I.

INTRODUCTION

Aircraft Power System Stability

Study Including Effect of
Voltage Control and Actuators
Dynamic

K-N. AREERAK
Suranaree University of Technology
Thailand
T. WU
S. V. BOZHKO, Member, IEEE
G. M. ASHER, Fellow, IEEE
D. W. P. THOMAS, Senior Member, IEEE
The University of Nottingham
United Kingdom

This paper describes a stability analysis of aircraft ac

frequency-wild power systems with constant power loads (CPL).
In contrast to previous publications, the proposed analysis method
employs the dq modeling approach instead of the state-space
averaging (SSA) and average-value modeling (AVM) methods to
derive power-electronic converter models for stability studies.
This results in lower order models and allows the modeling of
vector-controlled converter elements where the SSA and AVM
methods are not easily applicable. The resulting model can be
combined with models of other power system elements expressed
in terms of synchronously rotating frames (generators, front-end
converters, vector-controlled drives, etc.). The paper analyzes
the stability of frequency-wild power systems for both load and
parameter variations and takes into account controlled generator
voltage dynamics and electromechanical actuator dynamics. The
stability margins are assessed and compared with those for power
systems with the ideal voltage source and the ideal CPLs. The
study is supported by intensive time domain simulations that
support the theory.

Manuscript received June 23, 2008; revised June 26, 2009; released
for publication July 22, 2010
IEEE Log No. T-AES/47/4/942889.
Refereeing of this contribution was handled by Sudip Mazumder.
Authors addresses: K. Areerak, School of Electrical Engineering,
Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology,
Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand; T. Wu, S. V. Bozhko,
and G. M. Asher, Power Electronic, Machine and Control
Group, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Nottingham,
University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom, E-mail:
(serhiy.bozhko@nottingham.ac.uk); D. W. P. Thomas, The George
Green Institute for Electromagnetic Research, University of
Nottingham, Nottingham, UK, NG7 2RD.

c 2011 IEEE
0018-9251/11/$26.00
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The more-electric aircraft concept is a major trend

in aircraft electrical power system (EPS) engineering
and results in an increase in electrical loads based
on power electronic converters and motor drive
systems. It is well known that power electronic
driven loads often behave as constant power loads
having small-signal negative impedance that can
significantly degrade power system stability margins
[1, 2]. This particularly relates to the loads that feed
machine or actuator drives under tight current and
speed servo control. Finalizing the architectural bus
paradigm for the next generation of more-electric
aircraft will involve extensive simulation to validate
EPS integrity under the range of flight conditions.
Hence, development of effective models capable
of representing EPS dynamic behavior is of great
importance.
Several approaches are commonly used for
analyzing the performance of power converter
systems. The first is the generalized state-space
averaging (SSA) modeling method, which has
been used to analyze many power converters in dc
distribution systems [36], as well as uncontrolled and
controlled rectifiers in single-phase ac distribution
systems [7], and 6- and 12-pulse diode rectifiers
in three-phase systems [8]. However this approach
when applied to three-phase systems results in
awkward high-order mathematical models that are
difficult for subsequent analysis. The second is the
average-value modeling (AVM) method, which has
been used for 6- and 12-pulse diode rectifiers in
many publications [9][11], as well as generators with
line-commutated rectifiers [1216]. These rectifiers
can be modeled with good accuracy as a constant
dc voltage source. Moreover, [17] reported a new
average-value model of three-phase and nine-phase
diode ectifiers to improve the ac current and dc
voltage dynamics. However, this method is not
easily applicable to analyzing the stability for the
general ac power system with multiconverter power
electronic systems. Another technique widely used
for ac system analysis is that of dq-transformation
theory [1820], in which power converters can be
treated as time-varying transformers. The dq modeling
method results in lower order models compared with
SSA for three-phase ac distribution systems, and it
can also be applied for modeling the power system
comprising vector-controlled converters where the
SSA model and the average-value model are not easily
applicable. Moreover, the resulting converter models
can be easily combined with models of other power
elements expressed in terms of synchronously rotating
frames such as generators, front-end converters, and
vector-controlled drives to constitute a generalized
EPS model for subsequent studies. Applying the
dq modeling approach for diode rectifiers and

