Interleaved Multi-Cell Isolated Three-Phase PWM Rectifier System for Aircraft Applications

1. Interleaved Multi-Cell Isolated Three-Phase PWM Rectifier System for Aircraft Applications  M. Silva In order to improve aircraft efficiency, global efforts for reducing aircraft weight are under way. The main key is the wide application of electric systems instead of heavy mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic driven equipment. In the course of this development, high efficient, low weight, and high reliability three-phase rectifier systems of several kW are required, mainly for electrically driven actuators for flight control. In order to obtain a high efficiency rectifier (over 97%) several semiconductors must normally be used in parallel to decrease the conduction losses. However, the reliability is compromised with the number of semiconductors. This work proposes an interleaved multi-cell isolated topology to achieve high efficiency, low weight, and high reliability. Project sponsored by Three-Cell Architecture • Texto Bolo1 • Texto Bolo2 • Texto Bolo_Verificación Detailed view of an individual converter cell consisting of a three-phase buck-type PWM rectifier and a voltage-fed full-bridge converter Three Cells Modular Architecture Interleaved Three-Cell Simulations Experimental Results of a Single Cell Unit Power Factor at full power High efficiency Multilevel Input currents decrease the filter effort High Power Factor Interleaved currents Relatively high THD 10kW Three-Cell Prototype CONCLUSIONS • A Multi-Cell topology has higher reliability • because it is single failure tolerant. • Interleaving modulation decreases the filter effort, and consequently the weight of the system. • Experimental prototype shows a high efficiency (around 98%) and unitary power factor. • Part of the future work is to decrease the THD in order to comply with aircraft standards.