Independent power generation in aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAndrew J. Bayliss, John T. Paterson, Kevin Retz
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Abstract
A method includes generating thrust at one or more engines of an aircraft. The method includes generating first electricity at a first power unit concurrently with generating second electricity at a second power unit. The first power unit and the second power unit are independent of the one or more engines of the aircraft. The first electricity has a first set of electrical characteristics and the second electricity has a second set of electrical characteristics, where the first set of electrical characteristics is different than the second set of electrical characteristics.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- generating thrust at one or more engines of an aircraft;
- generating first electricity at a first power unit that is independent of the one or more engines of the aircraft, the first electricity having a first set of electrical characteristics;
- concurrently with generating the first electricity, generating second electricity at a second power unit that is independent of the one or more engines of the aircraft, the second electricity having a second set of electrical characteristics, wherein the first set of electrical characteristics is different than the second set of electrical characteristics;
- and
- receiving the first electricity at an environmental control system (ECS) of the aircraft, wherein, during flight, the ECS is electrically and pneumatically isolated from the one or more engines.
A system comprising:
- at least one engine configured to generate thrust;
- a first power unit configured to generate first electricity independent of the at least one engine, wherein the first electricity has a first set of electrical characteristics;
- a second power unit configured to generate second electricity independent of the at least one engine, wherein the second electricity has a second set of electrical characteristics that is different than the first set of electrical characteristics;
- and
- an environmental control system (ECS) configured to receive the first electricity from the first power unit, wherein, during operation, the ECS is electrically and pneumatically isolated from the at least one engine.
An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- one or more wings;
- at least one engine configured to generate thrust;
- a first power unit configured to generate first electricity independent of the at least one engine, wherein the first electricity has a first set of electrical characteristics;
- a second power unit configured to generate second electricity independent of the at least one engine, wherein the second electricity has a second set of electrical characteristics that is different than the first set of electrical characteristics;
- and
- an environmental control system (ECS) configured to receive the first electricity from the first power unit, wherein, during flight, the ECS is electrically and pneumatically isolated from the at least one engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.