Intelligent engine offload of auxiliary loads for enhanced engine durability
Provided are embodiments for a system for offloading non-thrust loads. The system includes one or more thrust loads, and one or more non-thrust loads, and a controller that is operably coupled to the one or more thrust loads and the one or more non-thrust loads. The controller is configured to control the thrust loads and non-thrust loads, receive input from one or more sources, and identify a phase of flight based at least in part on the received input. The controller is also configured to offload one or more non-thrust loads during the phase of flight, and restore the one or more non-thrust loads. Also provided are embodiments for method for offloading non-thrust loads.
1. A system for offloading non-thrust loads, the system comprising:
one or more thrust loads;
one or more non-thrust loads;
a controller that is operably coupled to the one or more thrust loads and the one or more non-thrust loads, the controller configured to control the thrust loads and non-thrust loads, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive input from one or more sources;
identify a phase of flight based at least in part on the received input;
offload one or more non-thrust loads during the phase of flight, wherein the offloaded one or more non-thrust loads cycle between fully ON state and a second state where power is reduced by a configurable amount, wherein a duration in the second state of each non-thrust load in the one or more non-thrust loads is based on a load type for each non-thrust load; and
restore the offloaded one or more non-thrust loads, wherein restoring the offloaded one or more non-thrust loads that were turned to the second state are turned to the fully ON state based at least in part on threshold levels for a fuselage detected by sensors.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a pattern of usage of the one or more non-thrust loads over a period of time to minimize active one or more non-thrust loads during the identified phase of flight.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to manage interactions between the one or more non-thrust loads based at least in part on minimizing the active one or more non-thrust loads during the identified phase of flight, wherein managing the interactions comprises determining a time to activate the one or more non-thrust loads.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein an auxiliary power source is at least one of a battery, an auxiliary power unit or fuel cell.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more non-thrust loads are automatically restored after a configurable period of time or manually restored.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more non-thrust loads are automatically restored upon entering a different phase of flight.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to identify the phase of flight as a climb phase of flight that requires thrust.
8. A computer-implemented method for offloading non-thrust loads, the computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving input from one or more sources;
identifying a phase of flight based at least in part on the received input;
offloading one or more non-thrust loads during the phase of flight, wherein the offloaded one or more non-thrust loads cycle between fully ON state and a second state power is reduced by a configurable amount, wherein a duration in the second state of each non-thrust load in the one or more non-thrust loads is based on a load type for each non-thrust load; and
restoring the offloaded one or more non-thrust loads, wherein restoring the offloaded one or more non-thrust loads that were turned to the second state are turned to the fully ON state based at least in part on threshold levels for a fuselage detected by sensors.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising determining a pattern of usage of the one or more non-thrust loads over a period of time to minimize active one or more non-thrust loads during the identified phase of flight.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising managing interactions between the one or more non-thrust loads based at least in part on minimizing the active one or more non-thrust loads during the identified phase of flight, wherein managing the interactions comprises determining a time to activate the one or more non-thrust loads.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more non-thrust loads are automatically restored after an expiry of a period of time.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more non-thrust loads are manually restored by an operator.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the non-thrust loads are manually restored upon entering a different phase of flight.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the phase of flight is an initial climb phase of flight.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein an auxiliary power source includes at least one of a battery, an auxiliary power unit, or fuel cell.
16. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more non-thrust loads are offloaded during the entire phase of flight.
17. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more non-thrust loads are offloaded during a portion of the phase of flight.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein offloading the one or more non-thrust loads is based on exceeding a threshold level.