270VDC Power Architecture for More Electric Aircraft: A Novel Approach to Modernizing Large Aircraft Electrical Systems

Reducing greenhouse gas emission levels while having more electrical power that complies with newly developed mission and avionic system requirements have greater importance for aerospace applications. The modernization of in-service large aircraft into the More Electric Aircraft (MEA) concept, considering weight limitations, is one of the possible solutions investigated by researchers and stakeholders. In order to respond this demand, 270 VDC MEAbased power generation and distribution system designs are designed for conventional aircrafts. This study focuses on this topic in depth and is organized in two parts: 270 VDC-based state-of-the-art power electronics and power distribution harness design optimization. CN-235 Aircraft is selected as a possible candidate for the proposed MEA-based modernization approach and a conceptual design for the power generation and distribution system is developed. The results show that the modernized power architecture has a significant positive impact on the volume saving, weight reduction, electrical management, and protection systems of large aircraft.