Modeling Approach for the Integrated Secondary Electric Power Distribution System with Solid State Power Controllers

The aggressive development of new technologies used in aerospace electric power systems imposes the finding of new and advanced ways to validate and verify the requirements allowing the use of these new technologies, their validation and verification along with implementation and integration. The objective of this paper is to present the simulation model created for a large commercial airplane Secondary Electric Power Distribution System (SEPDS). The system's simulation is performed using Mathworks MatLab and is being built around the system requirements. The model allows the simulation of distinctive subsystems or components (e.g. Micro-controller, CAN bus, AFDX bus, control logic, FPGA logic) with the associated operational software and built in test. The simulation model is modular, recreating the modular architecture of the SEPDS. The model reproduces the full functionality of the SEPDS (power distribution function, protection function, control, communication). It allows the simulated transfer between the different modes of operation of the system, (e.g. Control, Start-up, and Maintenance) real time requirements taken into account. The model allows the injection of different failure events, errors, aircraft regimes of operation to study the dynamic response and robustness of the SEPDS. The model is designed to be integrated with target hardware. The original intent of the simulation model for this particular application was to serve as a tool for the requirements validation, design verification, analysis of different failure modes, troubleshooting and as system functionality demonstration in support of certification. The model was improved via different revisions and its performances and flexibility were enhanced. Presently the basic simulation can be adapted via certain modifications for the simulation of similar applications during systems development.