Patent Application
20120013176
The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to the field of electronic distribution units (EDU), and more particularly to enhanced EDU energy redistribution.
Electronic distribution units (EDU) in combination with electro-mechanical control devices are used for electronic control applications in, for example, the aerospace industry, as an alternative to traditional hydraulic controls. An EDU may distribute power to various electro-mechanical devices to provide control of an aircraft. In comparison to traditional hydraulic control systems, electronic control applications may simplify maintenance of aircraft and introduce relatively increased reliability.
According to one aspect of the invention, an enhanced electrical distribution unit (EDU) of an aircraft includes power control circuitry disposed to communicate with a power source, a regenerative load control circuit in communication with the power control circuitry and disposed to communicate with a regenerative load, and a passive load control circuit in communication with the power control circuitry and the regenerative load control circuit, the passive load control circuit disposed to communicate with a passive load. The regenerative load control circuit and the passive load control circuit are disposed to arrange a conductive path between the regenerative load and the passive load in response to operation of the regenerative load.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of operating an enhanced electrical distribution unit (EDU) of an aircraft includes de-energizing a regenerative load, arranging a conductive path from the regenerative load to a passive load in response to the de-energizing, dissipating regenerative energy originating at the regenerative load in the passive load, and severing the conductive path in response to the dissipating.
According to another aspect of the invention, an aircraft control system, includes at least one control surface, an electro-mechanical device arranged to operate the control surface, an anti-icing element in communication with the control surface or the electro-mechanical device, and an enhanced electrical distribution unit in communication with the electro-mechanical device and the anti-icing element. The enhanced electrical distribution unit is disposed to redirect regenerative energy generated at the electro-mechanical device to the anti-icing element.
Other aspects, features, and techniques of the invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES:
Embodiments of an electronic distribution unit (EDU), and a method of operating an EDU with enhanced energy redistribution, are provided, with example embodiments being discussed below in detail.
Turning to
The EDU 101 may be interfaced with a plurality of loads 102-107. Each load of the plurality of loads 102-107 may be embodied as electro-mechanical devices or any other suitable device, including passive devices such as anti-icing devices, heating devices, or any other suitable devices. For example, according to at least one example embodiment, loads 102, 103, and 104 may be regenerative devices such as actuators. The actuators are electro-mechanical devices configured and disposed to operate control surfaces of an aircraft. Electric power is required to displace the control surface from the aerodynamic neutral position. When the control surface returns to the neutral position, regenerative electric power is returned and must be dissipated.
The loads 102, 103, and 104 may be in communication with control circuitry 108, 109, and 110, respectively. Furthermore, control circuitry 108, 109, and 110 may be in communication with power control circuitry 114, which is further in communication with a power source 115. Thus, the EDU 101 may distribute power to each of the loads 102, 103, and 104 through power control circuitry 114 and control circuitry 108, 109, and 110.
The loads 105, 106, and 107 may be embodied as any combination of regenerative or passive devices including heaters, anti-icing elements, pumps, fans, or any suitable loads. The loads 105, 106, and 107 may be in communication with control circuitry 111, 112, and 113, respectively. Furthermore, control circuitry 111, 112, and 113 may be in communication with power control circuitry 114, which is in further communication with the power source 115. Thus, the EDU 101 may distribute power to each of the loads 105, 106, and 107 through power control circuitry 114 and control circuitry 111, 112, and 113. In
According to example embodiments, actuation of loads 102, 103, and 104 may include directing energy from the power source 115 to respective control circuitry 108, 109, and 110. As any of the loads 102, 103, and 104 is deactivated or de-energized, a pulse of regenerative energy may be produced at the loads.
For example, load 102 may be actuated to operate a control surface of an aircraft. During operation, the control surface may be actuated to move from a plurality of positions which bring the load 102 to various states of actuation. In a simple example, the load 102 may be fully extended or allowed to return to a neutral position. As the load 102 is brought to a neutral position, a pulse of regenerative energy is produced. This pulse may be transmitted to the control circuitry 108, the power control circuitry 114, and the power source 115. It can be appreciated that the regenerative energy may then be absorbed at the power source 115 producing undesirable voltage spikes, heating and/or stress. However, according to example embodiments, the EDU 101 may redistribute the regenerative energy to reduce these effects.
For example, a conductive path may be arranged through a combination of control circuitry 108, and any combination of control circuitry 111, 112, 113, and 114. The conductive path may be arranged such that the regenerative energy produced at load 102 is redirected to a passive load, such as an anti-icing load (e.g., load 105) or a heating load such as a fuel pre-heater. For example, an anti-icing load may include an anti-icing element in communication with an aerodynamic surface of an aircraft. In this scenario, the regenerative energy is absorbed at the load 105 reducing stress at the power source 115 and increasing the efficiency of operation of the anti-icing element through utilization of otherwise wasted regenerative energy. Upon redistribution of the regenerative energy, the conductive path may be severed.
It is noted that a conductive path may further be arranged throughout the EDU 101 for redistribution from any of the loads 102, 103, and 104 to any of the loads 105, 106, and 107. It is further noted that although the EDU 101 is illustrated and described as including electro-mechanical loads at 102, 103, and 104, a plurality of additional electro-mechanical loads may be included according to any desired implementation.
Therefore, according to example embodiments, an EDU with enhanced energy distribution is provided which may redistribute regenerative energy from regenerative or inductive loads such as electro-mechanical devices to a plurality of other loads in communication with the EDU.
Hereinafter, description of a method of operating an EDU with enhanced energy distribution is provided with reference to
According to
In response to de-energizing the regenerative load, the method 200 includes arranging a conductive path at block 202. The conductive path may be arranged to distribute the regenerative energy described at block 201 to a passive load.
In response to arranging the conductive path, the regenerative energy may be dissipated at the passive load at block 203. The passive load may be a resistive load such as, for example, an anti-icing system or heating system such as a fuel pre-heating system of an aircraft.
In response to dissipating the regenerative energy, the conductive path is severed at block 204.
For example, the regenerative loads may be electro-mechanical devices in communication with aircraft control surfaces.
The airfoil 300 may include a main body 302 including aircraft control surfaces 301 and 303. The airfoil 300 may further include electro-mechanical device 310 in mechanical communication with the control surface 301. The airfoil 300 may further include electro-mechanical device 330 in communication with control surface 303. Furthermore, the control surfaces 301 and 303, and the main body 302 may include anti-icing elements or other passive loads.
Although a particular airfoil is illustrated, it should be noted that example embodiments are not so limited. Example embodiments may be implemented on any suitable airfoil, or on any suitable aircraft.
Therefore, as described in method 200, the electro-mechanical devices 310 and 330 may produce regenerative energy which is redirected to said passive loads for dissipation.
As described above, according to example embodiments, a method of operating an EDU with enhanced energy distribution is provided which may redistribute regenerative energy from regenerative loads such as electro-mechanical devices (for example in communication with control surfaces) to a plurality of other loads in communication with the EDU, including passive loads such as anti-icing systems or heating systems of an aircraft.
The technical effects and benefits of example embodiments include relatively decreased waste energy through redistribution of energy provided through typical operation of electro-mechanical devices on an aircraft. A further benefit is a reduction in waste thermal energy to be transported and rejected to a heat sink. Redirecting and/or redistributing energy generated at electro-mechanical control devices to other systems may also reduce the amount of energy required by these other systems from a power source. Therefore, the overall efficiency of an aircraft may be increased. A further benefit is improved control of the voltage levels for all connected supplies and loads.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. While the description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, it is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications, variations, alterations, substitutions, or equivalent arrangement not hereto described will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiment of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
