AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION SYSTEM

GENERAL OVERVIEW The aircraft electrical power system is supplied by: (Main Turbofan Engines) Engine Driven AC Generators Driven by respective engines where the generator is installed. APU driven AC Generators This generator is installed along the APU. (Main Turboprop Engines) Engine Driven DC Generators* Driven by each respective engines where the generator is installed. APU driven DC Generators* This generator is installed along the APU, but often comes as an optional system/component.
*note: DC Generators for turboprop aircraft also becomes DC Motors when used for engine starting.

Ni-Cad Batteries Primary purpose of aircraft Ni-Cad batteries is/are for emergency supply of electrical power to the aircraft, prior to the availability of the emergency (RAT) generator, in the event of loss of power to the Main Power Bus (DC Generator) or AC Main Busses. Applicable for both turboprops and turbofan engine aircraft.

DC GENERATION DC Generation for turbofan aircraft is primarily obtained through the Transformer Rectifier Units (TRUs) as called by Boeing, or just Transformer Rectifiers (TRs) as called by Airbus. The DC electrical output from each TRs/TRUs then goes directly to DC Busses directly connected to each respective TRs/TRUs. EXTERNAL POWER SOURCE The external power source or the ground power source may also be supplied to the aircraft through the external power receptacles/connectors. External power can supply the electrical power requirement of the aircraft while on ground without the need for on-wing generators. Great fuel savings may be realized with the use of external power on ground. The external power is then supplied to all AC Main Busses. EMERGENCY POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS OVERVIEW EMERGENCY POWER GENERATION Emergency power generation for most large turbofan engine aircraft such as those manufactured by Boeing and Airbus has emergency generators that are driven by Ram Air Turbine (RAT) through hydraulic power.

BATTERIES ONLY POWER In the event of loss of power and emergency generator has not yet supplied electrical power either due to total generator power loss or when deployment of the RAT generator is in transit, the batteries will supply the needed AC Electrical power through the STATIC INVERTER. DC ESS BUSSES The DC ESSential Busses are supplied by the ESSential TR/TRU in the event that electrical power is supplied from the emergency generator. The DC ESSential Busses may be supplied with electrical power directly from the battery (usually BATT no.2) if the ESSential TR/TRU fails to supply electrical power to the DC ESS BUSSES. AC ESS BUSSES The AC ESS Busses are supplied with AC electrical power from the STATIC INVERTER.

NORMAL CONFIG

EXT PWR CONFIG

GRND SVC

LOSS OF MAIN GENERATOR

EMERGENCY GEN CONFIG