AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

Allain Felipe Cely Ramirez

Ingeniero Aeronáutico | Profesor asistente | Coordinador de Prácticas Profesionales | FPrograma de Ingeniería Aeronáutica
Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana | Circular 1 No. 70-01, Bloque 11A | Medellín, COLOMBIA
Tel: +57(4)4488388 | Ext. 14159 | felipe.cely@upb.edu.co
CONTENIDO
1. Introducción a los sistemas eléctricos de aeronaves

 Conceptos básicos de electricidad y electrónica

 Componentes del sistema eléctrico de una aeronave
 AC/DC

2. Generación/Fuentes y distribución de energía eléctrica en aeronaves

 Generadores y alternadores
 Baterías y sistemas de carga
 Barras colectoras y sistemas de distribución

3. Protección y control de sistemas eléctricos en aeronave

 Disyuntores y fusibles
 Relés y contactores
 Sistemas de control y monitoreo

4. Regulaciones y normas aplicables a sistemas eléctricos en aeronaves

 Regulaciones nacionales e internacionales

 Normas aplicables a la fabricación e instalación
 Certificación y documentación

5. Tendido eléctrico de la Aeronave.

 Practicas estándar
 Instalación

6. Diagramas, Esquemáticos & Manuales aeronáuticos:

 AMM
 SRM
 WDM

7. Sistemas Eléctricos y circuitos de Aeronaves, símbolos y esquemáticos

 Sistema eléctrico del A-320.

 Sistema eléctrico del B-787.
 Sistema eléctrico Helicópteros.
Protection and Control of Electrical Systems in Aircraft.

Electrical protection in
the context of aircraft
refers to a set of
devices and systems
designed to ensure that
the electrical supply
powering the various
systems and equipment
on an aircraft is safe,
reliable, and protected
against electrical faults.
 Protection Devices
• These devices are used to protect circuits, cables
and system components from damage due to
failures.
• Fuses
• Circuit breakers
• Diodes
• SSPC
• Fuses : They are designed to protect the cables against the flow of short-circuit and
excessive current. They break the circuit and stop the current flow when the
current exceeds a predetermined value.

• Circuit breakers :They have same function with the fuses. The difference from the
fuse is that they are resettable, while a fuse must be replaced.

• Diodes : They are the electronic equivalent to the check valves in hydraulic system.
They allow electricity to flow in one way only.
 FUSES

"Fuses are thermal protection devices

formed by a wire or sheet of conductive
material (copper, zinc, or silver alloy)
encapsulated, which melts when its
temperature increases as a result of short
circuits or overloads. In this way, it protects
the conductors and loads associated with
that circuit."
Cartridge fuses: consisting of a glass tube or
ceramic body, two conducting terminals, and a
fusible element (sheet or wire) made of conductive
material.
High breaking capacity or slow fuses: they are intended for
installation at points in the power distribution network, such as
interconnecting distribution bars. They are installed using plates
and mounting bolts and are characterized by being more precise
than the former, as they are not affected by a momentary current
flow greater than their rating. Additionally, they do not produce
flames when melting and are not affected by ambient
temperature."
Circuit-breakers
Circuit-breakers perform the function of protecting a circuit in the event of an electrical
overload. Circuit-breakers serve the same purpose as fuses or current limiters. A circuit-
Circuit-breakers

Behind the panel are the mounted thermal circuit breakers and the wiring from each thermal
circuit breaker to a pin on the CBP output connector, eventually routing to the individual loads.
The initial wiring, as shown in figure 4, was conducted on the CBP shown in figure
Circuit Breakers
Circuit-breaker symbols/type
The CBP Block Diagram
Circuit Breakers
Solid-state power controllers
The availability of high-power
These devices known as solid-state switching devices
Solid-State Power Controllers or has been steadily
SSPCs effectively combine the increasing for a number of
function of a relay or years, both in terms of variety
switch and a circuit-breaker. and rating. More recent
developments have led to the
availability of solid-state
power switching devices
which
provide a protection capability
as well as switching power.
Solid-State Power
Distribution
System
The SPDU Interface Capability
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBCeBS0tlDs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEmopALlFdY
Primary Causes of Electrical Circuit Failures

• Open circuit:

It is a circuit that is not complete or continuous. This is an

uncommanded interruption of electrical power to some
components or systems. When an open occurs the affected
component stop to operate, but the other components still
remain in operative condition.
Common causes of open circuit
Short Circuit

It occurs when electricity is allowed to take a shortcut through or

around a component or system. This is the most serious problem. It
has two effects :

- Affected components have no power

and fail to operate

- Since current will not flow through

affected components, the other
components will be subjected to higher
level of current causing them to burn
out.
Common causes of a short
Supervisory and protection functions

Typical supervisory or protection functions undertaken by a typical AC Generator

Control Unit or GCU are listed below:

Overvoltage
Undervoltage
Under/over-excitation
Under/over-frequency
Differential current protection
Solución de Problemas Eléctricos en una Aeronave

Apagón Total

Escenario: Durante un vuelo, la cabina y la instrumentación

eléctrica se quedan completamente a oscuras.

Desafío: Identificar la causa del apagón y determinar cómo

restablecer la energía eléctrica de manera segura.
Sobrecarga en el Sistema de Entretenimiento a Bordo

Escenario: Los pasajeros informan que las pantallas de entretenimiento en

el respaldo de los asientos están parpadeando y calientes al tacto.

Desafío: Identificar la causa de la sobrecarga y tomar medidas para proteger

el sistema de entretenimiento y restablecer la normalidad.
Cortocircuito en el Sistema de Luces de Cabina

Escenario: Un cortocircuito en el sistema de luces de cabina

provoca chispas y un olor a quemado.

Desafío: Determinar cómo desconectar el circuito afectado y

aislar el cortocircuito para evitar daños adicionales.
Pérdida de Energía en los Sistemas de Navegación

Escenario: Los sistemas de navegación, incluido el GPS, dejan de

funcionar durante un vuelo en ruta.

Desafío: Evaluar si se trata de un problema eléctrico, identificar la

fuente del problema y tomar medidas para restablecer la
navegación.
Sobrecalentamiento en un Panel de Control

Se detecta un sobrecalentamiento en un panel de control

clave en la cabina de vuelo.

Desafío: Identificar el circuito responsable del

sobrecalentamiento y tomar medidas para evitar daños
adicionales o un posible incendio.
Fallo en el Sistema de Comunicaciones

Escenario: Los sistemas de comunicaciones de la aeronave

experimentan un fallo, y la tripulación no puede
comunicarse con el control de tráfico aéreo.

Desafío: Determinar la causa del fallo de comunicación y

restablecer la conexión con el control de tráfico aéreo de
manera segura.
(46) #31 Electrical System Overview and AC Power Boeing 747
400 CBT - YouTube

(46) Elecrical Power System A320 Family - YouTube