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Aviation
Meeting the needs of avionics testing
Aircraft electronics and other electrically powered equipment aboard an aircraft are subject to some of most extreme power conditions. To ensure that avionics will operate reliably once in the air, they are subjected to a wide variety of tests that prove their ability to withstand over-and under-voltage conditions, power dropouts, and voltage transients. MIL-STD-704 ‘Aircraft Electric Power Characteristics’ establishes the requirements and characteristics of aircraft electric power, while MIL-HDBK-704-7 and MIL-HDBK-704-8 describe the test methods and procedures for equipment designed to operate from 270 VDC and 28 VDC power, respectively.
See our avionic testing products in action
Elektro-Automatik’s line of DC power supplies, electronic loads and bidirectional power supplies have features that will put today’s avionics to the test and still meet future needs. EA’s PSI, EL, ELR and PSB product series can provide up to 2000V, have auto-ranging and on-board arbitrary waveform and function generation. This flexibility allows EA to produce or sink power needed to simulate real world conditions and ensure that avionics and airborne equipment will continue operate even in the most adverse conditions.
Read How EA Elektro-Automatik is Working to Power the Future of Sustainable Flight
Testing Products Used in Aviation
The EA power supply is an essential tool for avionics professionals, offering a wide range of testing applications, including compliance with several DC power standards. Avionics DC compliance test standards such as Airbus ABD0100.1.8 (A380), Airbus ABD0100.1.8.1 (A350), Airbus AMD24C, Boeing 787B3-0147 (B787), MIL-STD-704, Rev A, Rev F, and RTCA/DO-160, Rev G can be supported by the EA power supply.
Precise and consistent DC power stimulus provided by the EA power supply plays a significant role in identifying potential issues or weaknesses in avionics systems. This feature facilitates corrective measures to ensure that electronic systems aboard aircraft operate reliably and safely while complying with regulatory requirements. For avionics professionals, the EA power supply is an indispensable tool that can be used for routine maintenance, diagnosing issues, or performing compliance testing.
Application Solutions
Developing New Technologies for Sustainable Fuel
Sustainable fuel and power systems in tomorrow’s airplanes will require an entirely new DC electrified charging and propulsion systems rather than today’s mix of DC and AC power solutions. Engineers are hard at work tackling the many barriers that must be overcome for these new technologies to take flight:
- Energy supply and storage, encompassing liquid hydrogen fuel and fuel cell battery management technologies. These systems must be capable of providing clean, smooth power during peak take-off demands as well as more moderate in-flight power requirements
- Weight and size of engines and battery power systems
- Ability to withstand extreme/harsh conditions, ranging from vibration, temperature changes, humidity, and high acceleration/gravity conditions
- Hazardous materials, including lithium batteries and explosive hydrogen that needs to be loaded and containedin a liquid condition at -250 degrees Celsius or, alternatively, may be stored as gas under pressure up to 700 bar
- A range of power conversion and power distribution systems to convert main DC supply grid levels of 700-1000V into lower ranges for instrumentation (28 VDC), air conditioning (400 VDC), or critical landing gear/wing control/braking systems (±270 VDC)
Inventing New Power and Test Routines
EA Elektro-Automatik power supply and load technologies are relied upon by today’s new aviation pioneers as they move rapidly to innovate every facet of aerospace power systems in their drive to switch from AC to DC power. Each new electronic system and device must be thoroughly tested for performance, reliability, EMI interference and safety. Every solution presents first-of-its-kind challenges that must be proven out initially in development labs on the ground, and ultimately in flight.
- High power DC electric propulsion motors (electric turbines) with megawatt-capable peak power levels
- Passenger-related heat/air conditioning, lighting, infotainment
- Heavy-duty landing flaps/braking/landing gear
- Avionics instrumentation
- Battery capacity and efficiency for long distance flights – fuel cells paired with non-flammable battery boosters
The industry is focused on re-defining the entire “green” aviation ecosystem and hydrogen supply chain, beyond what is taking place to prepare the plane itself for flight. This includes hydrogen fuel produced by electrolysers, powered by solar power installations, as well as transporting the hydrogen fuel to the airport in emerging electric-powered trucks.
