Improving aircraft engine operability through electric system design and operation

With modern passenger aircraft requiring greater levels of electrical power to supply the novel technologies employed, the potential for interaction between the aircraft engine and electrical system is greatly increased. There is therefore a strong requirement to develop a thorough appreciation of the interrelationships governing the behaviour of the integrated system such that undesirable modes of operation may be avoided, and, in the longer term, globally optimised engine-electrical system designs may be produced. This paper presents the findings of a number of investigative studies conducted on a high fidelity, integrated aircraft engine and electrical power system simulation tool. These studies assess the effectiveness of a variety of electrical system design and operation methods in optimising the behaviour of the aircraft engine, whilst illustrating key trends in the behaviour of the integrated system.