C4.2 - Power Supply System for All Electric Aircraft

Abstract

This project covers the investigation of a 4 MW all electric aircraft power supply system with fuel cells and batteries as DC sources. The main focus is on the DC/DC converters for the connection of the sources and loads to the high voltage DC bus and on the safety and protection concepts of the DC system. The realization with significant specific weight reduction of the power supply systems will be carried out by means of an overall system optimization approach where component models will be provided. The electrical analysis of sources and loads under different operation modes of the aircraft will be conducted, while respecting the safety requirements. A strong cooperation with other projects in the SE²A cluster enables a substantial contribution to the targets of the cluster. Additionally to the investigations on the focus topics of each applicant, the E²AGLE laboratory setup will be supported.

Current State of Research and Research Objectives

Power supply system for interconnection of sources (batteries and fuel cells) and loads (propulsion, ECS, WIPS, AFCS, avionics, hotel, taxi, …)
Grid voltage: 3 kV DC (±1,5 V DC) [state of the art: ±270 V DC]
Power electronics systems for high voltage and high power DC/DC conversion with high efficiency and optimized power density → requires the use of wide bandgap devices
Safety switches for large DC currents based on hybrid technology
Optimization of grid structure with distributed loads and sources and high redundancy
Estimations on wiring harness
Experimental verification at E²AGLE

In- and Outputs

Methodical Approach

Outlook and Challenges

Air Pressure

Reduced air pressure leads to lower air breakdown voltage. For high voltages, enhanced isolation barriers and potting of components needs to be considered.

Cosmic Radiation

Increased impact of radiation by a factor of 60 in 6 km altitude compared to sea level. Effect of radiation on WBG devices not fully explored. → FiT rate [1]

[1] Felgemacher, Christian; Araujo, Samuel Vasconcelos; Zacharias, Peter; Nesemann, Karl; Gruber, Artjom (2016 - 2016): Cosmic radiation ruggedness of Si and SiC power semiconductors. In: 2016 28th International Symposium on Power Semiconductor Devices and ICs (ISPSD). Prague, Czech Republic, 12/06/2016 - 16/06/2016: IEEE, S. 51–54.

Cooling

Requirements:

Very power dense power electronics
Very high output power
Cooling of the power dissipation
Harsh environmental conditions
High reliability requirements

Details of the project

Power Electronics: DC/DC Converter

Institute for Electrical Machines, Traction and Drives, TU Braunschweig
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Regine Mallwitz
- M. Sc. Hendrik Schefer
Institute for Drive Systems and Power Electronics , Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover

Circuit Breaker

Institute for High Voltage Technology and Electrical Power Systems - elenia, TU Braunschweig
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Kurrat
- Dipl.-Ing. Tobias Kopp

Discussion on Electric Power Supply Systems for All Electric Aircraft

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9086510?source=authoralert

Date of Publication: 06 May 2020
Journal: IEEE Access
Issue Date: DECEMBER 2020
Volume: 8, Issue:1
On Page(s): 84188-84216
Print ISSN: 2169-3536
Online ISSN: 2169-3536
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2991804
Content:
- Motivation for alternative drive systems in aviation
- Trend towards electrification
- State of the art: More Electric Aircraft
- HVDC power supply systems in aviation
- HVDC grids for aircraft application
- Power electronics
- Circuit breaker
- Wiring harness

Study of Current Ripple Generators for Accelerated Ageing of Capacitors

R. Keilmann, H. Schefer and R. Mallwitz, "Study of Current Ripple Generators for Accelerated Ageing of Capacitors," 2022 24th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE'22 ECCE Europe), 2022, pp. 1-11.

Design of a High-Dynamic Test Bench for Accelerated Dielectric Lifetime Testing with Adjustable Voltage Slopes and Temperatures

H. Schefer, L. Hanisch, T. -H. Dietrich, R. Mallwitz and M. Henke, "Design of a High-Dynamic Test Bench for Accelerated Dielectric Lifetime Testing with Adjustable Voltage Slopes and Temperatures," 2022 24th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE'22 ECCE Europe), 2022, pp. 1-10.

Asymmetric Half-Bridge Configurations in Power Electronics Converters

L. Fauth, T. Brinker, S. Lin and J. Friebe, "Asymmetric Half-Bridge Configurations in Power Electronics Converters," 2019 21st European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE '19 ECCE Europe), 2019, pp. P.1-P.9, doi: 10.23919/EPE.2019.8915148.

