The Modern Trends in Aircraft Electrical System, Research Paper Example

Introduction

The trends and the technological innovations are changing both the airspace in which aircrafts operate and the aircraft that are operated on. The basis for these innovation alterations is to improve the reliability all through the aviation system and to great extent improve the safety of passengers in the skies. The technological trends involve the systems intended to move aircraft more effectively and efficiently in air and on the ground, improvements in aircraft design and components, and the means for providing the ground controllers and the pilots on planes with better information on weather and traffic conditions.

The particular development of the aircraft system technicality is exponential in numerous areas, with the greatest noted trend being the interconnectedness of the systems. Presently, the aircrafts in the skies operate with sophisticated systems that have widespread cross-connections. As the complexity of the systems grows, so does the need for rectifying the possible equipment defects or the hidden design flaws. Therefore the trend in recent times focuses on developing a More Electric Aircraft that increasingly uses electrical power so as to propel the subsystems traditionally driven by hydraulic and pneumatic systems and mechanical aircraft system.

Electric Power generation in a More Electric Aircraft (MEA)

The consistent development of power electronics developments in aircrafts reached the power conversion systems attained with power electronics. The methods of generation of electrical power in aircrafts include;

• Variable speed constant frequency (VSCF) having the DC link
• Constant frequency system (CF) or the Integrated Drive Generator (IDG)
• Variable speed constant frequency (VSCF) having the cyclo-converter variable frequency system possessing frequencies of about 360 and 800Hz.

On the first instance, the Integrated Drive Generator or the Constant Frequency system uses a mechanical or an electrical speed converter prior to the electrical generator.  The purpose of the speed converter is to ensure that there is constant frequency to the output required. The presence of the speed converter is the main disadvantage of this technique sic weight plays a major role in aircraft design hence cumbersome, expensive and unreliable.

The other method commonly used is the Variable speed constant frequency (VSCF) having the DC link which is the main technology used in military aircrafts but also evident on some commercial planes. This particular method one applies the static electronic power and the dc generators. Through using this method, the weight was noted to be considerable and the static power converters are reliable.

The other similar technique is the Variable speed constant frequency (VSCF) with the cyclo-converter where, one uses an AC generator that is driven with variable speed by the plane’s engine. The power electronic converts the AC variable frequency into constant amplitude AC power or constant frequency. This method has the advantage of improved converter efficiency once there is a decrease of the power factor. In the case of high power consumers such as commercial aircrafts apply this method of VSCF with cyclo-converters and there may e a decrease in power factor in some conditions.

The Variable Frequency is at most on the experimental stage presently. This is a system that follows minimal weight and low cost power system for the aircraft and hence may be allowed in instances of variable frequency power system. For such as system, there are utilitarian clients as the prevailing clients. For instance the galley consumers rarely need systems with high performance.

References

Pallett, E. H. J. (1987). Aircraft electrical systems. London: Longman Scientific & Technical.

Drake, R. H. (1949). Aircraft electrical systems, hydraulic systems and instruments. New York: Macmillan Co.