1 Reflections on the Preliminary Electrical Power System Design for a Large Transportation Airship

This paper examines the preliminary design of the Electrical Power System of the CargoLifter CL-160 airship. It includes a review of key decisions made relative to the electrical system and reflects upon the design path taken. A brief review of the unique political and financial environment, which enabled a newly formed CargoLifter to attempt such an ambitious development project, is also provided. Design trade studies are discussed, such as the use of integrated-drive generators relative to constant-speed-drive unsynchronized generators, use of a 230 VAC 400 Hz system, and the replacement of the airship’s hydraulic system with an expanded 1.4 MVA electrical system. Considerations such as power quality, direct effects of lightning, and efforts to minimize variations in airship buoyancy are also discussed. Nomenclature i = current [amperes] t = time [seconds] v = voltage drop [volts- root-mean-square] = single phase, in a poly-phase system I