Key technologies of multi-port power conversion systems for the more electric aircraft

In the framework of the More Electric Aircraft (MEA), weight reduction and energy efficiency constitute the key figures. In addition to these requirements, the safety and the continuity of operation is of critical importance. These sets of desired feature are in disagreement, because the redundancy needed to guarantee the safety of operation implies necessarily in additional weight. Several key technologies for the electrical power distribution systems will be described and discussed, including multi-port solid state transformers, multi-winding generator drives, solid state circuit breakers and so on. These technologies allows for a ring distribution of the electrical power whereas the galvanic isolation is still kept.