The first phase of the project was dedicated to write the technical specification which takes into account the use cases of the final application.
Several technical trade-offs were made to choose the power semiconductor technology, the power conversion topology and to select the energy storage cells.
Power semiconductor technology uses a new current SiC MOSFET device that allows high voltage and high frequency operation with reduced electrical losses.
Selected electrical energy storage cell offers one of the best kWh/kg and kWh/L energy densities.
The results of these trade-offs were used to investigate an initial architecture with a preliminary design of the SUNSET equipment.
After a detailed design stage, the second period of the SUNSET project was devoted to the development, fabrication and validation of the TRL4 demonstrator.
At the end of the second period, the main sub-assemblies were manufactured and tested, and the integration of the demonstrator was began in Sept. 2020.
The third period of the project was divided into two main phases:
First, we completed the assembly of the TRL4 demonstrator by integrating the energy storage module. This demonstrator is composed with only one power string (the three strings are identical). After laboratory tests at Centum Adeneo, this demonstrator was integrated into the overall GATS system at INDRA's facilities, consisting of the wheel actuator developed by SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS and the engine control module developed by INDRA as part of the European E-TSIN project. This first integration of the demonstrator into the GATS system allowed us to validate its functional modes on complete operating cycles with connection to the system, data exchange, charging and discharging at reduced power.
After this first system integration, we were able to finalize the development of the key technological bricks for TRL5/6 demonstrator.
This development phase was carried out in order to achieve the power and energy objectives. A TRL5/6 demonstrator has been manufactured with three energy branches.
Laboratory tests at Centum Adeneo validated the performance of the demonstrator in full charge and discharge at 35kW.
Technology dissemination activities have been conducted throughout the project mainly through publications in peer-reviewed journals and participation in conferences.
This dissemination is complemented by technical presentations to our major industrial customers on the different technological components developed within the SUNSET project.
Three different forms of exploitation of the SUNSET results are planned. The first is for the application of green taxiing, at the equipment level, notably with Safran Landing System as a customer. Then, still at the equipment level, with other applications requiring a high-performance energy buffer, such as the use of a fuel cell solution for an aircraft auxiliary power unit or any other hybridization application.
Finally, functional exploitations with the high-performance functions developed in the framework of the SUNSET project could be very useful for the electrification of aircraft, for example-: high voltage battery management system, energy pack, solid state circuit breaker, power converter, etc...
