US 12,263,953 B2
System and method for operating a hybrid aircraft power plant
Richard Freer, Saint-Basile-le-Grand (CA)
Assigned to PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP., Longueuil (CA)
Filed by PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP., Longueuil (CA)
Filed on May 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/142,323.
Prior Publication US 2024/0367807 A1, Nov. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. B64D 31/06 (2024.01); B64D 27/02 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 31/06 (2013.01) [B64D 27/02 (2013.01); B64D 27/026 (2024.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a parallel hybrid aircraft power plant including an electric motor and a thermal engine cooperatively driving a shaft, the method comprising:
when a first load magnitude is applied to the shaft:
using the parallel hybrid aircraft power plant to drive the shaft; and
controlling the parallel hybrid aircraft power plant to achieve a target rotational speed for the shaft with the first load magnitude being applied to the shaft;
before applying a second load magnitude to the shaft receiving an anticipatory signal indicative of a second load magnitude; and
adjusting an output of the thermal engine in advance of the second load magnitude being applied to the shaft based on the second load magnitude of the anticipatory signal;
applying the second load magnitude to the shaft, the second load magnitude being different from the first load magnitude;
controlling an actual output of the electric motor to achieve the target rotational speed for the shaft with the second load magnitude being applied to the shaft; and when the electric motor is being controlled to achieve the target rotational speed for the shaft with the second load magnitude being applied to the shaft,
controlling the thermal engine to permit the electric motor to achieve a target output of the electric motor based on an error between the target output of the electric motor and the actual output of the electric motor.