Application and challenges of power electronics for variable frequency electric power system of more electric aircraft

Voltage decrease and power loss in distribution lines of aircraft electric power system are harmful to the normal operation of electrical equipment and may even threaten the safety of aircraft. This study investigates how the gap distance (the distance between aircraft cables and aircraft skin) and voltage frequency (variable frequency power supply will be adopted for next generation aircraft) will affect the impedance of aircraft cables. To be more precise, the forming mechanism of cable resistance and inductance is illustrated in detail and their changing trends with frequency and gap distance are analyzed with the help of electromagnetic theoretical analysis. An aircraft cable simulation model is built with Maxwell 2D and the simulation results are consistent with the conclusions drawn from the theoretical analysis. The changing trends of the four core parameters of interest are analyzed: resistance, inductance, reactance, and impedance. The research results can be used as reference for the applications in Variable Speed Variable Frequency (VSVF) aircraft electric power system.

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Electric Aircraft: Exploiting the Synergy between Powertrain, Energy Management and Structure

MATEC Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/matecconf/201823300026 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 233 ◽

pp. 00026

Author(s):

Teresa Donateo ◽

Claudia Lucia De Pascalis ◽

Antonio Ficarella

Keyword(s):

Power System ◽

Evolutionary Algorithm ◽

Electric Power ◽

Energy Management ◽

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽

Design Process ◽

Electric Power System ◽

Multi Objective ◽

Electric Aircraft ◽

Aerial Vehicle

This study aims at investigating the synergy between powertrain and structure within the design process of a fixed-wing tail-sitter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV is equipped with a pure-electric power system and has vertical take-off and landing capabilities (VTOL). The problem is addressed by running a contemporary optimization of the parameters of both the powertrain and the UAV’s structure, in order to maximize electric endurance and payload weight through the usage of a performant multi-objective evolutionary algorithm named SMS-EMOA. Three different designs are selected, discussed and compared with literature results on the same UAV to quantify the increase of payload and cruise time that can be obtained by exploiting the synergy between structure and powertrain. The potentiality of furtherly improving payload through the usage of multi-functional panels, while keeping the same endurance, is also quantified and compared with the technologies proposed in literature.

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Model and Simulation of Permanent Magnets Synchronous Machine (PMSM) of the Electric Power Supply System (EPS), in Accordance with the Concept of a More Electric Aircraft (MEA)

ITM Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/itmconf/20181603004 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 16 ◽

pp. 03004 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lucjan Setlak ◽

Rafał Kowalik

Keyword(s):

Power System ◽

Electric Power ◽

Power Supply ◽

Power Supply System ◽

Permanent Magnets ◽

Synchronous Generator ◽

Supply System ◽

Power Sources ◽

Electric Aircraft ◽

More Electric Aircraft

Based on the mathematical model of synchronous electric machine, basing on permanent magnets, presented in this paper, the key importance of alternator AC power sources in the form of generator (for conventional aircraft) and in the form of integrated unit starter/AC synchronous generator S/G AC (with respect to advanced aircraft concept in the field of more/all electric power MEA/AEA) was highlighted. In addition, through the analysis and selected simulations of the power supply system of a modern aircrafts, sources of onboard electrical energy (synchronous generator, integrated unit starter/AC generator) were located in board autonomic power system ASE (EPS, PES). Key components of this system are the electro-energetic power system EPS and the energo-electronic power system PES. Additionally, the analysis and exemplary simulations of key electricity sources based on mathematical models have contributed to highlighting the main practical applications in line with the trend of a more electric aircraft.

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