Mitigating power systems variability in more electric aircraft utilizing power electronics implemented dynamic thermal storage

Yue Cao, Matthew A. Williams, Philip T. Krein, Andrew G. Alleyne

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Increased power levels in more electric aircraft (MEA) bring opportunities to optimize energy flow in multi-physics domains to benefit the power system's stability and aircraft fuel economy. This paper introduces thermal energy inherent in the cabin air and aircraft fuel as a dynamic management solution to offset stochastic load power in the MEA power system. Focus is on power electronic controlled environmental control system (ECS) drives, which can provide dynamic thermal inertia and act as an effective electric swing bus to mitigate power variability. The generator's output power becomes substantially more constant as a result, decreasing the demand from fast generator responses or dedicated energy storage such as batteries. In practice, the motor drives operate on a suitable bandwidth in the sense of filtering unwanted frequencies in the stochastic energy band. The lower update frequency limits air temperature variations in the cabin, and the higher update frequency, combined with ramp-rate and acoustic limits, lets the ECS to respond without generating annoying noise. A high-level implementation builds upon a feedforward control loop. A more sensitive virtual synchronous machine concept added to the loop boosts desirable inertia in the MEA power system. The combination is illustrated in simulation and with experimental results based on realistic load power demand over a mission profile using Boeing 787 as a platform.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2017 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2017
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages1412-1418
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9781509053667
DOIs
StatePublished - May 17 2017
Externally publishedYes
Event32nd Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2017 - Tampa, United States
Duration: Mar 26 2017Mar 30 2017

Publication series

NameConference Proceedings - IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition - APEC

Other

Other32nd Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityTampa
Period3/26/173/30/17

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 IEEE.

Keywords

  • Complex system energy management
  • Environmental control systems (ECS)
  • More electric aircraft (MEA)
  • Power electronic drives
  • Power systems energy storage
  • Thermal storage

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