Starter/Generator Systems and Solid-State Power Controllers

The application of the more-electric aircraft (MEA) concept will lead to the use of a large number of motor drives for functions such as fuel pumping, cabin pressurization, air conditioning, engine start, and flight control actuation, making power electronics an essential part of MEA technologies. Electrical generators can be coupled to both the low-pressure spool (LPS) and the high-pressure spool (HPS) of the engine to exploit the power supply capability of the engine. Generally, the LPS and the HPS have different speeds. Mechanical circuit breakers (MCBs) are commonly applied in an AC electrical system to protect the cables and associated loads from excess current. This chapter provides a detailed comparison between an solid-state power controller and an MCB in terms of reliability, availability, and power performance.