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AEROSPACE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS VOL. 47, NO. 4

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Fig. 1. Power system definition.

vector-controlled pulse-width modulated (PWM)

rectifiers feeding an ideal constant power loads
(CPL) for stability studies has been addressed in our
publications [21] and [22], respectively. However,
[21, 22] considered an ideal voltage source and
an ideal CPL, assuming the power converters are
regulated by fast controller action.
With respect to stability analysis, two approaches
can be used for linearized models around the
equilibrium points. The first is the eigenvalue
theorem in which the system eigenvalues can be
calculated from the Jacobian matrix [7, 2124].
Another method is an impedance-admittance method
based on the Middlebrook criterion [1], which has
been successfully used to analyze the stability of dc
distributed power systems [25, 26]. For ac distribution
systems, many publications reported the input and
output impedance of ac-dc converters. The input
impedance of boost single-phase PFC converters
are described by [27][29] and three-phase PWM
rectifiers in [30], [31]. Although, the application
of boost single-phase PFC converters models for
stability analysis based on the impedance-admittance
method was described in [32], the output impedance
of the ac source was defined from measurement. For
diode rectifiers, most existing work described the
output impedance derived from the AVM [917].
This is because the AVMs easily allow establishing
the output impedance of the source subsystem for
stability analysis using the impedance-admittance
method as described in [33]. However, as mentioned
before, these models are not easily applicable to
stability analysis for general ac power systems with
multiconverter power electronic systems. Therefore,
[34][36] reported the input impedance modeling and
analysis of line-commutated rectifiers. However, the
application of these models for stability analysis has
not been reported. It can be seen that one problem of
the impedance-admittance method is the difficulty in
deriving source impedance and load admittances for
complex ac systems having parallel power converter
connections. Therefore, the eigenvalue theorem is

selected for stability analysis in this paper with the

dq model.
This paper extends the work from [21], [22] using
the dq modeling approach to create EPS-CPL models
suitable for small-signal stability analysis. The model
takes into account the output voltage dynamics of
the generator and control unit (GCU), as well as the
dynamics of tightly controlled electromechanical
actuators (EMAs). These effects have not been
addressed in previous publications [6], [7], [9],
[21][26], [29], and [33] in which the CPL is
generally defined as an ideal current source without
dynamic behavior and the GCU is regarded as an
ideal voltage source with infinitely fast controller
action. The paper is structured as follows: Section II
considers the dynamic properties of the main EPS
elements such as a generator with a GCU, diode
rectifier, and EMA. The dynamic model is established
in Section III. This is linearized in Section IV, and
small-signal stability is investigated. This section
includes simulation results to illustrate the theory, as
well as analyzing the stability of variations in system
parameters, control bandwidths, system loads, and ac
frequency. The conclusions are given in Section V.
II.

POWER SYSTEM DEFINITION

The power system studied is shown in Fig. 1.

It represents the main elements of an aircraft ac
power system architecture including a three-phase
synchronous generator (SG) equipped with a GCU
controlling the generator feed voltage, a transmission
line as its -equivalent, and an uncontrolled diode
rectifier feeding the EMA (behaving as a CPL)
through a dc-link filter. Other loads can be connected
to the generator feeder bus; however, for this study
only those loads that behave as CPL are considered.
These are represented in Fig. 1 as a single lumped
CPL.
A. Generator and GCU
The synchronous generator (SG) is modeled in
the dq reference frame fixed on the rotor [37] and
is supplemented by a GCU stabilizing the voltage

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Fig. 2. SG-GCU system model.

