Compact DC power sources

Citation

(2006), "Compact DC power sources", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778aad.003

Compact DC power sources

Compact DC power sources

Keywords: Aircraft, Electric power systems

Thurlby Thandar Instruments has been appointed as the exclusive UK agent for the Argantix range of high-power DC power sources. Manufactured by California Instruments, manufacturer of AC power sources, the Argantix range has been developed specifically to meet the demanding DC environment in modern aircraft and industrial power systems.

The Argantix KDC Series claims up to 15 kW of DC power in a 5.25inch (3U) chassis. Despite the high power density of the design, the KDC Series provides a low-noise, stable output. The DC voltage ranges are from 30 to 600 V dc, which supports a wide range of applications (Plate 2).

Plate 2 The Argantix KDC power supply from TTi (Thurlby Thandar Instruments)

The KDC Series has three operational modes: constant voltage, constant current and constant power. The constant-voltage and constant- current modes can be configured for voltage foldback or shutdown when the programmed current-limit setpoint is reached.

All KDC Series Power Supplies use an advanced DSP based controller with a menu-driven user interface. This controller is said to provide capabilities not typically found in most DC supplies. Time driven output changes can be programmed, stored and executed under program control. Events include steps, sweeps, drops and surges of voltage and/or current. A transient program function allows users to define up to 100 output sequences. Each sequence can contain up to six parameters. Parameters include: voltage setpoint and slew rate, current setpoint and slew rate, dwell time and trigger. A graphical user interface allows users to generate automated test routines in minutes. This allows a variety of power conditions and DC tests to be set up and executed from the front panel. Multiple sequences can be stored in non-volatile memory for quick recall.

Multiple KDC units can be combined to provide high output current capability using a master/auxiliary combination. A programmable output impedance function allows simulation of DC source impedance as a function of load conditions.

The advanced features and claimed of the KDC Series are said to make these power supplies suitable for challenging test applications such as fuel testing and super-capacitor characterisation.

The availability of RS-232, GPIB/ IEEE-488 and isolated analogue interfaces makes the KDC Series easy to integrate into ATE and other automated systems. The KDC Series is designed to accept 208 and 400V line-to-line AC inputs.

Details available from: Thurlby Thandar Instruments Ltd, Tel: +44(0) 1480412451, Fax: +44(0) 1480450409, E-mail: sales@tti-test.com, web site: www.tti-test.com