US 12,460,587 B2
Method for regulating the speed of rotation of a propulsion device of a hybrid propulsion unit for an aircraft, in the event of a failure of the main regulation system of the heat engine of the hybrid propulsion unit
David Bernard Martin Lemay, Moissy-Cramayel (FR); Jean-Philippe Jacques Marin, Moissy-Cramayel (FR); and Jean-Luc Charles Gilbert Frealle, Moissy-Cramayel (FR)
Assigned to SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES, Bordes (FR)
Appl. No. 18/718,701
Filed by SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES, Bordes (FR)
PCT Filed Dec. 13, 2022, PCT No. PCT/FR2022/052330
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 11, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/111445, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 22, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 2113833 (FR), filed on Dec. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2025/0042563 A1, Feb. 6, 2025
Int. Cl. F02C 9/46 (2006.01); B64D 27/33 (2024.01); B64D 31/14 (2006.01); B64D 31/18 (2024.01); B64D 31/06 (2006.01)
CPC F02C 9/46 (2013.01) [B64D 27/33 (2024.01); B64D 31/14 (2013.01); B64D 31/18 (2024.01); B64D 31/06 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling the rotational speed (Np) of a propulsion device of a hybrid propulsion unit for an aircraft, in the event of failure of the main regulation system of the heat engine of the hybrid propulsion unit, the hybrid propulsion unit comprising:
the propulsion device and a main gearbox, capable of driving the propulsion device;
the heat engine and at least one electric motor, mounted in parallel on the main gearbox, the heat engine being provided with a fuel circuit capable of supplying fuel into a combustion chamber of the heat engine;
a main regulation system of the heat engine, capable of regulating the rotational speed of the heat engine;
a backup regulation system of the heat engine, capable of regulating the rotational speed of the heat engine when the main regulation system fails;
a regulation system of the electric motor, capable of regulating the rotational speed of the electric motor;
a control system of the aircraft, capable of sending a speed or power setpoint to each of the regulation systems of the heat engine and of the electric motor;
the method comprising, when the main regulation system of the heat engine fails and said system is locked to a fuel flow command QCarbP*, the control system is performing the steps of:
sending a speed setpoint NM2ref to the regulation system of the electric motor, so that the regulation system of the electric motor sends a power command PM2* to the electric motor, whereby an instantaneous power PM2m of the electric motor is obtained;
simultaneously, sending a rotational speed or power setpoint to the backup regulation system of the heat engine, so that the backup regulation system sends a fuel flow command QCarbAux* to the fuel circuit of the heat engine, the command QCarbAux* is selected so as to vary the fuel flow QCarb injected into the combustion chamber of the heat engine depending on whether it is desired to vary the power PM1 Of the heat engine; and
controlling the rotational speed (Np) of a propulsion device by controlling an auxiliary fuel flow QCarbAux* and the fuel flow QCarb injected into a combustion chamber of the heat engine.