Aircraft Electrical System

An electrical system consists of an electrical power source,

its power distribution system and the electrical load
connected to that system
An aircraft electrical system is mainly composed of :
Power sources
Components
- Control devices
- Conversion devices
- Protection devices.
Power distribution systems
Electrical loads
POWER SOURCES
Electrical power sources on an aircraft may be classified into
two groups :
 Batteries

- Lead-acid
- Nickel-cadmium
- Lithium
 Generators

- DC generators
- AC generators
Whatever may be the types of generators, it always
converts mechanical power to electrical power
Control Devices

 These devices are use to initiate and control the

operation of the circuits. Control devices include
 Switches
 Rheostats
 Relays
 Solenoids
Conversion Devices
 There are many occasions within an aircraft
electrical system where it is required to convert
power from one form to another.
Typical examples of power conversion are :
- Conversion from dc to ac power
- Conversion from 115vac to 28 vdc
- Conversion from one ac voltage level to another
- Battery charging (from 115vac to 28vdc)
Following devices are used for these purposes :
 Transformers
 Rectifiers
 Transformer-rectifier units (TRUs)
 Inverters
 Transistors
Protection Devices

 These devices are used to protect circuits, cables

and system components from damage due to
failures.
 Fuses
 Circuit breakers
 Diodes
 GCUs
Power Distribution
An electrical distribution system is required in order to
convey the electrical power to the equipments and
systems that need it.
 Busbar systems
 Wire and cables

Electrical loads
Motors
 Lighting services
 Heating services
 Avionics
FARADAYS LAW

 The instantaneous emf induced in a circuit is directly

proportional to the time rate of change of the magnetic
flux through the circuit
 If the circuit consists of N loops, all of the same area
and if Φ is the flux through one loop, an emf is induced
in every loop and Faradays law becomes
AC Generators
 Generators can supply either direct or alternating current
(DC or AC), as appropriate to the needs of an individual
aircraft type
 Being able to generate a voltage by moving a conductor
through a magnetic field is extremely useful as it provides
us with an easy way of generating electricity
 usingthe rotary power available from the engine to rotate
a conductor shaped into the form of loop
 The loop is made to rotate inside a permanent magnetic
field with opposite poles (N and S) on either side of the
loop
The problem of making contact with the loop as it
rotates inside the magnetic field but this can be
overcome by means of a pair of carbon brushes and
copper slip-rings
 At 0° the opposite sides of the loop will be moving in
the same direction as the lines of flux
 At that instant, the angle, θ , at which the field is cut
is 0° and since the sine of 0° is 0 the generated
voltage will consequently also be zero.
 Ifthe loop has rotated to a position which is 90°the
conductor will effectively be moving at right angles to
the field. At that instant, the generated e.m.f. will
take a maximum value (since the sine of 90° is 1).
 At 180° from the starting position the generated e.m.f.
will have fallen back to zero
 once again, the conductors are moving along the flux
lines
 At 270° the conductors will once again be moving in a
direction which is perpendicular to the flux lines
 A maximum generated e.m.f. will once again be
produced the e.m.f. generated at this instant will be of
opposite polarity to that which was generated at 90°

E = Blv sin θ
 The amount of e.m.f., e , induced in the conductor will be
directly proportional to:
 the density of the magnetic flux, B , measured in tesla (T)
 the effective length of the conductor, l , within the magnetic
flux
 the speed, v , at which the lines of flux cut through the
conductor measured in meters per second(m/s)
 the sine of the angle, θ , between the conductor and the lines
of fl ux.
On most large aircraft high-load electrical devices are usually
AC powered.
Alternator generates three-phase current, and standard
aircraft voltage is 115v ac with 400 Hz.
Mainly two types of electrical power generation currently in
use on aircraft.
- Constant speed Integrated Drive
Generators (IDG)
- Variable Speed Constant Frequency
(VSCF) generators
Single Loop Generator
 The voltage induction in the generator can be attained by the generation of a magnetic
flow in
- stationary stators and rotating induction winding (external pole machine), or
- in the rotating magnetic stand and stationary induction winding in the stator (inner-pole
machine)
NUMERICAL PROBLEM

 The frequency of the output voltage

produced by an AC generator is given
by:
f=pN/60
 where f is the frequency of the
induced e.m.f. (in Hz),
p is the number of pole pairs, and N
(1) Two-pole generator, (2) Four-pole generator
is the rotational speed (in rev/min).
(2) 1 Winding beginning, 2 Winding end, 3 Voltage, 4
A cycle, 5 A rotation = two cycles, 6 A rotation =
one cycle, 7 Coil, 8 Coil connection
TWO PHASE GENERATOR

1 Casing, 2 Stator, 3 Field spider, 4

1 Voltage, 2 voltage of winding one, 3 Voltage of
Beginning winding one, 5 End winding one,
winding two
6 Beginning winding two, 7 End winding two
THREE PHASE GENERATOR

