System and method for aircraft power management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016159497-A1
Application number	US-201414560555-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 4, 2014
Priority date	Dec 4, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method implemented using at least one of the processor includes disposing a power source on a vehicle, wherein the power source is configured to power auxiliary loads of the aircraft. The method also includes connecting a power source disposed on a vehicle configured to engage an aircraft for ground operation, to auxiliary loads of the aircraft via an on-board power system. The method also includes performing energy management of the aircraft during the period of ground operation. The method further includes disconnecting the power source when an alternate electrical power is available to the on-board power system.

First claim

1 . A system comprising:
a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor via a communications link; a power source provided in a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is configured to engage an aircraft for ground operation and the power source powers auxiliary loads of the aircraft and; an energy management module communicatively coupled to the power source and that:
connects the power source to the auxiliary loads via an on-board power system;
performs energy management of the aircraft during the period of ground operation; and
disconnects the power source from the aircraft when an alternate energy source is available to the on-board power system.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a coupling module provided in the vehicle and that:
engages the vehicle to the aircraft before taxying; and disengages the vehicle from the aircraft at the end of taxying.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a fossil fuel based power generator.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises an electro chemical power source.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises an electric power source.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a hybrid power source.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power management module recovers energy during regenerative braking of the aircraft during taxying.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy management module generates power required for the auxiliary loads of the aircraft.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein energy management module:
transfers information between the power source and the on-board power system; controls power generation from the power source; and distributes power to the auxiliary loads of the aircraft.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary loads comprise aircraft exterior lights, interior cabin lighting, air conditioning, communication, entertainment, instrumentation, monitoring and warning systems, and fuel gauges and pumps of the aircraft.

11 . A method, comprising:
disposing a power source on a vehicle, wherein the power source is configured to power auxiliary loads of the aircraft; connecting a power source disposed on a vehicle configured to engage an aircraft for ground operation, to auxiliary loads of the aircraft via an on-board power system; performing energy management of the aircraft during the period of ground operation; and disconnecting the power source when an alternate electrical power is available to the on-board power system.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein connecting comprises engaging the vehicle with the aircraft.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein connecting comprises generating power required for the auxiliary loads of the aircraft.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein generating uses fossil fuels to generate power.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein generating uses electro chemical power source to generate power.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein generating uses an electric power source to generate power.

17 . The method of claim 13 wherein generating uses hybrid power source to generate power.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein performing energy management comprises transferring information between the power source and the on-board power system.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein performing energy management comprises controlling the amount of power generated by the power source.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein performing energy management comprises distributing power to the auxiliary loads of the aircraft.

21 . The method of claim 11 , wherein performing energy management comprises harvesting power from regenerative braking of the aircraft during taxying.

22 . The method of claim 11 , performing energy management comprises providing power to aircraft exterior lights, the cabin lighting system, air-conditioning system of the aircraft, communication and entertainment systems of the aircraft, aircraft instrumentation, monitoring and warning systems, and fuel gauges and pumps of the aircraft.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Zhou Zhi
• Joshi Narendra Digamber
• Zhou Rui
• Liao Hongwei

Classifications

• G08G5/727

  from a ground station · CPC title

• G08G5/723

  from the aircraft · CPC title

• G08G5/51

  for control when on the ground, e.g. taxiing or rolling · CPC title

• G08G5/26

  Transmission of traffic-related information between aircraft and ground stations · CPC title

• G08G5/22

  located on the ground · CPC title