Aircraft architecture with a reduced bleed aircraft secondary power system

An aircraft comprising:

• a first engine, a first gearbox connected to said first engine, a first starter/generator associated with said first gearbox, and a first motor drive connected to said first starter/generator for providing the first starter/generator with electrical power to start the first engine;
• said first motor drive receiving electrical power from the first starter/generator after the first engine has been started to operate electrical systems onboard the aircraft;
• said first motor drive providing electrical power to an environmental control system for delivering air to a cabin onboard said aircraft;
• said environmental control system comprising a compressor, a cooling turbine, and an electric motor for driving said compressor and said cooling turbine;
• said first motor drive supplying electrical power to said electric motor;
• and
• said environmental control system further comprising said compressor receiving ram air and adding energy to said ram air, heat exchanger means for removing compression heat from said ram air, a reheater heat exchanger for initially cooling said ram air exiting said heat exchanger means and subsequently adding heat to said ram air, a condenser for removing moisture from said ram air, and said cooling turbine expanding said ram air prior to delivering said ram air to said cabin.

A method for providing starting power to an aircraft and for generating electrical power to operate aircraft systems comprising the steps of:

• providing a first starter/generator connected to an engine and a first motor drive connected to said first starter/generator;
• supplying electrical power to said first motor drive;
• conditioning said electrical power with said first motor drive and delivering said conditioned electrical power to said first starter/generator;
• starting said engine with power from said first starter/generator;
• said electrical power supplying step comprising providing an auxiliary power unit, another starter/generator connected to said auxiliary power unit, another motor drive, and a battery;
• providing power from said battery to said another starter/generator through said another motor drive;
• controlling the speed of said another starter/generator with said another motor drive as said another starter/generator starts said auxiliary power unit;
• operating said another starter/generator after said auxiliary power unit has been started;
• and
• supplying said electrical power from said another starter/generator to said first motor drive.

A method for providing starting power to an aircraft and for generating electrical power to operate aircraft systems comprising the steps of:

• providing a first starter/generator connected to an engine and a first motor drive connected to said first starter/generator;
• supplying electrical power to said first motor drive;
• conditioning said electrical power with said first motor drive and delivering said conditioned electrical power to said first starter/generator;
• starting said engine with power from said first starter/generator;
• and
• operating said first starter/generator in a generate mode after said engine has started.

A method for providing starting power to an aircraft and for generating electrical power to operate aircraft systems comprising the steps of:

• providing a first starter/generator connected to an engine and a first motor drive connected to said first starter/generator;
• supplying electrical power to said first motor drive;
• conditioning said electrical power with said first motor drive and delivering said conditioned electrical power to said first starter/generator;
• starting said engine with power from said first starter/generator;
• and
• bleeding air from said engine after said engine has been started to provide cowl de-icing.