Innovative management solutions to deal with new types of electrical hazards
Do you know the length of electrical wiring in an Airbus A380? A full 530 kilometers! Electrical wiring is an important source of potential arcing in aircraft. In 1996, the global aviation flight 800 and the Swiss Airlines 111 flight accident in 1998 were caused by electric arcs. As Crouzet aerospace product manager, also co-chair of the SAE AE-8B committee, co-chair of SAE Mechatronic Circuit Breaker Working Group and chairman of ASD-Stan D2S5 Europe, Mr. Dominique-Robert Meux emphasized that electrical hazards are Challenges also mean opportunities for innovation.
Electric actuators are replacing traditional hydraulic systems"
Electrical hazards have always existed, and the frequency of occurrence has increased. From the nose, wings to the tail, the use of electrical equipment in aircraft has greatly increased. Nowadays, in-flight entertainment systems and business-class and first-class adjustable seats that rely on three-phase 115V AC motors are everywhere. Electric actuators are replacing traditional hydraulic systems for flight control systems (including ailerons, elevators, rudders), and more and more, brakes, landing gear, and wheel brakes have become more electrified. All these trends mean that there may be more current flowing through the wires in these places: near the fuel tank, near the engine pylon, and in the landing gear bay.
Arc is a short circuit?
Not necessarily. In aerospace, there are two types of arcs. One type is called a parallel arc, that is, a short circuit. In simple terms, a certain exposed phase line is in contact with a neutral or other live line, and one or more sparks are generated, resulting in arc welding and rapid temperature rise. The second type of arc is called a series arc and it can be understood as a gap-type short circuit. Although the size of the current is limited by the power equipment, it is still possible to generate a spark. Both arcs need to disconnect the circuit as soon as possible, otherwise it is very likely to cause fire, mechanical rupture, and even explosion.
How soon is it?
good question! The faster the circuit breaker operates, the lower the risk of causing temperature rise, fire, or cracking. The principle is simple, smaller transient current = less damaging energy. Especially in the vicinity of the fuel tank enclosure, the consequences of a small puncture are disastrous.
What are the solutions available on the market?
Intelligent Ground Fault Circuit Breaker (GFI) has become a clear demand in the aerospace field. Its working principle is the same as the 500mA residual current device (RCD) (or leakage protector) used in the home safe. Crouzet's ground fault and arc fault circuit breakers are more advanced residual current devices. If a ground fault occurs, the circuit breaker will immediately act and the current curve is monitored by an algorithm to detect whether there is a series arc, a parallel arc, and a phase-to-phase short circuit. The operation time is only 15ms, while the traditional product requires 200ms. We believe that in the future there will be a smart connection between the equipment and the upstream line protection (here the ground fault circuit breaker). The power supply of the device is controlled and protected by a sensor that can measure temperature, pressure, strain, or torque. The device detects an internal abnormality and sends a signal to the intelligent circuit breaker “Stop power immediately, otherwise there will be a fire!â€. The era of smart circuit breakers has come.
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