The Navy seeks to improve the reliability and the operating life of its airborne Generator Converter Unit. The goal is to develop lightweight and compact equipment to correct leading power factor in a military combat aircrafts power 65kVA, 115V, 400Hz, 3-phase power distribution system. The equipment will correct the power factor from .98 leading to a minimum .97 lagging while complying with Military Standards 461, 704, and 810 (810 is modified for shock and vibration by MDC3376 spec). During Phase I, we will investigate design approaches for the PFCU. We will design an active, parallel PFCU that can be integrated into the existing aircraft power system and will turn On/Off when the aircraft is airborne. The Phase I effort will include plans for a fully functional unit to be developed under Phase II. The candidate methods identified in Phase I will be analyzed more extensively during the Phase I Option in preparation of developing a full scale evaluation unit in Phase II. In Phase II, we will develop a full size prototype that is capable of being added onto an aircraft electrical bus and should demonstrate the desired power factor correction during flight based on the Phase I research results.
Benefit: The proposed research will advance the state of reliable power conditioning technology by addressing the following research and technology areas: Identify technologies suitable to implement advanced, high performance PFCUs; Identify methods and technologies for the thermal management of the PFCU; Develop and analyze a PFCU system for implementation in Phase II. Our Phase II effort will build on the above results, finalize and fabricate a fully form, fit and function PFCU system to be tested over the full operating specifications such as temperature range, vibration, stress etc. The Phase II effort will build and expand upon these critical initial results. The project will generate commercial opportunities for the company employment opportunities in an economically disadvantaged area where most employment is in low paying tourism support job opportunities.
Keywords: Wide-Bandgap, Wide-Bandgap, wheel sensor, reliable, Thermal Management, Generator, Power factor correction
