AC/DC converter with DC fault suppression for aircraft +/- 270 VDC distribution systems

Michal Sztykiel; Steven Fletcher; Patrick Norman; Stuart Galloway; Graeme Burt

doi:10.4271/2015-01-2411

AC/DC converter with DC fault suppression for aircraft +/- 270 VDC distribution systems

Michal Sztykiel, Steven Fletcher, Patrick Norman, Stuart Galloway, Graeme Burt

Electronic And Electrical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

120 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The increasing electrical demand in commercial and military aircraft justifies a growing need for higher voltage DC primary distribution systems. A DC system offers reduced power losses and space savings, which is of major importance for aircraft manufacturers. At present, challenges associated with DC systems include reliable fast acting short circuit protection. Solid State Contactors (SSC) have gained wide acceptance in traditional 28 VDC secondary systems for DC fault interruption. However, the reliable operation at higher operating voltages and currents requires further technology maturation.

This paper examines a supporting method to SSC for more reliable fault mitigation by investigating bidirectional AC/DC converter topology with DC fault current blocking capability. Replacement of semiconductor switches with full bridge cells allows instant reversal of voltage polarities to limit rapid capacitor discharge and machine inductive currents. Demonstration of this capability is realized by tracking DC fault currents in time-domain simulations of a ±270 VDC converter dynamic model built in MATLAB-Simulink.

Simulation results have shown that the modified power converter topology provides a fast response to DC faults and it can be considered as a back-up to SSCs in clearing faults in ±270 VDC distribution systems.

Original language	English
Number of pages	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4271/2015-01-2411
Publication status	Published - 15 Sep 2015
Event	SAE 2015 AeroTech Congress & Exhibition - Seattle, United States Duration: 22 Sep 2015 → 24 Sep 2015

Conference

Conference	SAE 2015 AeroTech Congress & Exhibition
Country	United States
City	Seattle
Period	22/09/15 → 24/09/15

Keywords

DC primary distribution systems
short circuit protection
solid state contactors
DC fault interruption
fault mitigation
bidirectional AC/DC converter topology
DC fault current blocking capability
bridge cells
capacitor discharge
machine inductive currents

Access to Document

10.4271/2015-01-2411

Sztykiel-etal-SAE-2015-AC-DC-converter-with-DC-fault-suppression-for-aircraftAccepted author manuscript, 1.78 MB

http://www.sae.org/events/atc/2015/

Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'AC/DC converter with DC fault suppression for aircraft +/- 270 VDC distribution systems'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this

@conference{83e673159124494cb2c991fe313bdd55,

title = "AC/DC converter with DC fault suppression for aircraft +/- 270 VDC distribution systems",

abstract = "The increasing electrical demand in commercial and military aircraft justifies a growing need for higher voltage DC primary distribution systems. A DC system offers reduced power losses and space savings, which is of major importance for aircraft manufacturers. At present, challenges associated with DC systems include reliable fast acting short circuit protection. Solid State Contactors (SSC) have gained wide acceptance in traditional 28 VDC secondary systems for DC fault interruption. However, the reliable operation at higher operating voltages and currents requires further technology maturation.This paper examines a supporting method to SSC for more reliable fault mitigation by investigating bidirectional AC/DC converter topology with DC fault current blocking capability. Replacement of semiconductor switches with full bridge cells allows instant reversal of voltage polarities to limit rapid capacitor discharge and machine inductive currents. Demonstration of this capability is realized by tracking DC fault currents in time-domain simulations of a ±270 VDC converter dynamic model built in MATLAB-Simulink.Simulation results have shown that the modified power converter topology provides a fast response to DC faults and it can be considered as a back-up to SSCs in clearing faults in ±270 VDC distribution systems.",

keywords = "DC primary distribution systems, short circuit protection, solid state contactors, DC fault interruption, fault mitigation, bidirectional AC/DC converter topology, DC fault current blocking capability, bridge cells, capacitor discharge, machine inductive currents",

author = "Michal Sztykiel and Steven Fletcher and Patrick Norman and Stuart Galloway and Graeme Burt",

