Contents ES cm ausene Preface to the Second Edition Preface Power Supplies — D.C. Generators Power Supplies — Batteries Power Supplies — Altemating Current Power Conversion Equipment Ground Power Supplies Measuring Instruments, Warning Indicators and Lights Power Distribution Circuit Controlling Devices Circuit Protection Devices Power Utilization — Components Power Utilization — Systems Tables of Terminology and Fundamental Circuits Index. 16 27 47 65 1 81 99 110 120 138 160 166PITMAN PUBLISHING LIMITED 39 Parker Street, London WC2B SPB PITMAN PUBLISHING INC 1020 Plain Street, Marshfield, Massachusetts Associated Companies Pitman Publishing Pty Ltd, Melbourne Pitman Publishing New Zealand Ltd, Wellington ‘Copp Clark Pitman, Toronto First edition 1976 Second edition 1979, Reprinted 1980 @E HJ Pallett 1976, 1979 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any ‘means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording and/or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers, ‘Text set in 10/11 pt IBM Press Roman, printed and bound in Great Britain at The Pitman Press, Bath UK ISBN 0 273 08445 3Preface to the Second Edition It is gratifying to note that this book has served as a useful reference source, and that a second edition is considered to be justified. I am indebted to the many readers both in the U-K. and overseas who have provided useful comments and suggestions, all of which have proved to be valuable in the preparation of new material for this edition. ‘The sequencing of the main subjects remains as before, but certain appropriate chapters have been expanded to include descriptions of integrated drive generators, constant-speed drive disconnect mechanisms, landing gear control systems, and anti-skid systems. Tables of electrical terminology and fundamental circuit data have also been included at the end of the book. Copthorne, Sussex EP. April 1979Preface Increases in size and speed, changes in shape and functional requirements of aircraft have each been possible by technical research and development and the progress made not only applies to those visible structural parts, but also to those unseen systems and services which enable it to function as an integrated machine. system ranking very highly indeed in this pro- gression is the one concemed with electrical power involving as it does various methods of generation, distribution, control, protection and utilization. These methods do, in fact, form a natural “build-up” of an aircraft's electrical system and their sequence sets a convenient pattern on which a study of principles and applications can be based. The material for this book therefore follows this pattern. In the early days of what is familiarly called “air- craft electrics”, there was a certain distrust of the equipment. Although there was acceptance of the fact that electricity was necessary for operating the “wire- less” equipment, a few lights and an engine ignition system, many individuals were inclined to the view that if other systems could not be operated either by air, hydraulic oil, cables, numerous mechanical link- ages or petrol, then they were quite unnecessary! A majority of the individuals were mechanics, and the ground engineers as they were then known, and un- doubtedly, when “electrickery” began proving itself as a system operating media, it came as a pleasant Telief to leave all relevant work to that odd character, the electrician, who speaking in some strange jargon and by means of diagrams containing numerous mystic lines and symbols, seemed better able to cope with it all! With the continued development of the various types of aircraft, the sources of electrical power have also varied from the simple battery and wind-driven generator, through to the most complex multiple a.c. ‘generating systems. Similarly, the application of power sources have varied and in conjunction with develop- ments in electronics, has spread into the areas of other systems to the extent of performing not only a controlling function but, as is now so often the case, the entire operating function of a system, As a result, the work of the electrician assumed greater importance and has become highly specialized, while other main- tenance specialists found, and continue to find it increasingly necessary to broaden their knowledge of the subject; indeed it is incumbent on them to do so in order to carry out their important duties. This also applies to pilots in order that they may meet the technical knowledge requirements appropriate to their duties and to the types of aircraft they fly. Fundamental electrical principles are described in many standard text books, and in preparing the material for this book it was in no way intended that