Uncontrolled rectifiers are featured heavily in aircraft electrical power systems performing a number of the power conversion and conditioning functions. Detailed modeling and simulation of these and other converters as part of a wider aircraft power system, whilst accurate, can be very computationally intensive, resulting in impractically slow simulation speed. One potential solution to this issue is the use of average-value converter models, which offer a much lower computational requirement and can utilize larger time steps. Of the average-value diode rectifier modeling methods presented in the research literature the parametric method is particularly well suited to system-level simulation because it can be readily derived to represent all modes of rectifier operation. To date however, published results utilizing this methodology have been limited to simpler power system architectures. In order to assess its applicability for more complex networks, such as those found in modern aircraft systems, more extensive study is required. As such, this paper presents a simulation based evaluation of the flexibility and accuracy of the parametric method for operation in aircraft power systems, considering the impact on model accuracy resulting from changing power system network topology, loading, supply frequency and electrical faults. Recommendations are then made for the use of the parametric method in these applications.
