Abstract: A method and apparatus of determining the state of charge and charging Li-ion batteries while the batteries remain floating on the direct current (DC) bus without the need for a dedicated charger is described. The system includes a battery, a DC generator and a converter, each electrically connected to a DC bus. A charging control algorithm may be used to monitor and control the charging current supplied to the battery. The voltage on the DC bus may be varied to help control the charging current supplied to the battery, based on the battery's internal impedance and the battery's state of charge.

Abstract: An electrical power system may comprise an AC generator and a generator control unit (GCU) for varying AC output voltage of the AC generator. A DC bus may be connected to the AC generator via a Transformer Rectifier Unit (TRU) so that DC voltage on the DC bus is directly proportional to the AC output voltage. A battery may be connected directly to the DC bus. A control loop may be connected to receive battery current information and provide control signals to vary the AC output voltage so that battery charge may be maintained without battery damage.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical power distribution system that includes a first primary distribution panel (PDP) connected to a first source of electrical power and a second PDP connected to a second source of electrical power. The second PDP is connected to the first PDP by a conductor. A first solid state power controller (SSPC) receives signals corresponding to the flow of current through the first PDP to a load. A second SSPC receives signals corresponding to the flow of current between the first PDP and the second PDP. The first and second SSPC protect the electrical power distribution system from a variety of fault conditions.

Abstract: Methods for active power management, i.e., the power management method may be activated in response to changes in the supply and demand of power in a system, are disclosed. The power management method may use dynamically collected data reporting levels of electrical power utilized by systems while matching them to the available power. One embodiment of the present invention may be applied in smaller or medium sized systems. Another embodiment of the present invention may be implemented making use of additional aircraft resources, such as an integrated modular avionics (IMA) line replaceable unit (LRU) in larger sized systems. Both of these embodiments may make use of data collected from systems utilizing or generating electrical via the bus power control unit (BPCU) LRU, the data processing taking place either locally in the BPCU (small or medium sized systems) or in the IMA (larger systems).

Abstract: An ungrounded electrical power distribution system may experience a single line to ground fault. Such a fault may not disrupt operation of the system, but its presence may raise a risk of additional problems if left uncorrected. A system for progressively grounding the ungrounded system may be initiated when a line to ground fault is suspected. As grounding through successively lower impedance proceeds, fault current may increase and detection of severity of the line to ground fault may be more readily achieved, thus facilitating localization of the fault.

Abstract: An ungrounded or floating DC electrical power distribution system may experience a single line to ground fault. Such a fault may not disrupt operation of the system, but its presence may raise a risk of additional problems if left uncorrected. A system for progressively grounding the ungrounded system may be initiated when a line to ground fault is suspected based on the voltage difference measured to a common chassis point. As grounding through successively lower impedance proceeds, fault current may increase and detection of severity of the line to ground fault may be more readily achieved, thus facilitating localization of the fault. Localization may be achieved through an analysis of direction of capacitive currents in isolatable zones of the system.

Abstract: An electrical power system may comprise an AC generator and a generator control unit (GCU) for varying AC output voltage of the AC generator. A DC bus may be connected to the AC generator via a Transformer Rectifier Unit (TRU) so that DC voltage on the DC bus is directly proportional to the AC output voltage. A battery may be connected directly to the DC bus. A control loop may be connected to receive battery current information and provide control signals to vary the AC output voltage so that battery charge may be maintained without battery damage.

Abstract: Methods for active power management, i.e., the power management method may be activated in response to changes in the supply and demand of power in a system, are disclosed. The power management method may use dynamically collected data reporting levels of electrical power utilized by systems while matching them to the available power. One embodiment of the present invention may be applied in smaller or medium sized systems. Another embodiment of the present invention may be implemented making use of additional aircraft resources, such as an integrated modular avionics (IMA) line replaceable unit (LRU) in larger sized systems. Both of these embodiments may make use of data collected from systems utilizing or generating electrical via the bus power control unit (BPCU) LRU, the data processing taking place either locally in the BPCU (small or medium sized systems) or in the IMA (larger systems).

Abstract: A super capacitor energy storage supplementing a battery providing power to a direct current bus including charge and discharge converters is disclosed. A bank of super capacitors may be charged by a battery with a pulse-width modulation controller and an electromagnetic interference filter. The bank of super capacitors may be controllably connected to the direct current bus through an isolating transformer implemented as a isolated boost converter.

