Automatic optimal synthesis of aircraft electric power distribution system

Abstract

Reliability is one of the most critical design features in Aircraft Electric Power Distribution system (EPDS). In an EPDS, the power is distributed from generators to loads, sensors and actuators through AC and DC distribution buses using control switches. Because of the increasing demands of loads and their power requirements, EPDS design must be optimized in order to have maximum efficiency. In this paper, we propose a synthesis tool based on a need-based design method to obtain the optimal topology of EPDS considering maximum reliability, continuous connectivity, power requirements, and minimum cost. We treat the EPDS as an optimization problem by using Integer Linear Programming (ILP) to achieve minimum cost and maximum reliability while satisfying a set of constraints.