High Power Density Aircraft PFC

The goal of this proposal is to develop PFC hardware that can interface with combat aircraft 115V, 400 Hz, power systems and provide system reactive current to correct the 0.98 leading power factor to 0.93-0.97 lagging. To this end, Mainstream Engineering proposes a configurable inductor that can provide up to reactive current to the aircraft 65 kVA power system. The proposed PFC hardware will be turned on/off through a 400 Hz contactor, and will be installed into a rugged environmentally sealed housing. The proposed PFC hardware weighs less than 20 lbs, is >99% efficient, is a small form factor, and relies only on natural convection cooling at the maximum ambient temperature of 71 deg. C. This passive magnetics based approach was selected over more complicated power electronic (active) based approaches as it provides a system that is much more reliable, rugged, and overall smaller and lighter.