note = "Reprinted with Permission from SAE International. Sztykiel, M., Fletcher, S., Norman, P., Galloway, S., & Burt, G. (2015). AC/DC converter with DC fault suppression for aircraft +/- 270 VDC distribution systems. Paper presented at SAE 2015 AeroTech Congress & Exhibition, Seattle, United States. https://dx.doi.org/10.4271/2015-01-2411; SAE 2015 AeroTech Congress & Exhibition ; Conference date: 22-09-2015 Through 24-09-2015",

year = "2015",

month = sep,

day = "15",

doi = "10.4271/2015-01-2411",

language = "English",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - AC/DC converter with DC fault suppression for aircraft +/- 270 VDC distribution systems

AU - Sztykiel, Michal

AU - Fletcher, Steven

AU - Norman, Patrick

AU - Galloway, Stuart

AU - Burt, Graeme

N1 - Reprinted with Permission from SAE International. Sztykiel, M., Fletcher, S., Norman, P., Galloway, S., & Burt, G. (2015). AC/DC converter with DC fault suppression for aircraft +/- 270 VDC distribution systems. Paper presented at SAE 2015 AeroTech Congress & Exhibition, Seattle, United States. https://dx.doi.org/10.4271/2015-01-2411

PY - 2015/9/15

Y1 - 2015/9/15

N2 - The increasing electrical demand in commercial and military aircraft justifies a growing need for higher voltage DC primary distribution systems. A DC system offers reduced power losses and space savings, which is of major importance for aircraft manufacturers. At present, challenges associated with DC systems include reliable fast acting short circuit protection. Solid State Contactors (SSC) have gained wide acceptance in traditional 28 VDC secondary systems for DC fault interruption. However, the reliable operation at higher operating voltages and currents requires further technology maturation.This paper examines a supporting method to SSC for more reliable fault mitigation by investigating bidirectional AC/DC converter topology with DC fault current blocking capability. Replacement of semiconductor switches with full bridge cells allows instant reversal of voltage polarities to limit rapid capacitor discharge and machine inductive currents. Demonstration of this capability is realized by tracking DC fault currents in time-domain simulations of a ±270 VDC converter dynamic model built in MATLAB-Simulink.Simulation results have shown that the modified power converter topology provides a fast response to DC faults and it can be considered as a back-up to SSCs in clearing faults in ±270 VDC distribution systems.

AB - The increasing electrical demand in commercial and military aircraft justifies a growing need for higher voltage DC primary distribution systems. A DC system offers reduced power losses and space savings, which is of major importance for aircraft manufacturers. At present, challenges associated with DC systems include reliable fast acting short circuit protection. Solid State Contactors (SSC) have gained wide acceptance in traditional 28 VDC secondary systems for DC fault interruption. However, the reliable operation at higher operating voltages and currents requires further technology maturation.This paper examines a supporting method to SSC for more reliable fault mitigation by investigating bidirectional AC/DC converter topology with DC fault current blocking capability. Replacement of semiconductor switches with full bridge cells allows instant reversal of voltage polarities to limit rapid capacitor discharge and machine inductive currents. Demonstration of this capability is realized by tracking DC fault currents in time-domain simulations of a ±270 VDC converter dynamic model built in MATLAB-Simulink.Simulation results have shown that the modified power converter topology provides a fast response to DC faults and it can be considered as a back-up to SSCs in clearing faults in ±270 VDC distribution systems.

KW - DC primary distribution systems

KW - short circuit protection

KW - solid state contactors

KW - DC fault interruption

KW - fault mitigation

KW - bidirectional AC/DC converter topology

KW - DC fault current blocking capability

KW - bridge cells

KW - capacitor discharge

KW - machine inductive currents

UR - http://www.sae.org/events/atc/2015/

U2 - 10.4271/2015-01-2411

DO - 10.4271/2015-01-2411

M3 - Paper

T2 - SAE 2015 AeroTech Congress & Exhibition

Y2 - 22 September 2015 through 24 September 2015

ER -