A Feasibility Study on a 200 Volt , Direct Current , Aircraft Electrical Power System

For comparative purposes, a 200 volt dc system for a large modern commercial aircraft has been designed and Its weight compared with that of a conventional three-phase ac system. To obtain necessary design informatlon, studies have been made of a 50 kW brushless dc generator, the problem of circuit Interruption, conversion equipment and brushless motors. The vulnerability of the system due to the possibility of sustained arcs during fault conditions has also been examned. It is concluded that until considerable weight reducuon can be achieved in the design of conversion equipment and brushless motors, the dc system will not be lighter than the ac system. It is also concluded that the 200 volt dc system would be vulnerable to catastrophic dc arcing at altitude especially in a military aircraft subject to combat damage. before the Aunliary Power Systems i)lvislon was formed. Many of the Staff concerned in the study are now members of this new Division of Enguwering Physics Department.