Project description
Boosting power system efficiency in aircraft
Silicon carbide (SiC) is a novel material for next-generation power electronics devices, expected to significantly improve efficiency and reduce the size and weight of aircraft power converter technology. Power systems that use silicon carbide semiconductors will allow us to achieve higher power densities, voltages, temperatures and frequencies while reducing heat dissipation. The aim of the EU-funded MuSiCA project is to design and manufacture a power electronic module integrated with a gate driver in a reliable package to enable SiC technology to meet its full potential and demonstrate its competitiveness against current solutions. The project's outcomes will support the adoption of new silicon carbide devices in aerospace applications, enabling smaller and lighter power converters for more electric aircraft while helping to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Objective
MuSiCA will design and supply a power electronic module and gate driver using silicon carbide devices for a relatively high frequency 100kW aircraft motor drive application. The power converter topology has been chosen and is provided as an input to the project. The main objective is to package silicon carbide devices in a manufacture-able and reliable power module package to enable silicon carbide technology to meet its full potential in terms of competitiveness against current solutions. The power module package will be integrated with the gate driver developed in the project. The hardware will be produced during the project and tested on an existing Clean Sky 2 funded motor drive test bed. The output of the project will be a demonstration of the manufactured hardware and evidence of its manufacturability, reliability and low weight and volume, and potential to reduce CO2, NOx and Noise emissions. The target application is European Aerospace but the solutions developed will be applicable to other applications such as automotive, rail and renewable energy, where high reliability and manufacturability is desirable. The key objectives of MuSiCA are to: Increase manufacturability, Increase long term in-service reliability, Increase modularity and scalability, Integration with Clean Sky test bed, Maximise the performance of silicon carbide power semiconductor devices, Enable the demonstration of the complete power converter. The power electronics module developed in MuSiCA will support the Clean Sky ambitions. It is expected that MuSiCA will directly address the ITD Systems and in particular will feed into the WP5 and WP 100.1: “Power Electronics and Electrical Drives” The CfP supports the activities within the Systems Integrated Technology Demonstrators by delivering an innovative multi-level power electronics module which can be used as a functional building block for the construction of converters for a variety of uses in on-board energy conversion systems.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energy
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraft
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrymetalloids
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsenergy conversion
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
S10 2TN Sheffield
United Kingdom