# US 12,119,661 B2 · Systems and methods for power transfer and load management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,119,661 B2 - Document ID: US12119661B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/521,654 - Filed: 2021-11-08 - Published: 2023-05-11 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-08 - Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Applicants: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Inventors: Michael Krenz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119661B2 ## CPC - H02J 4/00: Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as AC or DC; Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks combining AC and DC sections or sub-networks (arrangements using intermediate DC-AC-DC conversion H02J1/002; arrangements using high-voltage DC [HVDC] links H02J3/36) - H02J 3/003: {Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand} - H02J 3/007: Arrangements for selectively connecting one or more loads to one or more power sources or power lines - H02J 3/28: Arrangements for balancing of the load in networks by storage of energy - H02J 3/46: Controlling the sharing of generated power between the generators, sources or networks - B64D 41/00: Power installations for auxiliary purposes - B64D 2221/00: Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft - H02J 2105/32: {for aircrafts} - H02J 2105/52: for limitation of the power consumption in the networks or in one section of the networks, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving - H02J 2105/53: for partial power limitation, e.g. entering degraded or current limitation modes - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT ## Abstract In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a method for power distribution and load management in an aircraft can include budgeting a designated current for one or more loads in one or more respective power districts in a power distribution system based on a nominal load draw for each of the one or more loads, determining a system condition of the power distribution system, prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on the system condition, and distributing power from each of the one or more power districts to the respective one or more loads in order of priority until a total budgeted designated current for the respective power district has been exhausted, and leaving any remaining loads in the one or more power districts unpowered. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for power distribution and load management in an aircraft, the method comprising: budgeting a designated current for one or more loads in one or more respective power districts in a power distribution system based on a nominal load draw for each of the one or more loads; determining a system condition of the power distribution system; prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on the system condition; distributing power from each of the one or more power districts to the respective one or more loads in order of priority until a total budgeted designated current for the respective power district has been exhausted, and leaving any remaining loads in the one or more power districts unpowered; and generating a look-up table for each of the one or more power districts configured to be used by a logic module to control power distribution and load management based at least in part on the look-up table, wherein the look-up table includes at least one of: a load identifier, a load indexer, a load priority based on the determined system condition, a load priority based on a flight phase, or the budgeted designated current for each of the one or more loads. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein distributing power from each of the one or more power districts to the respective one or more loads in order of priority includes distributing power to a subsequent load based on an expected load draw for the respective one or more loads during the determined system condition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: measuring an actual load draw for each respective load, wherein distributing power from each of the one or more power districts to the respective one or more loads in order of priority includes distributing power to a subsequent load based on the actual load draw for the respective one or more loads during the determined system condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising, if all prioritized loads within the respective power district receive their total respective current based on actual current needed and the total budgeted designated current for the respective power district has not been exhausted: distributing power from each of the one or more power districts to one or more additional loads until the total budgeted designated current for the respective power district has been exhausted. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the budgeted designated current for each of the one or more loads is constant regardless of the determined system condition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on the system condition includes prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on a system health state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on the system condition includes prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on the flight phase. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, if a respective load is not used during a respective system condition: prioritizing the respective load as non-priority such that no power is distributed to the respective load regardless of whether the total budgeted designated current for the respective power district has been exhausted. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein budgeting the designated current for the one or more loads and prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on the system condition are performed automatically by a computer using the logic module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the logic module includes a static engine configured to execute one or more parameter data item files. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: receiving budget and priority input from a user, wherein at least one of budgeting the designated current for the one or more loads or prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on the system condition is based on the input from the user. ### Claim 12 A non-transitory computer readable medium having at least one file stored therein, wherein the at least one file includes computer executable instructions configured to perform a method, the method comprising: budgeting a designated current for one or more loads in one or more respective power districts in a power distribution system based on a nominal load draw for each of the one or more loads; determining a system condition of the power distribution system; prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on the system condition; and distributing power from each of the one or more power districts to the respective one or more loads in order of priority until a total budgeted designated current for the respective power district has been exhausted; wherein the at least one file includes one or more parameter data item files, and wherein distributing power from each of the one or more power districts to the respective one or more loads in order of priority includes distributing power to a subsequent load based on an expected load draw for the respective one or more loads during the determined system condition; and/or wherein the method further includes measuring an actual load draw for each respective load, and wherein distributing power from each of the one or more power districts to the respective one or more loads in order of priority includes distributing power to the subsequent load based on the actual load draw for the respective one or more loads during the determined system condition; and/or wherein the method further includes generating a look-up table for each of the one or more power districts configured to be used by a logic module to control power distribution and load management based at least in part on the look-up table, and wherein the look-up table includes at least one of: a load identifier, a load indexer, a load priority based on the determined system condition, a load priority based on a flight phase, or the budgeted designated current for each of the one or more loads. ### Claim 13 An aircraft power system comprising: one or more power distribution sources configured to supply electrical power to one or more power districts; one or more loads housed within one or more respective ones of the one or more power districts, wherein each power district is configured to manage draw by each respective one or more loads within the respective power district; and a logic module including machine readable instructions configured to: budget a designated current for each of the one or more loads in the respective one or more power districts in the power system based on a nominal load draw for each of the one or more loads; determine a system condition of the power system; prioritize each of the one or more loads based on the system condition; and distribute power from each of the one or more power districts to the respective one or more loads in order of priority until a total budgeted designated current for the respective power district has been exhausted, wherein the logic module is configured to generate a look-up table for each of the one or more power districts to control power distribution and load management based at least in part on the look-up table, and wherein the look-up table includes at least one of: a load identifier, a load indexer, a load priority based on the determined system condition, a load priority based on a flight phase, or the budgeted designated current for each of the one or more loads. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the logic module includes a static engine configured to execute one or more parameter data item files. ### Claim 15 A method for power distribution and load management in an aircraft, the method comprising: budgeting a designated current for one or more loads in one or more respective power districts in a power distribution system based on a nominal load draw for each of the one or more loads; determining a system condition of the power distribution system; prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on the system condition; and distributing power from each of the one or more power districts to the respective one or more loads in order of priority until a total budgeted designated current for the respective power district has been exhausted, and leaving any remaining loads in the one or more power districts unpowered, wherein distributing power from each of the one or more power districts to the respective one or more loads in order of priority includes distributing power to a subsequent load based on an expected load draw for the respective one or more loads during the determined system condition. ### Claim 16 A method for power distribution and load management in an aircraft, the method comprising: budgeting a designated current for one or more loads in one or more respective power districts in a power distribution system based on a nominal load draw for each of the one or more loads; determining a system condition of the power distribution system; prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on the system condition; and distributing power from each of the one or more power districts to the respective one or more loads in order of priority until a total budgeted designated current for the respective power district has been exhausted, and leaving any remaining loads in the one or more power districts unpowered, wherein prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on the system condition includes prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on a system health state. ### Claim 17 A method for power distribution and load management in an aircraft, the method comprising: budgeting a designated current for one or more loads in one or more respective power districts in a power distribution system based on a nominal load draw for each of the one or more loads; determining a system condition of the power distribution system; prioritizing each of the one or more loads based on the system condition; distributing power from each of the one or more power districts to the respective one or more loads in order of priority until a total budgeted designated current for the respective power district has been exhausted, and leaving any remaining loads in the one or more power districts unpowered; and if a respective load is not used during a respective system condition, prioritizing the respective load as non-priority such that no power is distributed to the respective load regardless of whether the total budgeted designated current for the respective power district has been exhausted.