at the generator feeders. The GCU has a cascade

control structure with an inner field current control
loop. Shaft speed is regarded as an input variable.
The equivalent circuit of the SG-GCU is shown in
Fig. 2, where the symbols and their nominal values
are defined in the Appendix. The parameters Kpv ,
Kiv , Kpi , Kii are the proportional and integral gains

of voltage and current PI controllers, and VT,rms

is the
reference for the SG feeder voltage. The SG-GCU
system of Fig. 2 is used as the dynamic model for all
stability studies.
B. Diode Bridge Rectifiers
A dq modeling approach to model a diode
bridge rectifier is considered in [18][21]. It is
stressed that there are no performance advantages
in comparison to SSA methods [7, 8], although it
is noted that the SSA yields high-order models for
three-phase systems. For example, a single-phase
uncontrolled rectifier model using SSA was reported
in [7] and is of sixth order. Application of SSA to a
three-phase rectifier would result in a fourteenth-order
model compare to a sixth-order model using the dq
approach [21]. Moreover, the SSA is not readily
applicable for power systems with controlled
power converters (active front-end converters,
vector-controlled drives, etc.) that are generally
controlled in the dq domain, or other elements, such
as SGs, that employ synchronously rotating frames.
The dq modeling approach is free from these SSA
drawbacks. For three-phase uncontrolled rectifiers,
the method has not been reported. The dq modeling
method treats a power converter as a time-varying
transformer [1822]. The commutation effect of
the line inductance causes an overlap angle in
the output waveforms represented as a variable
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resistance r depending on a system frequency (!),

and located as shown in Fig. 3(a) [38]. Because the
commutation effect is on the dc side, the switching
signals for three-phase rectifiers can be described
independently of , as shown in Fig. 3(b). Neglecting
the stability effects arising from higher harmonics
of the fundamental [7], the switching functions in
Fig. 3(b) can be written as [39]
p

2 3
2
Sabc =
sin(!t ) sin !t

T
4
(1)
sin !t

3
where is a phase angle of the rectifier ac bus
voltage. The input and output relationships for the
rectifier current and voltage are [39, 40]
Iin,abc = Sabc Idc

(2)

Edc1 = STabc Vbus,abc

(3)

where Iin,abc = [Iin,a Iin,b Iin,c ]T and Vbus,abc =

[Vbus,a Vbus,b Vbus,c ]T .
For a diode rectifier, the fundamental input current
is in phase with the input voltage, assuming that
the output dc current of the rectifier Idc is constant
[7]. With (2), this means that the input rectifier
voltage, the switching signals, and the input rectifier
current are all in phase. The diode rectifier is then
transformed into the dq frame by means of

3
2
26
T[!t] = 6
34

cos(!t)

sin(!t)

cos !t

2
3

sin !t

2
3

cos !t +

2
3

sin !t +

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7
:
7
2 5
3

(4)
OCTOBER 2011

Fig. 3. (a) Three-phase diode rectifier with overlap angle resistance. (b) Rectifier switching function.

From (5)(7), the rectifier is represented as

a time-varying transformer having d and q-axis
transformer ratios Sd and Sq that depend on the
phase shift between the dq frame (!t) and the
rectifier terminal voltage (). This is shown
in Fig. 4. This is used for all stability studies
undertaken.
C.
Fig. 4. Uncontrolled rectifier equivalent circuit in dq frame.

Combining (4), (2), and (3) results in

Iin,dq = Sdq Idc

(5)

3
Edc1 = STdq Vbus,dq
2
p
2 3
Sdq =
[cos(!t )

(6)
sin(!t )]T

(7)

where Iin,dq = [Iin,d Iin,q ]T and Vbus,dq = [Vbus,d Vbus,q ]T .

Electromechanical Actuator

The aircraft EMA represented as a standard

motor-drive vector-control structure [41] is
depicted in Fig. 5 showing an induction-motor (IM)
drive, but PM-drives can be considered through
setting the d-axis current reference to zero, as an
example. Detailed consideration can be found in
the literature [42], [43]. This section considers
only those details that allow insight into EMA
properties as a dynamic CPL. The corresponding
CPL model is developed further on. The motor is
vector controlled in a rotating dq reference frame
aligned with the rotor flux [41, 42]. Internal dq-axis

Fig. 5. Standard motor drive control structure (applied to induction motor).

