Purpose This paper aims to present an inverter with a current-source input for 400 Hz avionic systems to have a system which removes DC-link capacitors and presents a high efficiency. Design/methodology/approach A battery-powered DC link inductor generates a constant-current source. A single high-frequency switch is used to provide a sinusoidally modulated current before the inverter. The output of the switch is “unfolded” by a thyristor-based H-bridge inverter to generate an AC output current. The system uses a CL low-pass filter to obtain a 400 Hz pure sine wave by removing pulse width modulation components. Findings Simulations and Typhoon HIL real-time experiments were performed with closed-loop control to validate the proposed inverter concept while meeting the critical standards of MIL-STD-704F. Originality/value This current source inverter topology is suitable for avionic systems that require 400 Hz output frequency. The topology uses small DC-link inductor and eliminates bulky capacitor which determines the inverter lifetime.

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Purpose The aviation industry has started environment friendly and also conventional energy independent alternative energy dependent designs to reduce negative impacts on the nature and to maintain its future activities in a clear, renewable and sustainable way. One possible solution proposed is solar energy. Solar-powered aerial vehicles are seen as key solutions to reduce global warming effects. This study aims to simulate a mathematical model of a solar powered DC motor of an UAV on MATLAB/Simulink environment. Design/methodology/approach Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is a critical term in photovoltaic (PV) array systems to provide the maximum power output to the related systems under certain conditions. In this paper, one of the popular MPPT techniques, “Incremental Conductance”, is simulated with solar-powered DC motor for an UAV design on MATLAB/Simulink. Findings The cascade structure (PV cell, MPPT, buck converter and DC motor models) is simulated and tested under various irradiance values, and results are compared to the DC motor technical data. As a result of that, mathematical model simulation results are overlapped with motor technical reference values in spite of irradiance changes. Practical implications It is suggested to be used in real time applications for future developments. Originality/value Different from other solar-powered DC motor literature works, a solar-powered DC motor mathematical model of an UAV is designed and simulated on MATLAB/Simulink environment. To adjust the maximum power output at the solar cell, incremental conductance MPPT technique is preferred and a buck converter structure is connected between MPPT and DC motor mathematical model. It is suggested to be used in solar-powered UAV designs for future developments.

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Photovoltaic panels (solar cells), they receive photon energy from sunlight, convert them to electrical energy by the semiconductor structural features. Photovoltaic panels produce a voltage, depending on the change of functional sunlight exposure. Produced voltage and determining of provided electrical power, must be dealt with the physical parameters that uses the concepts of light and temperature. In this study, usage of monocrystalline and polycrystalline structured photovoltaic panels electrical energy conversion for different atmospheric temperature and different sunlight intensity are studied. With the realization of the applications, photovoltaic panels' thermal change effects upon the energy production is discussed. With the conclusions obtained from the research applications and analyses, for heat exchange in photovoltaic panels to effects upon energy production, the obtained principles of functional changes are interpreted.