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AIRCRAFT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BY
WOII ZONYIRA CUDJOE JOY

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INTRODUCTION

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AIM
To be able to understand power generation, primary and
secondary AC/DC power system and identify the main
components and sub-systems.

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SCOPE
 Aircraft electrical power generation.
 Aircraft electrical power distribution.
 Aircraft electrical consumption.

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AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL POWER

GENERATION
There are three different methods of providing
electrical power supply in an Aircraft. They are;
 The Generators on-line.
 By the Aircraft’s main Battery.
 By External Power Unit.
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AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL POWER

GENERATION (CONT)
Inducing an EMF in a conductor

Electromagnetic induction is
the process of producing a
voltage (EMF) by moving a
magnetic field in relationship
to a conductor.
Source: Electrical System

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AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL POWER

Voltage Induced In A Loop
GENERATION (CONT)
Producing voltage/current using
the process of electromagnetic
induction requires a rotating
machine.
Source: Electrical System

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AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL POWER

GENERATION (CONT)
An Application of The Generator Left-hand Rule
The generator left-hand rule
can be used to determine
the direction of current flow
within the conductor.
Source: Electrical System
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AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL POWER

GENERATION (CONT)
Inducing A Current Flow

The polarity of this voltage

depends on the direction in which
the magnet is moved and the
position of the north and south

Source: Electrical System

poles of the magnetic field.
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AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL POWER

GENERATION (CONT)

 DC power generation
 AC power generation

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DC POWER GENERATION
Aircraft DC voltage is always 28 V DC
except for batteries, which is only 24 V DC.
 Primary DC System.
 Secondary DC System.

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DC POWER GENERATION (CONT)

 Primary DC System means that the primary power

is generated by DC generators or DC alternators.

 Secondary DC System, DC voltage is been provided

by transformer rectifier units (TRUs). This is the
case if the primary power supply is an AC generator.

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DC GENERATOR

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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
Constructional features of DC Generators
The Major Parts of DC Generator

The major parts, or assemblies,

of a DC generator are a field
frame, a rotating armature, and
a brush assembly.

Source: Electrical System

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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
The Field Frame of DC Generator

The field coils are made up of

many turns of insulated wire
and are usually wound on a
form that fits over the iron core
of the pole to which it is
securely fastened.
Source: Electrical System
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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
The Armature of a DC Generator

The armature assembly of a

generator consists of two
primary elements: the wire
coils (called windings) wound
around an iron core and the
commutator assembly.

Source: electrical system

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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
The Commutators of a DC Generator

The commutator is located at

the end of an armature and
consists of copper segments
divided by a thin insulator.
The insulator is often made
from the mineral mica.
Source: Electrical System
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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
The Cross Sectional Area of Commutators

The commutator main parts

labelled.

Source: Electrical System

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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
Types of DC Generators
 Series Wound DC Generator.

 Parallel (Shunt) Wound DC Generator.

 Series-parallel (Or Compound Wound) DC Generator.

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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
The Series Wound DC Generator

The series generator

contains a field winding
connected in series with
the external circuit.
Source: Electrical System

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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
The Shunt Wound DC Generator

A generator having a field

winding connected in
parallel with the external
circuit.
Source: Electrical System
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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
The Compound Wound DC Generators

A compound wound generator

employs two field windings
one in series and another in
parallel with the load.
Source: Electrical System
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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
Generator Ratings
 A DC generator is typically rated for its voltage and
power output.
 The generator selected must have a voltage output
slightly higher than the battery voltage. Hence, the 24-
volt DC or 28-volt rating is required for aircraft DC
generators.
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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
 The power output of any generator is given as the
maximum number of amperes the generator can safely
supply.
 The generator drive is usually geared to turn the generator
between 1 and 1 times the engine crankshaft speed. Most aircraft
generators have a speed at which they begin to produce their
normal voltage. Called the “coming in” speed, it is usually about
1,500 rpm.
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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
Generator Controls
 All aircraft are designed to operate within a specific
voltage range.

 The generator control system is designed to keep

the generator output within limits for all flight
variables.

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DC GENERATOR (CONT)
Generator Controls
 Electro-mechanical Generator control unit.

 Solid-state (Transistorized) Generator control unit.

