the threshold level of electrical loading before commencing the operation according to the operation plan.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the operation includes a flight of an aircraft and wherein the plurality of phases of the operation include:

a gate phase;

a start phase;

a taxi from gate phase;

a climb phase;

a cruise phase;

a descent phase; and

a taxi to gate phase.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the plurality of functional groups of loads includes cabin systems and flight systems.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the cabin systems include:

an environmental control system; and

a galley system.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the flight systems include:

a starter system;

a de-icing system;

an actuation system; and

an avionics system.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein the power management system sends a signal to adjust the capacity of the electrical power generation system when the measured capacity of the electrical power generation system is not at least equal to the threshold level of electrical loading.

36. The system of claim 28, wherein the power management system adjusts an electrical load supplied to one of the plurality of functional groups when the measured capacity of the electrical power generation system is not at least equal to the threshold level of electrical loading.

37. The system of claim 28, wherein in response to determining that the measured capacity of the electrical power generation system exceeds the threshold level of electrical loading, the power management system causes electrical power exceeding the threshold level of electrical loading to be stored in an energy storage device.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein in response to determining that the threshold level of electrical loading exceeds the measured capacity of the electrical power generation system, the power management system draws stored electrical power from the energy storage device to supplement the capacity of the electrical power generation system.