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where mq and md are calculated using the proposed

modulation index calculator structure. The inverter
output voltage Vsqm , when applied to the motor q-axis
current, is

Kf
P
s Rsm I_sqm = Kf !r Rsm +
I + Vsqm
2
r Isdm sqm
(13)
where s , r , Kf , and are specified in the Appendix.
The q-axis current Isqm creates an electrical
torque that resulted in motor motion according to the
mechanical motion equation

Fig. 6. Modulation index calculator.

current loops and an outer speed control loop

are considered (an outer position loop can easily
be included if required). The speed and current PI
controllers can be written as
1 _
kP! kI!
!r

1 _
Isqm
+ kI!

1 _
!r
kP! kI!

!r + !r

Jm !_ r = KT Isqm TL
(8a)

kPi kIi1 I_sqm + kIi1 V_sqm

kPi kIi1 I_sqm
= Isqm + Isqm

(8b)
where the symbols have their normal meanings and

is the controller
the q-axis reference voltage Vsqm
output signal from which voltage Vsqm is derived from
a PWM process. This process should be accurately
derived to model the dynamic impact of dc-link
voltage changes on the machine line currents. The
PWM process will measure the instantaneous dc-link
voltage value Vdc , and the modulation indices for both
d- and q-axes can be calculated using filtered dc-link
voltage Vf :

Vsqm
V
mq =
,
md = sdm
(9)
Vf
Vf
V
f V_f = Vf + dc
2

(10)

where f is the filtering time constant. Usually

this filtering is ignored for studies in dynamical
performance of actuators, resulting in the following:
Vsqm =

Vsqm
V

:
dc = Vsqm
Vdc =2 2

(11)

However, as is shown later in the paper, this

filtering plays a very important role in representing
an actuator as a dynamical CPL for power system
stability studies. Therefore, the inverter output
voltages in this study are derived using modulation
index calculators as shown in the block structure in
Fig. 6 for the q-axis channel.
The dc current drawn by the inverter, neglecting
losses, can be found from energy conserving
conditions and expressed in terms of the d- and q-axes
currents as follows:

3 md Isdm mq Isqm
ICPL =
+
(12)
2
2
2
2578

(14)

where Jm is an inertia, TL is the load torque, and

2
3
P Lm
I :
KT =
2
2 Lrm sdm
Finally, if an IM machine is used, then it is natural to
assume that the flux is kept constant during the EMA
operation. Therefore, the dynamics of the Isdm control

loop can be ignored (i.e., Isdm = Isdm

), leading to the
simplified field current loop equation:

Isqm
P

Vsdm
= Rsm Isdm

Lsm Isqm : (15)

!r +

2
r Isdm
Summarizing (8)(15), the nonlinear model of
the controlled induction motor drive can be depicted
in the form of control block diagram as shown
in Fig. 7. Note the model in Fig. 7 is capable of
representing the dc-link current transients with
changes in supply voltage, while this dynamic is
lost if voltage filtering for PWM production is not
included. This can be confirmed by simulation,
shown in Fig. 8, where the step response to a negative
change in Vdc simulated using three different motor
drive models. Agreement is obtained between a
detailed SABER benchmark model and the model
based on (9) and (10). The response of the system
when the instantaneous unfiltered value of Vdc is used
in the PWM is also shown, and it is seen that the
dynamic disappears.
III. DYNAMIC MODEL OF THE SYSTEM
This section assembles the subsystem models
that will then be linearized about an operating point.
Transforming the cable section -equivalent model
into the dq frame according to (4), one can combine
the derived models as shown in Fig. 9. This figure
allows analysis of the input-output relations between
different parts of the power system and describes them
in the form of a differential equation for subsequent
analysis. The nonlinear set of equations to describe
the SG under a GCU control can be established

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Fig. 7. Block diagram of nonlinear EMA model.

