Electrical power distribution system (HV270DC), for application in more electric aircraft

In the new designs of military aircraft and unmanned aircraft there is a clear trend towards increasing demand of electrical power. This fact is mainly due to the replacement of mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic equipments by partially or completely electrical systems. Generally, use of electrical power onboard is continuously increasing within the areas of communications, surveillance and general systems, such as: radar, cooling, landing gear or actuators systems. To cope with this growing demand for electric power, new levels of voltage (270 V_DC), architectures and power electronics devices are being applied to the onboard electrical power distribution systems. The purpose of this paper is to present and describe the technological project HV270DC. In this project, one Electrical Power Distribution System (EPDS), applicable to the more electric aircrafts, has been developed. This system has been integrated by EADS in order to study the benefits and possible problems or risks that affect this kind of power distribution systems, in comparison with conventional distribution systems.