Optimal Voltage for More Electric Aircraft direct current cabling system

Abstract

More Electric Aircraft will experience a substantial increase in electrical power budget of electric power system EPS. An appropriate selection of voltage is required to optimize cabling systems and distribute power onboard. The selection of the EPS's voltage is a compromise between weight and power transfer capability constrained by partial discharge phenomena at high altitudes and the aircraft's space availability. Hence, it is necessary to investigate the optimal voltage at which electrical power can be delivered such that cabling's weight and power transfer are optimised while the safety margins to avoid risk of physical discharge phenomena are observed regardless of the amount of power transferred. This paper addresses the selection of EPS optimal voltage for a direct current DC system and it will be shown that an optimized cabling systems does not necessarily require the highest possible voltage or the thickest conductor.