Fig. 8. Dc-link current when step change of the dc-link voltage occurs.

Fig. 9. Power system model in dq frame.

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and (10), the equations are summarized as

according to the model given in Fig. 2. This is a

seventh-order system.

Jm !_ r = KT Isqm TL

(Lls + Lmd )I_dq + Lmd I_F + Lmd I_kd

1
s Rsm I_sqm = PKf !r =2 (Rsm + r1 Isdm
Kf )Isqm

= Rs Idg !(Lls + Lmq )Iqg + !Lmq Ikq + Vdg

+ Vsqm
Vf1 Vdc =2

Lmd I_dg + (LlF + Lmd )I_F + Lmd I_kd KPi X_ i

= RF IF + KIi Xi Lmd I_dg + Lmd I_F + (Llkd + Lmd )I_kd
= Rkd Ikd (Lls + Lmq )I_qg + Lmq I_kq

Lmq I_qg + (Llkq + Lmq )I_kq

= Rkq Ikq X_ e =

k1

Vdg2 + Vqg2

Kpv X_ e + X_ i = IF + Kiv Xe :

The generator model interfaces to the cable model

through generator feeder voltage components Vdg and
Vqg . Taking into account the previously derived models
and the equivalent circuits in Fig. 9, the dynamic
behavior of the cable section with the rectifier (Fig. 4)
and dc-filter is an eighth-degree nonlinear system.
1
1
V_dg = Ceq1
Idg + !Vqg Ceq1
Ids
1
1
Iqg !Vdg Ceq1
Iqs
V_qg = Ceq1
1
1
I_ds = L1
eq Vdg Req Leq Ids + !Iqs Leq Vbus,d
1
1
I_qs = L1
eq Vqg !Ids Req Leq Iqs Leq Vbus,q

p
1
1
Ids + !Vbus,q 2 31 Ceq2
Idc cos( + )
V_bus,d = Ceq2

= Isqm + Isqm

1 _
1 _
1 _
Isqm kP! kI!
!r + kI!
!r
kP! kI!

= !r + !r :

This should be accompanied with the CPL current

= constant) takes
equation (12), which (assuming Isdm
the following algebraic form:

2
3
ICPL =

P
1
1
2

3 4 Rsm Vf (Isdm ) 2 !r Lsm Isdm + Vsqm Vf Isqm 5

:
4
1 2
1
+r Lsm Vf Isqm

(20)
The set of equations (16)(20) describes the
nonlinear dynamic of the base power system of Fig. 1
and can be used for fast computation of transient
responses for different operational scenarios [43]. For
stability analysis, the equations can be linearized for
small signal perturbations.
The twentieth nonlinear model (16)(20) is
linearized using a Taylor series with subsequent
ignoring of high-order components. The linearized
model takes the following matrix form:
x_ = A(xo , uo )x + B(xo , uo )u

(17)

p
1
1
Iqs !Vbus,d + 2 31 Ceq2
Idc sin( + )
V_bus,q = Ceq2
p

I_dc = 3 3 1 L1
dc Vbus,d cos( + )
p
3 3 1 L1
dc Vbus,q sin( + )
1
3!1 Leq L1
dc Idc Ldc Vdc
1
1
V_dc = Cdc
Idc Cdc
ICPL :

In this set of equations, the switching function

(7) for the rectifier is used. From Fig. 1, the phase
shift between the rotor frame and the rectifier input
terminal voltage is + , where
p
2 3 j(+)
Sdq =
e

p
2 3
=
(18)
[cos( + ) sin( + )]T :

The remaining nonlinear equations describe the

dynamics of the CPL. From Fig. 7 and following (9)
2580

(19)

1 _
1 _
1 _
kPim kIim
Isqm + kIim
Vsqm kPim kIim
Isqm

(16)

