GLOBAL ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT BMS MARKET

INTRODUCTION

The electric aircraft has the continual need for BMS or Battery Management System, which is a critical enabling technology. Its purpose is to regulate the battery's charge/discharge cycles and to safeguard the battery against over-voltage, under-voltage, and over-temperature situations.

The chosen airborne qualification tests have shown that the BMS's design held up well. The safety mechanisms and protection functions were examined after the first risk analysis was completed so that they could be properly included in the design. Several risks and protections were discovered throughout the development of the BMS concept.

ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT BMS MARKET DEVELOPMENTS AND INNOVATIONS

The rechargeable battery with hundreds of cells uses a BMS to monitor and balance the charge of each series-connected battery cell as well as to offer fault detection for each parallel-connected cell. Regular battery monitoring being required is a major driver fuelling market expansion.

Li-ion batteries are a main power source found in the forward electrical equipment bay and APU of modern commercial aircraft. When the aeroplane is being towed, these batteries enable power-braking systems and help refuelling operations.

The battery cells should be regularly balanced to keep the variance of SoC within a narrow range in order to retain a battery's excellent efficiency. The battery capacity will decrease if the cell voltages are not properly balanced.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

The starter generator cannot deliver the necessary torque for the hefty and powerful main aircraft motors. In the current market environment, demand for significantly small aeroplanes that maximise space usage is rising, primarily due to the cost factor.

As a result, small aircraft segments including narrow and wide body aircraft are increasing their market share, which has an immediate effect on the development of the battery market. 

Mahepa Inc. is a leading mobiliser of the equipment in the market. The latest integration has been the system that was created to be in compliance with a few chapters of the DO-160 standard in order to increase system operation security and dependability.

In order to increase battery system safety, dependability, and longevity, specific SOC and SOH algorithms were created for the software. These algorithms forecast battery state of charge and health as well as cell ageing and failure with the greatest degree of accuracy.

Pipistrel is part of the component manufacture trending companies in the current industry. The tubular Li-Ion type cells used in the battery pack's construction employ the NMC chemistry (Nickel Manganese Cobalt).

The central controller also has the nominal needed auxiliary voltage source of 10-30V and is designed to be compliant to 14V and 28V DC input specification, as described in Section 16 of DO-160G, thanks to the battery management system's built-in recharge feature.

COMPANIES PROFILED

• Acme Aerospace
• Concorde Battery
• EaglePicher Technologies
• Kanto Aircraft Instrument
• MarathonNorco Aerospace
• Saft
• Mahepa Inc.
• Pipistrel