Design and Validation of a 20-kVA, Fully Cryogenic, Two-Level GaN-Based Current Source Inverter for Full Electric Aircrafts

Hassan, Mustafeez Ul; Emon, Asif Imran; Luo, Fang; Solovyov, Vyacheslav

doi:10.1109/tte.2022.3176842

Cited by 24 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Experts in power electronics opine that strides in superconductor development are imperative for choke inductors to attain a technological maturity akin to capacitors [35]. This progression is crucial to mitigating losses associated with filtering DC ripple in CSIs [36,37].…”

Section: A Brief Comparison Between Vsi and Csi Topologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing and Evaluating the Operating Region of a Grid-Connected Current Source Inverter from Its Mathematical Model

Baier,

Melin,

Torres

et al. 2024

Mathematics

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Grid-connected power inverters are indispensable in modern electrical systems, playing a pivotal role in enhancing the integration of renewable energies into power grids. Their significance, primarily when functioning as grid-forming inverters, extends to maintaining the grid’s inertia and strength—a distinct advancement over traditional grid-following operations. As grid-forming inverters, these devices emulate the characteristics of synchronous generators and can act as robust voltage sources, providing essential ancillary services. This behavior is particularly relevant when integrating energy storage systems on the converters’ direct current side. Among the various inverter topologies, the current source inverter (CSI) has emerged as a promising yet underexplored alternative for grid-forming applications. CSIs, when paired with their AC output filters, can effectively operate as voltage sources, utilizing control strategies that facilitate the integration of renewable energies into the electrical system. Their design inherently manages output current fluctuations, reducing the need for restrictive current limitations or additional protective measures. This paper examines the operational region of CSIs, obtained through detailed modeling, to explore their advantages, challenges, and potential for enhancing grid-connected systems. Analyzing the operating region from the converter model verifies the limits of where the converter can operate in a plane of active and reactive powers. For a small prototype model operating with 7 amperes in DC and 120 V in AC, it is possible to supply or absorb active power exceeding 1000 W and manage maximum reactive power values around 500 VAr, as determined by its operating region. Simulations also confirm that small changes in the control reference, as little as 5%, towards the region’s right limits cause significant oscillations in the dynamic control responses. This research aims to deepen our understanding of CSIs’ operational capabilities and highlight their unique benefits in advancing grid-connected systems and promoting the integration of renewable energy using this technology.

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Section: A Brief Comparison Between Vsi and Csi Topologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing and Evaluating the Operating Region of a Grid-Connected Current Source Inverter from Its Mathematical Model

Baier,

Melin,

Torres

et al. 2024

Mathematics

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“…The ICs turned obsolete and not placed inside the cryo temperature have not been considered for the review. [12] implemented a boost type DC-DC converter using TC4427ACPA as a low side gate drive IC whereas [13], [14] designed and placed the gate drive inside the cryogenic chamber, successfully operating SiC devices down to 93 K. [15], [16] used similar gate drive IC inside the chamber but reported test results at 133 K and 143 K. [17] successfully implemented a gate drive at 77 K and presented a gate drive configuration for low temperature applications. [18] characterized a few gate drive ICs for cryogenic applications, but could not present them operating below 133 K.…”

Section: Passive Components Utilization In Cryogenic Power Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of cryogenic power conversion and its potential in future all electric transportation systems: from silicon age to WBG era

Luo,

Ul Hassan

2024

IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng.

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Cryogenic power electronic conversion (< 123 K) is expected to offer higher efficiencies for future all-electric transportation platforms. Low temperature operation of converters together with integration of wide bandgap devices (WBG) can enable higher switching frequencies with reduced filtering components. This paper briefly reviews the passive components involved in the development of a cryogenic converter. The paper also reviews in detail the converter development with WBG devices by far, and provides a discussion on benefits achieved, and challenges in terms of auxiliary components and measurements. The last part of the paper gives a discussion on envisioned challenges, and different research directions for future superconducting power conversion systems.

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“…used. A cryogenic GaN based, two level current source inverter operating at 77 K has also been proposed [35]. In this design an efficiency improvement of 0.7% was measured between RT and CT, but the reported experimental results are limited to 300 W and the total efficiency of the converter is not given.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

GaN-based cryogenic temperature power electronics for superconducting motors in cryo-electric aircraft

Wadsworth

Thrimawithana

Zhao

et al. 2023

Supercond. Sci. Technol.

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Climate change has spurred a shift to electric transportation, but aviation faces challenges with electric energy storage and propulsion. Cryogenically cooled superconductingmotors, along with cryogenically cooled power electronics, offer a solution to increase the efficiency and power density of electric aircraft. This paper evaluates the feasibility of cryogenic power electronics by characterizing new technologies (GaN, nanocrystalline) using new experimental techniques. It is found that the on resistance reductions of GaN E-HEMTs at cryogenic temperatures depend on the maximum blocking voltage of the device, and the size of the gate resistor for ohmic p-GaN devices. Different types of nanocrystalline cores are shown to vary greatly in their behavior at cryogenic temperatures, which is measured using a modified core loss measurement circuit. Further analysis shows that the losses of a GaN based cryogenic inverter could potentially halve that of an equivalent Si based inverter

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Design and Validation of a 20-kVA, Fully Cryogenic, Two-Level GaN-Based Current Source Inverter for Full Electric Aircrafts

Cited by 24 publications

References 60 publications

Developing and Evaluating the Operating Region of a Grid-Connected Current Source Inverter from Its Mathematical Model

Developing and Evaluating the Operating Region of a Grid-Connected Current Source Inverter from Its Mathematical Model

Review of cryogenic power conversion and its potential in future all electric transportation systems: from silicon age to WBG era

GaN-based cryogenic temperature power electronics for superconducting motors in cryo-electric aircraft

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