A Modular Novel Bidirectional Hybrid DC Circuit Breaker Topology for More Electric Avionics

A DC-based power distribution system is adopted in the architecture for more electric aircraft (MEA) and all electric aircraft (AEA). The paper proposes a bidirectional Direct Current circuit breaker (DCCB) based on coupled inductor capable of interrupting a short circuit current in few tens of microseconds. The proposed topology is a hybrid circuit breaker that provides arc-less current disruption in the primary circuit. The breaking operation is based on the current reflected in the primary winding from the auxiliary resonant circuit (commutation module). In the proposed converter, the time for circuit breaking is significantly reduced using a current-fed high gain converter, which acts as a boost converter to charge the pre-charging capacitor. The same switches employed in the current fed converters are used in commutation; hence, fewer components are needed. The switches are operated so that the pre-charging capacitor voltage profile is unipolar. A modular approach for DCCB is presented that uses the commutation circuit as a module. With the modular approach of breaking the current in the primary circuit, the voltage and current rating of the DCCB can be enhanced. The presented DCCB with modular commutation circuits can interrupt the current flow in the opposite direction, which makes it a bidirectional DCCB. A detailed simulation study is conducted in Matlab Simulink environment, further experimentally the hardware results are validated for breaking the current in 270V/10A and 540V/5A DC systems.