Studies and trends to go towards the More Electrical Aircraft concept have started several years ago. In this scope, last airplanes developments with the A380, A350, B787 and research programs highlight different trends, optimizations and realisations: 1. Electrical actuator in harsh environment, 2. Variable frequency network, 3. Double voltage power network, 4. Electrical air conditioning system, 5. Electrical braking system. These targets illustrate the benefit to reduce the number of power sources and to move towards an electrical power source with a high energy management. However, lots of progresses have still to be done to reduce weight and volume and to improve the reliability of electronics in order to be better than the equivalent function with hydraulic actuators and to reduce the cost of the power electronics. SAFRAN GROUP (SAFRAN Electrical & Power entity) is intensively working in this direction and, more specifically power electronics in harsh environments with a goal to decrease weight and volume, to improve reliability and to extend the boundaries of temperature behaviour.
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