Distributed Control Algorithm Validation for Voltage Regulation and Load Sharing in Series-Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Propulsion Systems

Abstract:
The aviation industry is actively working towards the electrification of aircraft to reduce emissions and counter the effect of increased fuel costs. This transition presents a key challenge in terms of managing and safely operating the onboard electrical power distribution network of the propulsion system. To address this challenge, distributed control algorithms could be a viable option due to their distinct inherent benefits, such as scalability, fault tolerance, and reduced communication. Much of the prior work on distributed control algorithms has focused on simplified models that neglect the fast dynamics associated with power-electronics equipment. To address this limitation, we validate the performance and robustness of the distributed controller previously introduced by part of the authors via simulations on a detailed Simulink model. This model consists of detail switched-level models for the rectifiers and DC-DC converters and average models for other components. The main control task is to regulate the voltage of the DC bus powering the electric propulsion unit (EPU) in a series-hybrid-electric propulsion system. In addition, the controller also ensures load sharing among the energy sources. The presented simulation-based validation serves as an important step toward implementing the controller in a hardware-in-the-loop system.