1.1. Winding one beginning

1.2. Winding one end
2.1. Winding two beginning 1 Winding one voltage, 2 Winding two
2.2. Winding two end voltage, 3 Winding three voltage, 4 Voltage
3.1. Winding three beginning
3.2. Winding three end
 Analternator is to produce an output at a
frequency of 60 Hz. If it uses a 4-pole rotor,
determine the shaft speed at which it must be
driven
 N= 1,800 rev/min(answer)
 Analternator uses a 12-pole rotor and is to
operate at a frequency of 400 Hz. At what speed
must it be driven?
DC Generator

 DC generator is designed to supply nearly

constant voltage.
 Usually the voltage is 28vdc, but there are 270vdc
systems developed recently.
 They supply current up to 400 A.
 Most aircraft do not have a separate dc generator,
but ac produced by ac generator is converted to
dc to power dc systems
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

 The external load terminals are connected with
 two carbon brushes
 split slip ring segment
 In the first half of the revolution current flows
always along ABLMCD i.e. brush no 1 in contact with
segment a
 In the next half revolution, in the figure the direction
of the induced current in the coil is reversed
 At the same time the position of the segments a and b are
also reversed which results that brush no 1 comes in touch
with the segment b. Hence, the current in the
load resistance again flows from L to M
 This current is unidirectional

single loop generator model

 Theposition of the brushes of DC generator is so
arranged that the change over of the segments a
and b from one brush to other takes place when
the plane of rotating coil is at right angle to the
plane of the lines of force
BATTERIES
BATTERIES
 The basic function of any electrical cell is the
conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy
 The cells can be considered as a chemical means of
storing electrical energy
 Electrons are removed from the ( positive) and
deposited on the ( negative )
 The electrolyte is the physical means of migration
between the cathode/anode
 The attraction of electrons between cathode/anode
creates a potential difference across the cell
 The cathode/anode are attached to external
terminals for connection to the equipment or
system
 Material types used for the cathode/anode and
electrolyte will determine the cell voltage
Lead-acid batteries
 Developed in 1859, this is the oldest cell technology in
aircraft use today
 This type of battery has widespread applications on
general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft due to
the high current available for engine start and
relatively low manufacturing cost (compared with
nickel cadmium batteries)
 There are two types of lead-acid battery used in
aircraft: flooded (wet-cell) and sealed
 It is usually found in piston aircraft.
 The disadvantages of flooded batteries are that
they require regular maintenance
 Spillage and/or leakage of the electrolyte
requires immediate clean-up
Construction
 Flooded cells are housed within an impact- and acid
resistant casing made from polystyrene-based
materials.
 The casing retains the two terminals and includes a
vent cap to prevent gas pressure build-up whilst not
allowing the electrolyte to escape
A single battery cell contains a number of positive
and negative plate
 Individualplates are separated by a porous material
to prevent short circuit through physical contact
 Flooded cells can be accessed on an individual
basis for checking the content and condition of
the electrolyte
 Since each positive plate is always positioned
between two negative plates, there is actually
one more negative plate than the positives
 Each positive plate is a cast lead frame formed as
a grid; this is impregnated with a paste of lead
dioxide (PbO2 ).
 The negative plate is a similar frame containing
lead (Pb); this is sometimes referred to as
‘spongy lead ’
 Positive plates distort when chemical reactions
take place on only one side
 There are always an even number of positive plates
sandwiched between an odd number of negative plates
 All positive plates are connected together as are all
the negatives
 The plates are separated by a porous separator that
allows free circulation of the electrolyte at the plate
surfaces
 The electrolyte is sulphuric acid diluted with distilled
(pure) water (H 2 SO 4 )
 When fully charged, the positive plate is lead dioxide
(PbO2 ) and the negative plate is lead (Pb)
 Connecting an external load to the battery completes the
electrical circuit, electrons are transferred from the
negative plate and the battery starts to discharge
 Thechemical reaction that takes place during discharge
changes each of the plates into lead sulphate (PbSO4 )
 Molecules of water are formed, thereby diluting the
electrolyte
State Positive Negative Electrolyte
plate plate

Charged Lead Lead Concentrated

dioxide (Pb) sulphuric
(PbO2 ) acid (H 2 SO 4 )

Discharged Lead Lead Weak

sulphate sulphate sulphuric
(PbSO4 ) (PbSO4 ) acid (H 2 SO 4 )
Nickel cadmium battery
 Theyare the most common type of battery used in
turboprop and turbojet aircraft.
 They provide electrical discharge at a high rate without
voltage drop and accept high charge rates that shorten
recharge time
 They may be subjected to thermal runaway condition
caused by overheating, in which the battery destructs
itself.
 Thermal runaway occurs in situations where an increase
in temperature changes the conditions in a way that
causes a further increase in temperature, often leading to
a destructive result
State Positive Negative Electrolyte
plate plate

Charged Nickel Cadmium Potassium

oxides (Cd) hydroxide
(Ni2 O 2 (KOH)
Ni3 O 3 )

Discharged Nickel Cadmium Potassium

hydroxide hydroxide hydroxide
Ni(OH2 )) Cd(OH2 ) (KOH)