Power management and distribution system for a more-electric aircraft (MADMEL) - Program status

A number of technology breakthroughs in the past ten years rekindled the co ncept of a more-electric aircraft. High-power solid-state switching devices , electrohydrostatic actuators (EHAs), electromechanical actuators (EMAs), and high-speed generators are just a few examples of component developments . These developments have made: dramatic improvements in properties such as weight, size, power, and cost. However, these components cannot be applied piecemeal. A complete, and somewhat revolutionary, system design approach was needed to exploit the benefits that a more-electric aircraft can provid e. Traditional-mounted auxiliary drives, and bleed air extraction will disa ppear, to be replaced with integral engine starter/generators and electrica lly driven actuators and pumps. A five-phase Power Management and Distribution System for a More-Electric A ircraft (MADMEL) program was awarded by the Air Force to Northrop/Grumman M ilitary Aircraft Division in September 1991. The objective of the program i s to design, develop, and demonstrate an advanced electrical power generati on and distribution system for a More-Electric Aircraft (MEA). The MEA emph asizes the use of electrical power in place of hydraulics, pneumatic, and m echanical power to optimize the performance and life cycle cost of the airc raft. This paper presents an overview of the MADMEL program and a top-level summary of the program results, development and test of major components t o date. In Phase I and Phase II studies, the electrical load requirements w ere established and the electrical power System architecture was defined fo r both near-term (NT-year 1996) and far-term (FT-year 2003) MEA application . The detailed design and specification for the Electrical Power System (EP S), its interface with the Vehicle Management System, and the test set-up w ere developed under Phase III. Phase IV, fabrication and testing of the sub system level hardware, has been completed. Overall system level integration and testing, Phase V, is scheduled to be completed by September 1999.