Fault-Tolerant Electrical Power System

An electrical system that will meet the requirements of a 1990s two-engine fighter is being developed in the Fault-Tolerant Electrical Power System (FTEPS) program, sponsored by the AFWAL Aero Propulsion Laboratory. FTEPS will demonstrate the generation and distribution of fault-tolerant, reliable, electrical power required for future aircraft. The system incorporates MIL-STD-1750A digital processors and MIL-STD-1553B data buses for control and communications. Electrical power is distributed through electrical load management centers (ELMC) by means of solid-state power controllers (SSPC) for fault protection and individual load control. The system will provide uninterruptible power to flight-critical loads such as the flight control and mission computers with sealed lead-acid batteries. Primary power is provided by four 60-kVA variable speed constant frequency (VSCF) generators. Buildup and testing of the FTEPS demonstrator is expected to be complete by Hay 1988.