Aircraft supplemental electrical power systems and methods

A power conversion system for an electrical power system in a twin engine aircraft having a first generator and a second generator, said power conversion system comprising:

• a first branch including a first input, a first power converter comprising a first rectifier, and a first output configured for coupling to an aircraft electrical distribution system;
• a second branch including a second input, a second power converter comprising a second rectifier, and a second output configured for coupling to the aircraft electrical distribution system;
• and
• a selector coupled between said first branch and said second branch, said selector configured to selectively connect the first generator to said first branch or said first and second branches, and to selectively connect the second generator to said second branch or said first and second branches, wherein said selector is connected to said first power converter between said first input and the first generator, and connected to said second power converter between said second input and the second generator, wherein said selector comprises a first circuit breaker coupled between said first input and the first generator, a second circuit breaker connected between said second input and the second generator, and an alternating current contactor coupled between said first and second circuit breakers, and wherein said alternating current contactor is directly coupled to said first and second rectifiers.

An electrical power system for use in a twin engine aircraft having a first engine, a second engine, and a plurality of electrically powered loads, said electrical power system comprising:

• a first main generator driven by the first engine and coupled to a power distribution system;
• a second main generator driven by the second engine and coupled to the power distribution system, said first and second main generator having a combined output power less than a maximum power requirement of the plurality of electrically powered loads;
• a first supplemental generator driven by the first engine;
• a second supplemental generator driven by the second engine, the first and second supplemental generators having a combined supplemental output power greater than a difference between the combined output power of said first and second main generators and the maximum power requirement of the plurality of electrically powered loads;
• and
• a power conversion system coupled to said first and second supplemental generators, said power conversion system configured to selectively couple power from said first and second supplemental generators to the power distribution system, said power conversion system comprising:
• a first power converter comprising a first rectifier;
• a second power converter comprising a second rectifier;
• and
• a selector connected between said first and second power converters to selectively couple power from said first and second supplemental generators to said first and second power converters, wherein said selector comprises an alternating current contactor directly coupled to said first and second rectifiers.