Toward optimising energy storage response during network faulted conditions within an aircraft electrical power system

Energy storage can be employed in a variety of compact electrical power system applications to meet peak load demand, maintain power quality during network disturbances and variable load conditions, and to increase overall system efficiency. Within the literature to date, the development of control and management strategies of energy storage for these applications has focussed on normal network operation with limited coverage on the behaviour of such technologies under abnormal conditions and how this will impact the power system as a whole. Within the context of an aircraft electrical power system, this paper will highlight the potential risks of the inherent, suboptimal operation of certain existing control strategies during fault conditions. To address this control issue, a method of optimising the behaviour, control and protection of energy storage during both normal and network faulted conditions is of considerable interest. This paper will discuss the technical challenges and constraints associated with achieving this optimal performance.