US 11,641,035 B1Granted

Systems and methods for aircraft power management and distribution

AssigneeBeta Air, LLC

InventorHerman Wiegman

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Abstract

A system for aircraft power management and distribution, including a sensor suite configured to measure battery pack data. The system includes a battery pack with a plurality of batteries and a battery monitoring component. This battery monitoring component is configured to measure battery pack data. The system also has electric power converters, each connected to a battery of the plurality of batteries. The system also includes a controller configured to control each electric power converter; receive an estimated charge from each battery; select and enable electric power converters based on the estimated charge; compare the total output of the enabled electric power converters against an optimal operating region; and adjust the number of the one or more enabled electric power converters accordingly.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A system for aircraft power management and distribution, comprising:

a battery pack, the battery pack comprising:
a plurality of batteries electrically connected together in a series;
a battery monitoring component, the battery monitoring component configured to measure battery pack data associated with a first fault via a sensor suite;
a battery management component comprising a plurality of subcomponents, wherein each of the plurality of subcomponents is configured to measure the battery pack data associated with a second fault via the sensor suite;
an interlock component, having a first mode and a second mode, the interlock component configured to:
enable the battery monitoring component and disable the battery management component when in the first mode;
and
enable the battery management component and disable the battery monitoring component when in the second mode;
and
a plurality of electric power converters, wherein each electric power converter of the plurality of electric power converters is connected to a battery in the plurality of batteries;
an electric power converter controller, the electric power converter controller configured to:
control each electric power converter of a plurality of electric power converters;
select, from the plurality of electric power converters, one or more electric power converters to enable;
enable the one or more selected electric power converters, wherein:
an enabled electric power converter converts an input at a first voltage level to an output at a second voltage level;
and
the outputs of the one or more enabled electric power converters are combined to create a total output;
compare the total output of the one or more enabled electric power converters against an optimal operating region, having a first threshold value and a second threshold value;
and
adjust, when the total output of the one or more enabled electric power converters is outside of the optimal operating region, a number of the one or more enabled electric power converters, wherein adjusting further comprises adjusting as a function of the battery pack data.

17 more elements

A method for aircraft power management and distribution, comprising:

measuring, at a battery monitoring component and a battery management component, battery pack data for a plurality of batteries in a battery pack;
wherein the battery monitoring component is configured to measure the battery pack data associated with a first fault via a sensor suite;
and
wherein the battery management component further comprises a plurality of subcomponents, and each of the plurality of subcomponents is configured to measure the battery pack data associated with a second fault via the sensor suite;
selecting, from a plurality of electric power converters, wherein each electric power converter in the plurality of electric power converters is connected to a battery of the plurality of batteries, one or more electric power converters to enable;
enabling the one of more selected electric power converters, comprising:
converting, using an electric power converter of the one or more selected electric power converters, an input at a first voltage level to an output at a second voltage level;
and
combining each output of the one or more enabled electric power converters to create a total output;
comparing the total output of the one or more enabled electric power converters against an optimal operating region, having a first threshold value and a second threshold value;
adjusting, when the total output of the one or more enabled electric power converters is outside of the optimal operating region, a number of the one or more enabled electric power converters;
and
adjusting an interlock component, the interlock component having a first mode and a second mode, comprising:
enabling the battery monitoring component and disabling the battery management component when in the first mode;
enabling the battery management component and disabling the battery monitoring component when in the second mode;
enabling the battery monitoring component when the battery pack is installed in an electric aircraft;
and
enabling the battery management component when the battery pack is uninstalled from the electric aircraft.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/877,978Filed 31 Jul 2022 · continuation
Priority: 10 Nov 2021
Published: US 2023/0145830 A111 May 2023
Granted: 2 May 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

H01M 10/425
Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells: structural combination with electronic…
B64D 27/35
Aircraft characterised by electric power plants: arrangements for on-board electric energy production, distribution, recovery or storage
B64D 27/357
Arrangements for on-board electric energy production, distribution, recovery or storage: using batteries
B64D 31/16
Power plant control systems; Arrangement of power plant control systems in aircraft: for electric power plants