Predictive maintenance system for aviation power supplies

Abstract

A predictive maintenance system for an aircraft-based power converter subsystem (PCS) continuously measures primary system parameters such as input and output currents and voltages, ambient and PCS component temperatures, and hold-up capacitance voltage. The predictive maintenance system updates the likely failure rate of the PCS based on the primary parameters and secondary parameters (e.g., power consumption, power efficiency, thermal resistance, hold-up storage capacitance) derived therefrom. Sensed primary parameters and derived secondary parameters, as well as the updated failure rate, are stored to memory in order to monitor their time derivatives and regression over the PCS lifespan. Should the updated failure rate ever reach or exceed an acceptable failure rate threshold, the predictive maintenance system alerts the aircraft control system, end user, or provider to service the PCS in advance of an unanticipated field failure.