Average-value diode rectifier modeling for aerospace applications

Modern aerospace power systems commonly make use of uncontrolled rectifiers to satisfy many power conversion needs on board the aircraft. Whilst being highly accurate, an analytically detailed simulation of the aircraft power system, which includes all electric machine dynamics, semiconductor switching states, and power system dynamics, is often very computationally demanding. Average-value models of power electronic converters, with their reduced computational requirement, offer one potential solution to this issue. However, of the many converter topologies presented in the literature, average-value models of uncontrolled diode rectifiers are perhaps the most challenging to develop. The dependence of the rectifier's operating state on its loading conditions and the surrounding network topology complicates the derivation of average-value models. As a result, multiple methods, often with unique attributes, have been published, many of which are accurate only for certain modes of operation. This extensive array of methods, each with their unique limitations, makes the selection of an appropriate modeling approach for any given application a difficult task. With the growing utilization of diode based converters within modern aircraft systems, and the increasing dependence on modeling and simulation in their design and analysis, this paper presents a timely review on average-value diode rectifier modeling methods and considers their applicability to the demands of modeling and simulation of aircraft power systems. Of the methods reviewed, the parametric approach offers the greatest value to aircraft power systems modeling and simulation. The potential errors incurred with the use of the parametric approach are then illustrated and quantified, and revised guidelines to achieve greater simulation accuracy in the application and further development of the parametric method are then proposed.