They may run on petroleum-based fuel, but airplanes still need electricity. Commercial airliners, for instance, use electricity to power avionics, displays, lights and more. They typically feature generators that leverage the mechanical energy from engines to produce electricity, which is then stored in batteries. In addition to generators and batteries, however, many airplanes also use bus bars in their electrical systems.
The Basics of Bus Bars
Bus bars are devices that distribute electricity from a single point. They typically consist of a solid strip of conductive metal. Some of them are made of copper, whereas others are made of aluminum. Conductive metals such as these allow electricity to flow easily and with minimal resistance.
Electricity must travel from generators and batteries. One option is to use a network of wires. Engineers can run wires from an airplane’s generators and batteries to all of the necessary electrical equipment. An alternative solution is to use bus bars. It’s a more efficient way to distribute electricity that minimizes the amount of wiring required.
Why They Are Called ‘Bus Bars’
The name “bus bars” comes from the shared pathway. Transit buses operate out of a shared hub. Travelers will go to these hubs, at which point they will take various buses to different destinations. Bus bars operate using a similar concept. They act as a hub for electricity. Electricity collects at a bus bar, after which it travels to different destinations.
How Bus Bars Work
They may sound complex, but bus bars have a relatively simple method of operation. Electricity is initially produced by a power source, such as a generator, battery or auxiliary power unit (APU). From there, electricity travels through a protective device like a circuit breaker. Protective devices are designed to protect the connected electrical equipment from overcurrent.
After leaving the protective device, electricity travels to the bus bar. Bus bars are thick and highly conductive, so electricity can travel through them with ease. Wires provide a path from the bus bar to the connected devices. It’s important to note, though, that some aircraft electrical systems have protective devices after the bus bar, meaning electricity travels from the power source to the bus bar and then the protective device.
Less Wiring
One of the main advantages of using bus bars that they reduce the amount of wiring required. Wires still carry electricity from power sources to various electrical devices; bus bars simply provide a hub for distribution.
Without bus bars, there would be many wires running from power sources to electrical devices, resulting in a cluttered mess. Bus bars offer a solution. They offer a centralized location for power distribution.