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GENERATOR CONTROLS
The Generator control unit

 Voltage Regulation
 Reverse Current Protection
 Overvoltage Protection

Source: Electrical System

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GENERATOR CONTROLS
The Generator control unit
(CONT)

Source: Electrical System

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GENERATOR CONTROLS
(CONT)
The Carbon Pile Voltage Regulation
The Carbon Pile Voltage regulator
derives its name from the fact that
the regulating element (variable
resistance) consists of a stack or pile
of carbon washers contained in a
ceramic tube with a carbon or metal
contact insert at each end.
Source: electrical system

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CARBON PILE VOLTAGE

REGULATION

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GENERATOR CONTROLS
(CONT)
The Reverse Current Cut Out Relay

Reverse-Current cut-out
Relay is used to prevent
current from leaving the
battery and feeding the
generator.
Source: Electrical System
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REVERSE-CURRENT CUT-OUT
RELAY

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GENERATOR CONTROLS
(CONT)
The Overvoltage Protection Relay

The overvoltage protection

relay circuit is used to open
the relay that controls the
field excitation current.

Source: Electrical System

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OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION
(RELAY)

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GENERATOR SWITCHES
The generator switches are located at the power management
panel in the cockpit. Normally, they have three positions:
 OFF
 ON
 RESET

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DC GENERATOR MAINTENANCE
 Security of generator mounting.
 Condition of electrical connections.
 Dirt and oil in the generator. If oil is present, check engine oil
seals. Blow out any dirt with compressed air.
 Condition of generator brushes.
 Generator operation.
 Voltage regulator operation.
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AIRCRAFT BATTERIES

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AIRCRAFT BATTERIES (CONT)

NiCd Batteries

Aircraft batteries are used for

many functions (e.g., ground
power, emergency power,
improving DC bus stability, and
fault clearing). Most small
private aircraft use lead acid
batteries.
Source: Electrical System
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AIRCRAFT BATTERIES (CONT)

Types of Aircraft Batteries

 Lead-Acid Batteries.

 Nickle Cadinum (NiCad) Batteries.

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AIRCRAFT BATTERIES (CONT)

Lead-acid Battery

Dry charged cell lead-acid

batteries, also known as
flooded or wet batteries,
are assembled with
electrodes (plates) that
have been fully charged
Source: Electrical System
and dried.
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AIRCRAFT BATTERIES (CONT)

Nicd Cells
A NiCd battery consists of a
metallic box, usually stainless
steel, plastic-coated steel, painted
steel, or titanium containing a
number of individual cells. These
cells are connected in series to
obtain 12 volts or 24 volts.
Source: Electrical System

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AIRCRAFT BATTERIES (CONT)

Nicd Cells Nicd Battery

Source: Dornier Source: electrical system

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AIRCRAFT BATTERIES (CONT)

Nicd Cells

A combination of high battery

temperature (in excess of 160
°F) and overcharging can lead to
a condition called thermal
runaway.

Source: Electrical System

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AIRCRAFT BATTERIES (CONT)

Storing And Servicing Facilities
 Separate facilities for storing and/or servicing flooded
electrolyte lead-acid and NiCd batteries must be
maintained.
 Introduction of acid electrolyte into alkaline electrolyte
causes permanent damage to vented (flooded
electrolyte) NiCd batteries and vice versa.
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AIRCRAFT BATTERIES (CONT)

Storing And Servicing Facilities
 Valve-regulated Lead-acid Battery is absorbed in the
separators and porous plates, it cannot contaminate a NiCd
battery even when they are serviced in the same area.

 WARNING: It is extremely dangerous to store or

service lead-acid and NiCd batteries in the same area.
Introduction of acid electrolytes into alkaline electrolyte
destroys the NiCd, and vice versa.
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EXTERNAL POWER
SUPPLY

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EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY

 For starting engines.

 For the operation of certain services during Before

Flight servicing, Turn Round Servicing and After
Flight Servicing.

 For testing electrical systems during routine

maintenance checks.
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EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY (CONT)

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EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY (CONT)

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EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY (CONT)

There are two types of ground power unit

 Electric GPU

 Engine Driven GPU

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EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY (CONT)

External Electric GPU

Source: Dornier
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EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY (CONT)

Engine Driven Gpu

Source: Dornier 53
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AC SYSTEM

 Primary AC System.

