Isolation of electrical faults in an aircraft's power distribution network

Abstract

An electrical power system for an aircraft, comprising: a plurality of electrical loads; a plurality of electrical power sources; a plurality of current tracks; and an electrical power distribution network configured to connect the electrical power sources to the electrical loads in such a way that each electrical load can be operated by at least one associated electrical power source via at least one of the plurality of current tracks, wherein the electrical power distribution network is configured to operate in at least one normal operating mode and in at least one electrical disturbance minimizing operating mode; wherein the electrical power distribution network comprises a circuit switching arrangement with a plurality of switchable or interruptible current connections, wherein each current connection is configured to operate in a first operating mode and in a second operating mode;wherein the electrical power distribution network in the normal operating mode provides load distribution across electrical power sources such that at least one group of electrical power sources of the plurality of electrical power sources jointly drives at least one associated group of electrical loads of the plurality of electrical loads, via one or more of the plurality of current traces or one or more sections of the plurality of current traces and at least one associated current connection which assumes the first operating mode;and wherein the electrical power distribution network, in the operating mode minimizing electrical disturbance, provides isolation of an electrical fault, such that a network part of the electrical power distribution network comprising an electrical fault is isolated from at least one other network part of the electrical power distribution network by at least one of the power connections that assumes the second operating mode.