= !(Lls + Lmd )Idg !Lmd IF !Lmd Ikd + Rs Iqg + Vqg

VT,rms

f V_f = Vf + Vdc =2

y = C(xo , uo )x + D(xo , uo )u

(21)

where x = [Idg IF Ikd Iqg Ikq Xe Xi Vdg

Vqg Ids Iqs Vbus,d Vbus,q Idc Vdc !r Isqm Vf

Vsqm
Isqm
]T is the state vector, u = [VT,rms
!r TL ]T
is an input (controls) vector, y = [Vdc ] is an output
vector, and constant matrixes A, B, C, and D depend
on the chosen equilibrium point. The details of these
matrixes are numerous and not included in the paper.
When analyzing the dynamic properties of the system
in different operational regimes, the linearization is
undertaken for each of them. In this study, the power
flow equation is employed to determine the steady
state values at the ac side for each operational point
using the Newton-Raphson numerical method.
IV. STABILITY ANALYSIS
The linearized model (21) was simulated for small
signal transients against the corresponding three-phase
benchmark circuit model simulated in SABER. The
example system parameters are given in the Appendix.
Fig. 10, for example, shows the Vdc response of the

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Fig. 10. Verification of the proposed power system model.

Fig. 11. (a) Eigenvalue plot for system. (b) Zoomed area of interest in (a).

system of Fig. 1 to step change of load torque TL from

100 to 110 N m that occurs at time instant t = 0:6 s.
An excellent agreement between both models is
achieved.
The eigenvalues of the linearized A matrix for
the example power system with parameters given
in the Appendix were analyzed for the case when
the load torque TL varies from 0 to 450 N m at
constant actuator speed reference 975 rpm. This
corresponds to a steady-state value of CPL varying
from 1.07 to 46 kW. The root locus is shown
in Fig. 11, and some eigenvalues cross into the
right-hand plane when TL exceeds about 305 N m
(this corresponds to 37.23 kW of motor electrical
power Pin ). Fig. 12 shows the SABER time-domain
benchmark simulations that confirm the result with
the instability occurring at a constant power value of
38.72 kW. This is greater than the 37.23 kW for the
unstable condition.

TABLE I
The Effect of Generator and Actuator Dynamics on Stability

Power System
1 Ideal voltage source and ideal CPL
2
SG+GCU and ideal CPL
3 Ideal voltage source and dynamic CPL
4
SG+GCU and dynamic CPL

Model
Instability
Dimension Power (kW)
8
15
13
20

> 16:00
> 18:00
> 35:84
> 37:93

Table I compares the impact of using the dynamic

models for the GCU and CPL with models using a
pure voltage source and ideal CPL. The table shows
the power level at which instability occurs. It is seen
that the incorporation of the GCU dynamics has a
relatively small effect, but the impact of the nonideal
CPL is substantial. Neglecting CPL dynamics may
be beneficial from the viewpoint of power system
availability but may result in very nonoptimal design

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Fig. 12. Step response for TL variations.

Fig. 13. (a) Eigenvalue plot. (b) Instability power for different network frequencies.

solutions that would have an impact on overall mass

and dimension. The model also allows convenient
stability analysis. Including effects of parameter
variations in different operational regimes. These are
now addressed.
A. Effect of Frequency Variations
Because the considered aircraft power system
is frequency-wild, it is important to study stability
variation with changes in bus frequency. Fig. 13
shows the power values at which the instability occurs
when the bus frequency is set to 200, 400, 600, and
800 Hz. Fig. 13(b) displays the instability conditions
for the full operational frequency range. Again, these
analytical results in Fig. 13 are supported by SABER
benchmark simulation shown in Fig. 14. In this
2582

figure, the top graph shows stepwise changes in load

torque, and the bottom graphs show the corresponding
responses of dc-link voltage for different power
system frequencies. The analytical results delivered by
the system model (21) predict the unstable behavior
with a high degree of accuracy. The main outcome
of this study is that increasing frequency expands
the stability range. For example, the CPL should not
exceed 35.5 kW at 200 Hz but is stable to 48 kW at
800 Hz.
B. Effect of GCU Bus Voltage Control Natural
Frequency
This section studies the effect of the speed of the
GCU bus voltage control on power system stability.
The PI voltage controller was designed for various

