The Modular Design of an Aircraft Power Distribution System 2010-01-1779

The more electric aircraft (MEA) concept has been employed to optimizing the airframe and engine systems of aircraft, and significant benefits have been achieved by replacing today's pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric airframe power systems predominantly with electric power[ 1 ][ 2 ][ 3 ][ 4 ]. Not only MEA, more and more sophisticated electronic equipment has been added to modern aircraft. The trend toward MEA and using advanced electronic technology creates growth in energy demands and has resulted in ongoing increases in weight, size, and cost of power distribution systems. It has been determined that future aircraft power systems should be significantly reduced in size, weight, and cost, without compromising power-increasing requirements.

Optimization potential is seen for system architectures of higher integration even for more simplified architectures. This could be achieved by an improvement of the architecture design using a modular approach. This integrated power system (IPS) consists of a set of modules that together provide the basis for designing, procuring, and supporting aircraft power systems applicable for all aircraft types. The modules will include power conversion modules, power modules, control and protection modules, etc. The modular design of a power distribution system will give significant advantages of increasing the power capacity and system reliability, improving system efficiency, and also cost and maintenance reduction.