 Secondary AC System.

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AC SYSTEM (CONT)
 Primary AC System: An AC system is called a
’primary system’ when the engine-driven generators
are AC generators.

 Secondary AC System: A ’secondary AC system’ is

installed in aircraft where only DC generators are
available.
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AC SYSTEM (CONT)

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AC SYSTEM (CONT)
ROTARY INVERTER

This inverter consists of a DC motor, an AC

generator and a shaft which connects both
units.

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AC SYSTEM (CONT)
Rotary Inverter

Source: Dornier
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AC SYSTEM (CONT)
STATIC INVERTER

A static inverter performs the same conversion

function as a rotary inverter does. But static
inverters employ the solid state (or: static)
circuit principle.

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AC SYSTEM (CONT)
Static Inverter

Source: Electrical System

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POWER DISTRIBUTION
The electric power produced by the generators,
APU,GPUs and/or batteries is distributed to the
loads depends upon the general layout of the
aircraft’s electrical system and the number of
loads to be supplied during normal operation.

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POWER DISTRIBUTION (CONT)

Components of power distribution system
 Busbars
 Split Busbars
 Wires and Cables
 Connectors
 Rectangular Connector
 Coaxial Cable Connectors
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POWER DISTRIBUTION (CONT)

BusBars

Bus bars are low impedance

conductors usually located in
circuit breaker panels, junction
boxes and distribution boards.
Source: Dornier
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POWER DISTRIBUTION (CONT)

Wire

A wire is described as a
single, solid conductor, or as
a stranded conductor covered
with an insulating material.
Source: Electrical System
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POWER DISTRIBUTION (CONT)

Cable
 One or more insulated
conductors covered with a
metallic braided shield
(shielded cable).
 Two or more separately
insulated conductors twisted
Source: Electrical System
together (twisted pair).
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POWER DISTRIBUTION (CONT)

Connectors

Connectors (plugs and

receptacles) facilitate
maintenance when frequent
disconnection is required.

Source: Electrical System

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POWER DISTRIBUTION (CONT)

Types of Connectors
Connectors provide a means of
quickly connecting and
disconnecting wires used for
installation and maintenance of
electrical and electronic
equipment.
Source: Eletroline.Com.au
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POWER DISTRIBUTION (CONT)

Rectangular Connector

Rectangular connectors are

typically used in applications
where a very large number of
circuits are accommodated in a
single mated pair.

Source: Electrical System

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POWER DISTRIBUTION (CONT)

Coaxial Cable Connectors

Source: Electrical System

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POWER DISTRIBUTION (CONT)

Aircraft Connectors

Source: Intelligence aerospace

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TYPICAL BUSBAR SYSTEM

Typical Busbar System

The electric power distribution

of a modern jet aircraft.
 AC BUS 1 and 2
 ADG BUS
 AC ESSENTIAL BUS
 DC ESSENTIAL BUS
 AC UTIL BUS 1 and 2
Source: Donier Manual
 BATTERY BUS
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PROTECTION OF CONSUMER
EQUIPMENT
The principal types of protection devices are;
 Fuses.
 Current Limiters.
 Overload Relays.
 Reverse Current Cut-out Relays.
 Overvoltage Relays.
 Circuit Breakers.
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CONSUMER SERVICES

They generally fall into one of the following 3 groups:

 Vital
 Essential
 Non-essential.

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CONSUMER SERVICES (CONT)

 Vital Services:- Are those which are required in
an emergency situation.
 Essential Services:- Are those required to ensure a
safe flight in an emergency situation.
 Non-Essential Services:- Are those which can be
isolated (cut off) during an ’in flight emergency.

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CONSUMER SERVICES (CONT)

Electric power is required by most of the

aircraft’s operational systems to enable their
operation and control, or for indication purposes.

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CONSUMER SERVICES (CONT)

Consumer equipment provided with electric power may be
 Aircraft engine starting and ignition systems
 Fire detection and warning systems
 External lighting
 Internal lighting
 Radio equipment
 Radar
 Flight instruments
 Navigational instruments.

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CONCLUSION

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ANY QUESTIONS

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THANK YOU

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