Design of a Bidirectional DC/DC Converter for Energy Storage in Electric Aircraft

Abstract

High-density power conversion and energy storage solutions were and are being explored for use in Electric Aircraft (EA). A superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) system is a promising candidate due to its fast response and ability to satisfy large pulse loads as is expected from EA. For the SMES, Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converters can offer high-density power conversion and provide galvanic isolation. This paper proposes a design methodology for a bidirectional DC/DC converter using DAB converter and a MOSFET-based chopper to interface SMES. This paper includes analysis, performance prediction, and needs for implementation in EA. The DAB/SMES system has been successfully designed, analyzed, and is being optimized for application in EA.