A Turboelectric Distributed Propulsion Based On Brushless Doubly-Fed Machines

The existing concept of aviation turboelectric distributed propulsion for passenger aircraft relies on direct current (DC) for power transmission and distribution. The mass and efficiency performance of DC-based propulsion systems becomes challenging as the system power rating increases. This work proposes a turboelectric distributed propulsion based on brushless doubly-fed machines, which will minimize the power conversion, enhance the mechanical reliability, and strengthen the fault-tolerance capability. This paper presents the background of the proposed turboelectric distributed propulsion along with the system modeling, control algorithm development, and preliminary simulation results of a full flight profile.