Design and Control of a Virtual DC-Link for a full GaN-based Single Phase Converter with High Power Density

Y. H. Wankhede, L. Fauth and J. Friebe, "Design and Control of a Virtual DC-Link for a full GaN-based Single Phase Converter with High Power Density," 2020 22nd European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE'20 ECCE Europe), 2020, pp. P.1-P.10, doi: 10.23919/EPE20ECCEEurope43536.2020.9215920.

Efficiency Optimization for Partial Load Operation of Interleaved Converters

J. Friebe and L. Fauth, "Efficiency Optimization for Partial Load Operation of Interleaved Converters," 2020 23rd International Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems (ICEMS), 2020, pp. 1847-1852, doi: 10.23919/ICEMS50442.2020.9290823.

Selection of Test Site Locations for Long-Term Cosmic Radiation Tests

L. Fauth, P. Mand and J. Friebe, "Selection of Test Site Locations for LongTerm Cosmic Radiation Tests," PCIM Europe digital days 2021; International Exhibition and Conference for Power Electronics, Intelligent Motion, Renewable Energy and Energy Management, 2021, pp. 1-5.

Investigation of Creepage Distances on Printed Circuit Boards for Avionic Applications

H. Schefer, Z. Xu, T. Kopp, R. Mallwitz and M. Kurrat, "Investigation of Creepage Distances on Printed Circuit Boards for Avionic Applications," 2022 24th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE'22 ECCE Europe), 2022, pp. 1-10.

Neural Network Modeling of Nonlinear Filters for EMC Simulation in Discrete Time Domain

J. -P. Roche, J. Friebe and O. Niggemann, "Neural Network Modeling of Nonlinear Filters for EMC Simulation in Discrete Time Domain," IECON 2021 – 47th Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, 2021, pp. 1-7, doi: 10.1109/IECON48115.2021.9589226.

A Hybrid Active Neutral Point Clamped Converter consisting of Si IGBTs and GaN HEMTs for Auxiliary Systems of Electric Aircraft

L. Fauth, C. Beckemeier and J. Friebe, "A Hybrid Active Neutral Point Clamped Converter consisting of Si IGBTs and GaN HEMTs for Auxiliary Systems of Electric Aircraft," 2021 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE), 2021, pp. 1917-1923, doi: 10.1109/ECCE47101.2021.9595512.

Cryogenically-Cooled Power Electronics for Long-Distance Aircraft

Cryogenically-Cooled Power Electronics for Long-Distance Aircraft | IEEE Journals & Magazine | IEEE Xplore

Date of Publication: 09 December 2022
Journal: IEEE Access
Volume: 10, Issue: Power Electronics Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Energy Conservation
On Page(s): 133279 - 133308
Online ISSN: 2169-3536
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3228161
Content:
- Motivation of cryogenic power electronics
- State of the art
- System requirements for cryogenic power electronics
- Semiconductor investigations (Si, SiC, GaN)
- Heat sink design
- Weight estimates
- Conclusion and outlook

Comparison and Analysis of Multi-State Reliability of Fault-Tolerant Inverter Topologies for the Electric Aircraft Propulsion System

Y. Cao, L. Fauth, A. Mertens and J. Friebe, "Comparison and Analysis of Multi-State Reliability of Fault-Tolerant Inverter Topologies for the Electric Aircraft Propulsion System," 2021 24th International Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems (ICEMS), 2021, pp. 766-771, doi: 10.23919/ICEMS52562.2021.9634654.

Contact

Project leads

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Regine Mallwitz

Chair of Power Electronics
Institute for Electrical Machines, Traction and Drives
+49 531 / 391 - 3901

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Kurrat

Institute for High Voltage Technology and Electrical Power Systems
+49 531 391 7735

Jun.-Prof. Dr. -Ing. Jens Friebe

Institute for Drive Systems and Power Electronics
+49 511 762 5346

Organisation

Institute for Electrical Machines, Traction and Drives

TU Braunschweig
Hans-Sommer-Str. 66,
D-38106 Braunschweig

Institute for High Voltage Technology and Electrical Power Systems - elenia

TU Braunschweig
Mühlenpfordthaus 2.OG
Schleinitzstraße 23
38106 Braunschweig

Institute for Drive Systems and Power Electronics

Leibniz Universität Hannover
Welfengarten 1
30167 Hannover