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Fig. 14. Verification of analytical results in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15. (a) Eigenvalue plot. (b) Instability line for different natural frequencies of GCU voltage control loop.

natural frequencies of the dominant closed loop roots

for a given damping. Fig. 15 shows the analytical
results in the form of eigenvalue loci and the CPL
power limit for instability as the natural frequency
of the voltage control loop is varied. The faster the
GCU voltage control, the lower is the system stability.
Fig. 15 also confirms the results of Table I. The
variation of threshold CPL level for instability is not
large.
C. Effect of EMA Speed Control Natural Frequency
As shown in Table I, the CPL dynamic expands
the stability margin. Internal CIU dynamics in
the form of speed control response is investigated
here; the speed loop PI controller is designed for

varying natural frequencies for a constant damping.

Fig. 16 shows the eigenvalue plot and power stability
thresholds. The higher the EMA speed control natural
frequency, the lower the stability. The variation is
fairly sensitive to the speed loop response rate.
D. Effect of dc-Link Voltage Filtering for PWM
Internal CIU dynamics in the form of Vdc
measurement filtering is investigated here. Fig. 17
shows the eigenvalue plot and power stability
thresholds as the cut-off frequency of the filter in
(10) is varied. Reducing the cut-off frequency has a
significant effect on stability. This is an interesting
result because this would appear to be a cheap and
effective way of recovering stability margin.

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Fig. 16. (a) Eigenvalue plot. (b) Instability line for different speed control bandwidths.

Fig. 17. (a) Eigenvalue plot. (b) Instability line for different values of F.

E. Effect of dc-Link Parameters

Figs. 18 and 19 shows the effect of changing the
dc-link filter parameters Ldc and Cdc on power system
stability. Smaller values of Ldc increase the stability.
Interestingly, the effect of Cdc is not monotonic, and
there is a Cdc value at which the power system has the
minimal stability. It can be also noted that the power
system is always stable if Ldc and Cdc do not exceed
some value.
V. CONCLUSION
This paper has described the dq transformation in
modeling and stability studies of the base geometry
of an aircraft three-phase frequency-wild power
distribution system. The dq modeling approach
results in lower-order mathematical models and
allows convenient analysis of power system structures
containing vector-controlled devices. The approach
considers dynamic representations of generator
voltage control and the aircraft actuator dynamics.
The paper has shown how power system stability can
2584

be investigated with variations in system parameters,

including controller parameters. The approach has
considered a basic system with a single CPL load fed
from an ac bus and rectifier unit. Future publications
will address controlled rectifiers and complex systems
representing real architectures with a multiplicity of
actuators, aircraft loads, and bus geometries. It will be
shown how the elements described in this paper can
be interconnected in an algorithmic way, resulting in a
powerful and flexible stability analysis tool.
APPENDIX. EXAMPLE POWER SYSTEM PARAMETERS
Generator: VG = 230Vrms , f = 400 Hz, RS =
0:0044 , LlS = 1:98943e05 H, Lmd = 2:20164e04 H,
Lmq = 1:61807e04 H, RF = 0:068884 , LlF =
3:28257e05 H, Rkd = 0:0142 , Llkd = 3:4079e05 H,
Rkq = 0:003095 , Llkq = 1:442739e04 H, Pg = 4.
GCU: Voltage loop bandwidth: 15 Hz (Kpv =
1:78, Kiv = 227:02); current loop bandwidth: 100 Hz
(Kpi = 0:0487, Kii = 99:88).

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OCTOBER 2011

Fig. 18. (a) Eigenvalue plot. (b) Instability line for different values of Ldc .

Fig. 19. (a) Eigenvalue plot. (b) Instability line for different values of Cdc .

