Abstract
This paper presents an overview of technology related to on-board microgrids for the more electric aircraft. All aircraft use an isolated system, where security of supply and power density represents the main requirements. Different distribution systems (ac and dc) and voltage levels coexist, and power converters have the central role in connecting them with high reliability and high power density. Ensuring the safety of supply with a limited redundancy is one of the targets of the system design since it allows increasing the power density. This main challenge is often tackled with proper load management and advanced control strategies, as highlighted in this paper.
Highlights
In the recent years, research has focused in assisting the progressive increase in transportation electrification
The gradual substitution of hydraulic and pneumatic subsystem with their electric counterparts on conventional aircraft is already a market reality. This framework takes the name of More Electric Aircraft (MEA), but the propulsion remains completely traditional, in a MEA only the subsystems are electrified [2]
Considering that power electronics converters interface most of the loads, the interactions between the control system makes the stability of the microgrid a challenging task, because the voltage and frequency stability cannot be aided by the presence of large synchronous generator like the traditional grid [4]
Summary
Research has focused in assisting the progressive increase in transportation electrification. The gradual substitution of hydraulic and pneumatic subsystem with their electric counterparts on conventional aircraft is already a market reality. About 2-3% of the maximum power output is through a bleed valve in the jet engine that is used to draw high pressure air for the environmental control system. This system has proved to be effective for many years, the problems of this architecture are: I. In order to obtain the maximum efficiency, engineers have been studying alternatives to the bleed valve and to the hydraulic distribution, looking at the electric and electronic realms.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