Abstract: An electrical power system may be provided with temporary power from a bank of supercapacitors connected to a bus of the power system. The supercapacitors may be charged from an output from a primary power source of the system during start-up of the power source. Output voltage of the primary power source may progressively increase and capacitor charging may occur at this progressively increasing voltage. Dedicated current-limiting devices are not required during charging. When temporary power is required the supercapacitors may be discharged sequentially in a series combination so that a high internal voltage of each capacitor is maintained and so that virtually all of the stored energy of the capacitor may be discharged to the bus at a usable voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating voltage and aerospace electrical power systems are implemented. A multi-functional apparatus for regulating voltage, according to one embodiment, comprises: a DC to DC converter (315), wherein the DC to DC converter (315) is controlled to operate in a first direction to receive a DC voltage from a first bus (329) and to output a first regulated DC voltage adjusted to charge a battery (307), wherein the first bus (329) receives power from a second bus (201), and is controlled to operate in a second direction to receive a battery DC voltage from the battery (307) and to output a second regulated DC voltage to the first bus (329) to power a load (231) independently or in combination with the second bus (201).

Abstract: A method and apparatus of determining the state of charge and charging Li-ion batteries while the batteries remain floating on the direct current (DC) bus without the need for a dedicated charger is described. The system includes a battery, a DC generator and a converter, each electrically connected to a DC bus. A charging control algorithm may be used to monitor and control the charging current supplied to the battery. The voltage on the DC bus may be varied to help control the charging current supplied to the battery, based on the battery's internal impedance and the battery's state of charge.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical power distribution system that includes a first primary distribution panel (PDP) connected to a first source of electrical power and a second PDP connected to a second source of electrical power. The second PDP is connected to the first PDP by a conductor. A first ELCU receives signals corresponding to the flow of current through the first PDP to a load. A second ELCU receiving signals corresponding to the flow of current between the first PDP and the second PDP and a third ELCU receives signals corresponding to the flow of current between the second PDP and the first PDP. The first, second and third ELCUs protect the electrical power distribution system from a variety of fault conditions.

Abstract: A super capacitor energy storage supplementing a battery providing power to a direct current bus including charge and discharge converters is disclosed. A bank of super capacitors may be charged by a battery with a pulse-width modulation controller and an electromagnetic interference filter. The bank of super capacitors may be controllably connected to the direct current bus through an isolating transformer implemented as a isolated boost converter.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical power distribution system that includes a first primary distribution panel (PDP) connected to a first source of electrical power and a second PDP connected to a second source of electrical power. The second PDP is connected to the first PDP by a conductor. A first solid state power controller (SSPC) receives signals corresponding to the flow of current through the first PDP to a load. A second SSPC receives signals corresponding to the flow of current between the first PDP and the second PDP. The first and second SSPC protect the electrical power distribution system from a variety of fault conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical power distribution system that includes a first primary distribution panel (PDP) connected to a first source of electrical power and a second PDP connected to a second source of electrical power. The second PDP is connected to the first PDP by a conductor. A first ELCU receives signals corresponding to the flow of current through the first PDP to a load. A second ELCU receiving signals corresponding to the flow of current between the first PDP and the second PDP and a third ELCU receives signals corresponding to the flow of current between the second PDP and the first PDP. The first, second and third ELCUs protect the electrical power distribution system from a variety of fault conditions.

Abstract: An ungrounded or floating DC electrical power distribution system may experience a single line to ground fault. Such a fault may not disrupt operation of the system, but its presence may raise a risk of additional problems if left uncorrected. A system for progressively grounding the ungrounded system may be initiated when a line to ground fault is suspected based on the voltage difference measured to a common chassis point. As grounding through successively lower impedance proceeds, fault current may increase and detection of severity of the line to ground fault may be more readily achieved, thus facilitating localization of the fault. Localization may be achieved through an analysis of direction of capacitive currents in isolatable zones of the system.

Abstract: An ungrounded electrical power distribution system may experience a single line to ground fault. Such a fault may not disrupt operation of the system, but its presence may raise a risk of additional problems if left uncorrected. A system for progressively grounding the ungrounded system may be initiated when a line to ground fault is suspected. As grounding through successively lower impedance proceeds, fault current may increase and detection of severity of the line to ground fault may be more readily achieved, thus facilitating localization of the fault.

Abstract: An electrical power system may be provided with temporary power from a bank of supercapacitors connected to a bus of the power system. The supercapacitors may be charged from an output from a primary power source of the system during start-up of the power source. Output voltage of the primary power source may progressively increase and capacitor charging may occur at this progressively increasing voltage. Dedicated current-limiting devices are not required during charging. When temporary power is required the supercapacitors may be discharged sequentially in a series combination so that a high internal voltage of each capacitor is maintained and so that virtually all of the stored energy of the capacitor may be discharged to the bus at a usable voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating voltage and aerospace electrical power systems are implemented. A multi-functional apparatus for regulating voltage, according to one embodiment, comprises: a DC to DC converter (315), wherein the DC to DC converter (315) is controlled to operate in a first direction to receive a DC voltage from a first bus (329) and to output a first regulated DC voltage adjusted to charge a battery (307), wherein the first bus (329) receives power from a second bus (201), and is controlled to operate in a second direction to receive a battery DC voltage from the battery (307) and to output a second regulated DC voltage to the first bus (329) to power a load (231) independently or in combination with the second bus (201).