Improving power quality

Avionics power supplies are being redesigned to reduce harmonic distortion and work with wild frequencies.

While the global economy might need a shock to the heart, there is no shortage of electrical power in the aerospace industry. Power demands are rising exponentially as the energy-optimized aircraft (also known as the more-electric aircraft) turns to electrical systems to do jobs formerly done by hydraulics.

Prior to the development of Boeing's 777, for example, power generation was under 100 kVA for a widebody aircraft. Power generation increased to 100 to 150 kVA for the 777, and jumped to 150 to 300 kVA for the Airbus A380. For Boeing's 787, though, power generation capability is near 1 MW.