Cable connection and transformer (-equivalent):

Ceq1 = Ceq2 = 1:5 nF, Req = 0:1 , Leq = 24 H.
DC filters: Ldc = 2 mH, Cdc = 500 F.
Actuator drive (20 kW rated): !r = 975 rpm,
Rsm = 0:6 , Lsm = 30:39 mH, Rr = 0:159 , Lr =
30:39 mH, Lm = 29:03 mH, P = 6, J = 0:281 kg m2 ,
Isdm = 34:115, F = 0:02 s; speed loop bandwidth,
20 Hz (Kpw = 13:27, Kiw = 1042:33); current loop
bandwidth: 200 Hz (Kpi,m = 4:75, Kii,m = 4199:14) and
= 1
s =

L2m
,
Lsm Lr

Lsm
,
Rsm

r =

Lr
Rr

Kf = Lsm Isdm +

[3]

[4]

L2m Isdm
:
Lr

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2587

Kongpan Areerak received the B.Eng. and M.Eng. degrees from Suranaree
University of Technology (SUT), Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, in 2000 and
2001, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Nottingham,
Nottingham, UK, in 2009, all in electrical engineering.
In 2002, he was a lecturer in the Electrical and Electronic Department,
Rangsit University, Thailand. Since 2003, he has been a lecturer in the School
of Electrical Engineering, SUT. His main research interests include system
identification, artificial intelligence applications, stability analysis of power
systems with constant power loads, modeling and control of power electronic
based systems, and control theory.

Tao Wu (S06) received the B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering
from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China, in
2004 and 2007, respectively.
He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in power electronics and motor
control with the Power Electronics, Motor and Control Group, Department of
Electrical Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham,
United Kingdom. He worked as a power electronics intern from January to
May 2004 with the Low Power Electronics Lab, Global Research Center,
General Electric Company, Shanghai, China. His research interests include power
electronics and energy conversion, with particular emphasis on modeling, control,
and various applications including communications, aerospace, and energy
systems.
Mr. Wu received the distinguished graduate award from Nanjing University of
Aeronautics and Astronautics and received an overseas research scholarship from
University of Nottingham.

Serhiy Bozhko (M96) obtained his M.Sc. in electrical engineering in 1987, and
Ph.D. in 1994 at the National Technical University of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine.
From 1987 he worked as a research assistant and lecturer, and from 1995 as
a senior lecturer at the Department of Electrical Drives and Automation of the
National Technical University of Ukraine. Since December 2000 he has been
with the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK, where he is currently a
senior research fellow at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. His
research interests include stability of power systems with distributed generation;
modeling, control, and simulation of complex electric power systems; intelligent
control systems; and variable speed drives.
2588

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AEROSPACE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS VOL. 47, NO. 4

OCTOBER 2011

Greg Asher (SM02F07) graduated from Bath University in 1976. He received

his Ph.D. in 1979 in bond graph structures and general dynamic systems.
He was appointed lecturer in control in the School of Electrical and Electronic
Engineering at the University of Nottingham in 1984. He was appointed
Pprofessor of Electrical Drives in 2000. He is currently associate dean in the
Engineering Faculty at the University of Nottingham. He has published over
250 research papers and received over British pound Sterling5M in research
contracts. He has been a Member of the executive committee of European Power
Electronics (EPE) Association and Chair of the Power Electronics Technical
Committee for the Industrial Electronics Society. He is an associate editor of the
IEEE Industrial Electronics Society.

David W. P. Thomas (SM07) received the B.Sc. degree in physics from the
Imperial College of Science and Technology, the M.Phil. degree in space physics
from Sheffield University, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from
Nottingham University in 1981, 1987, and 1990, respectively.
In 1990 he joined the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
at the University of Nottingham as a lecturer, where he is now an associate
professor. His research interests are in power system transients, power system
protection, electromagnetic compatibility, and electromagnetic simulation. He is
a member of CIGRE and convener for JWG 4.207.
AREERAK ET AL.: AIRCRAFT POWER SYSTEM STABILITY STUDY

2589