Origin of 400Hz in Aircraft

Is there any particular reason, why the standard aircraft

power supply is 400Hz?
As aircraft fly higher, faster and grow larger, the services that the power
supply has to satisfy also grow more complex. In civil aircraft this means
more power to the galley units, environmental control and passenger
entertainment systems, while increased power demands for actuators,
lighting systems, avionics and heating.
The primary function of an aircraft electrical system is to generate, regulate
and distribute electrical power throughout the aircraft. The aircraft electrical
power system is used to operate (a) aircraft flight instruments, (b) passenger
services. Essential power is that the aircraft needs to be able to continue
safe operation. Passenger services power is the power that is used for cabin
lighting, operation of entertainment systems and preparation of food.
Aircraft electrical components operate on many different voltages both AC
and DC. However, most of the aircraft systems use 115 volts (V) AC at 400
hertz (Hz) or 28 volts DC. 26 volts AC is also used in some aircraft for lighting
purposes. DC power is generally provided by self-exciting generators
containing electromagnetics, where the power is generated by a commutator
which regulates the output voltage of 28 volts DC. AC power, normally at a
phase voltage of 115 V, is generated by an alternator, generally in a threephase system and at a frequency of 400 Hz.
However, higher frequencies are also more sensitive to voltage drop
problems. There are two types of drops: resistive and reactive. Resistive
losses are a function of current flowing through a conductor with respect to
the length and size of the conductor. This is the most important factor in
controlling resistive power loss and applies regardless of frequency.
A higher frequency also increases loss of power over long distances, so using it on long transmission
lines would be a bad idea.

Running at 400Hz allows the use of smaller transformers. Less energy has to
be stored in the transformer core per cycle, so the core can be smaller. A
smaller core means a lighter transformer, and reducing weight is a good
thing in an aircraft.
If an ordinary wire is used to carry high frequency currents, the wire acts as an antenna, and the high
frequency currents radiate off the wire as radio waves, causing power losses.

Origin of 400Hz in Aircraft

Some equipment require a 3 phase supply i.e. motors. Some use only one ie
windscreen heaters if you had single phase generators you would need 3 for
3 phase and then you would require a very complicated timing circuit to
make sure the phases were the correct angle apart.You would also need to
duplicate this system or triplicate it to get an airframe certified the weight
would be large all the power required and attach them to a constant speed
drive that rotates the gen at a speed that gives you 400Hz depending on
how many poles your choice of gen has because Freq= RPM x pairs of
Poles/60.
So know we know how to gear the constant speed drive to get 400 Hz while
varying engine RPM. It is the standard frequency in aircraft so all equip is
made to operate at 400 Hz and when ask Why? The answer is we can use 3
phase generators to save weight and simplify power production because 400
Hz means a complete cycle occur's every 1/400 th of a second therefore a
pole passes a coil of the gennny and generates max voltage every 1/1200
second (remeber 3 phase so 3 coils.The less the coils again the greater the
weight saving but three is the minimum ) we therefore get the 3 phases 120
degrees apart because the same pole passes the next coil another 1/1200 of
a sec later and then the third and all our electrical need's right down to
Coffee is done on each 360 degree cycle of the genny or 400 times a second.
Does 3-phase effect? 3 phase means basicly three AC circuits. On an
oscilloscope you would see three sinus curves shifted by 120 degrees.
Much more efficient than single phase and perfect for transmission to
pointer gauges.
Increasing the operating frequency can reduce the size of these magnetic.
This desire for smaller size forces the power supply designers to increase the
switching frequency.
Some Important relationships regarding aircraft frequency are mention
below:
We can see that power is linearly
increasing with frequency it shows
the direct relationship between each
other.
Keep one thing in mind and i.e

Origin of 400Hz in Aircraft

= V/f

(at constant voltage)

Or

f 1/
as frequency increases it causes to decrease in flux().

Some more relations are as follows:

Or

Some disadvantages of High Frequency:

Before explain further, we need to define what the definition of High
Frequency is? Is 10 KHz a high frequency, how about 200 KHz or 1 MHz? The
answer depends on the following:

The frequency at which the skin effect starts to influence the current
distribution through a

Origin of 400Hz in Aircraft

conductor is what we define as High frequency. When the current does not
fully use the cross sectional area of the entire wire. The fig above(skin depth
vs freq) shows that as the frequency increases, the usable cross sectional
area of the wire diminishes decreases, causing an increase in resistance

What is skin effect? When the frequency increases the electrons tends to
flow from the skin of the conductor rather than the core it causes to great
increase in resistance of a conductor which is bad sign for us. Another
question may arrises, with increase in frequency, how increase in
resistance?

One solution to the problem

shown in right fig is to use a
bundle of smaller gauge
wires(stranded wires) or litz
wires instead of a single thick
wire gauge. Although this
approach helps to reduce the
AC resistance. Except all
these many other losses
occirs with increasing in
frequency like core loss, iron
loss, eddy current los etc.

How to overcome these problems ?

Origin of 400Hz in Aircraft

1.

2.

3.

4.
5.

Eddy current losses can be reduced by making the core out of thin
laminations which have an insulating coating, or alternately, making
the core of a nonconductive magnetic material, like ferrite.
Copper losses can be improved by reducing the electrical losses in
the stator windings (e.g., by increasing the cross-sectional area of the
conductor, improving the winding technique, and using materials with
higher electrical conductivities, such as copper.
The conductivity of a transmission line can be enhanced by using
cables with multiple insulated conductors. Hollow conductors can also
help reduce the cost of transmission.
With high frequency, must use less no.of turns with thick lamination in
winding.
Flux is inversly proportional to speed, and speed is directly proportional
to frequency. Hence frequency is inversely proportional to flux. Lesser
the flux lesser the core required, lesser the core means lesser the
weight which is ideal in aircraft.