Automatic management of electrical loads in more electric aircraft

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to automatically generate load shedding sequences due to insufficient power supply, to ensure flight safety and complete flight task. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, a power allocation and load management model, including logical and physical submodels of the distribution system, is first established according to different requirements of the loads in different flight phase and the current total power supply. Then, an optimal load management scheme based on an improved ant colony algorithm is proposed to automatically generate load shedding sequences for both safety-critical and nonsafety critical loads, to achieve a reliable and safe power supply. Findings To verify the efficiency and feasibility of the algorithm, the proposed method is verified in a virtual simulation platform. Simulation result illustrates that the proposed algorithm is efficient and feasible. Practical implications The proposed method can provide guidance on load power supply when the civil aircraft is under abnormal power supply situation. Originality/value An optimal load management scheme is proposed by considering different requirements of the loads in different flight phase and the current total power supply.