Testing the Future of Flight
EA Elektro-Automatik offers a range of power conversion products to properly test all these electrical and electronic devices and networks, with power ranges of 320W up to 3.84MW, and voltage ranges from of 0-60 VDC to up to 0-2000 VDC and current ranges up to 64,000A. EA products are particularly well-suited for these demanding test routines.
- True Autoranging Capability. This allows engineers to test a greater range of devices by delivering full power output over a wide range of voltages and currents. An EA supply can provide full power output down to 1/3 of its maximum voltage and current. As a result, EA can often provide a lower power DC supply for a given load requirement, save test rack space, and save on cooling requirements, all of which enables substantial cost savings and test system simplification.
- Bidirectional Regenerative Power Supplies. EA Elektro-Automatik’s bidirectional power supplies are regenerative in sink mode, so that during testing (specifically long-term testing), the energy extracted from the device under test is recovered and sent back into the grid with 96% efficiency, paying for itself in just a few years.
- Built-in Function Generator. Unlike conventional power supplies, an external signal generator is not needed to connect with a power supply to modulate the power supply output.
- Electronic Loads with Energy Recovery. EA electronic loads with the same autoranging, function generator, and regenerative energy recovery features can test the fuel cell power source. The electronic load can simulate a wide range of states of the load, including failure states to ensure the fuel cell can output the necessary power and safely respond to any operating mode of the load.
MIL-HDBK-704-7 270 VDC Abnormal Voltage Transients
One of the test procedures called out by MIL-HDBK-704-7, “Guidance for Test Procedures for Demonstration of Utilization Equipment Compliance to Aircraft Electrical Power Characteristics, 270 VDC,” is the Abnormal Voltage Transients Test, Method HDC302. This test procedure is used to verify that 270 volt DC power utilization equipment operates and maintains specified performance when subjected to abnormal voltage transients. To conduct this test, the unit under test is subjected to a variety of voltage transients, after which a full performance test is conducted to ensure that the unit has not been damaged and still meets performance specifications. EA’s DC power supplies have a built-in arbitrary function generation that you can program to output the voltage transients. EA offers DC power supplies that can supply up to 15 kW, with very low EMC emissions and galvanically isolated USB, Ethernet/LAN or GPIB interfaces to meet the requirements for automated avionics testing.
EA Advantages
- Output voltage up to 2000V
- Power output up to 30 kW
- High power Density
- Arbitrary waveform and function generator
- Digital control interface
- Low EMC
- Industry experience
MIL-HDBK-704-8 28 VDC Power Failure
Among the tests described by MIL-HDBK-704-8, “Guidance for Test Procedures for Demonstration of Utilization Equipment Compliance to Aircraft Electrical Power Characteristics, 28 VDC,” is the Power Failure Test, Method LDC601. This test procedure is used to verify that 28 volt DC power utilization equipment operates and maintains specified performance when subjected to power failures of various lengths. During this test, the power supply to the unit under test is switched off for a specified time and then switched back on. Once the power has been restored, the equipment is tested to ensure that no damage has occurred and that it meets performance specifications. This test is run four times with power-off times of 100 ms, 500 ms, 3 s, and 7 s. EA’s line of DC power supplies can meet these demanding requirements using the digital control interface. EA offers DC power supplies that can supply up to 15 kW, with very low EMC emissions and galvanically isolated USB, Ethernet/LAN or GPIB interfaces to meet the requirements for automated avionics testing.
EA Advantages
- Power output up to 30 kW
- High power Density
- Digital control interface
- Low EMC
- Industry experience
Find the Right Tool
Power Selection Guide
What MUST you consider when choosing a Programmable DC Power Supply? What output is right for your application? How much power you you pay for without over specifying? Download our Guide to help you navigate the many considerations when specing the right DC power supply.
Download Power Guide