it should supplant their educational role, However, it has been considered convenient to briefly review cer- tain relevant principles in the chapters on generation and conversion of power supplies, to “lead-in” to the subject and, it is hoped, to convey more clearly how they are applied to the systems described. In keeping with the introductory nature of the book, and perhaps more important, to keep within certain size limitations, it obviously has not been possible to cover all types of aircraft systems. However, in drawing comparisons it is found that applications do have quite a lot in common, and so the examples finally chosen may be considered sufficiently representative to provide a useful foundation for further specialized study. The details given embrace relevant sections of the various syllabuses established for the technical exam- ination of maintenance engineers and pilots by official organizations, training schools and professional soci- eties. In this connection, therefore, it is also hoped that the book will provide a useful source of reference.A selection of questions are given at the end of each chapter and the author is indebted to the Society of Licensed Aircraft Engineers and Technologists for permission to reproduce questions selected from examination papers. ‘Valuable assistance has been given by a number of organizations in supplying technical data, and in granting permission to reproduce many of the illustra- tions, grateful acknowledgement is hereby made to the following — Amphenol Ltd. Auto Diesels Braby Ltd. Aviquipo of Britain Ltd. Belling & Lee Ltd. BLC.C. British Aircraft Corporation (Operating) Ltd. Britten-Norman Ltd. Cannon Electric (G.B.) Ltd. Davall. Dowty Electrics Ltd. Graviner (Colnbrook) Ltd. vii Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd. Honeywell Ltd. International Rectifier Co. (G.B) Ltd. Lucas Aerospace Ltd. Newton Brothers (Derby) Ltd. Normalair-Garrett Ltd. Plessey Co., Ltd. SAFT (United Kingdom) Ltd. Sangamo Weston Ltd, Shell Aviation News. Smiths Industries Ltd. Standard Telephones & Cables Ltd. Thom Bendix. Varley Dry Accumulators Ltd. Finally, thanks are also due to the publishers for having patiently awaited the completion of sections of manuscript and also for having accepted a number of changes of subject. Copthorne, EP. SussexCHAPTER ONE Power Supplies - D.C. Generators INTRODUCTION Energy for the operation of most electrically operated equipment in an aircraft is supplied by a generator which may be of the direct current (d.c.) or alterna- ting current (a.c.) type. In this chapter we are con- cerned with generators serving as the source of pri- mary d.c. supply for an aircraft electrical installation and before going into constructional and operating details of some typical machines, a review of relevant fundamental current-generating principles will be A generator is a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy by the process of electro- magnetic induction. In both d.c. and ac, types of generator, the voltage induced is alternating; the major difference between them being in the method by which the electrical energy is collected and applied to the circuit externally connected to the generator. Figure 1.1(a) illustrates a generator in its simplest form, i.e. a single loop of wire “AB” arranged to rotate between the pole pieces of a magnet. The ends of the wire are brought together to form a circuit via slip rings, brushes and the externally connected Joad, When the plane of the loop lies at right angles to the magnetic field (position 1, Fig. 1.1(b)) no voltage is induced in the loop. As the loop rotates through 90 degrees the wires cut the lines of force at right angles until at position 2 the induced voltage is at a maximum, As the loop approaches the vertical position, again the voltage decreases since the rate at which lines of force are cut diminishes. At position 3 the induced voltage is zero. If rotation is continued, the number of lines cut gradually increases, until at 270 degrees (position 4) it is once again maximum, but as the cutting is in the opposite direction there is also a reversal of the direction of induced voltage. As rotation continues, the number of lines cut decreases and the induced voltage reduces to zero as the loop returns to position 1. Plotting of the induced voltage throughout the full cycle produces the alternating or sine curve shown, Armowwe Shp rags o @ e rr op ; 1 2 + ° 0180" are feo" co) Fig Ld (a) Simple form of generator (b) Induced voltage To convert the a.c. produced into unidirectional or d.c,, it is necessary to replace the slip rings by a collecting device referred to as a commutator. This is shown in Fig. 1.2 (a) and as will be noted it consists of