Modeling methods for Solid State Power Controllers (SSPC)

Abstract

There is a clear trend in the aircraft industry to use more electrical system in order to satisfy the growing aircraft load demands. This higher electrical power demand has resulted in the increase of DC voltage levels in order to reduce the power losses and the wiring size by decreasing the current levels. Traditional protections, like electromagnetic circuit breakers, are not suitable for protection of high voltage DC systems. As a consequence new technologies like Solid State Power Controllers (SSPC) have been introduced. SSPC combine the functions of connecting loads to the main electrical bus and protecting the electrical installations from overloads and short-circuits. In order to analyse these new protection devices in the onboard Power Distribution System (PDS), models of SSPC have to be developed. This paper presents and analyses two different SSPC models. The first model is based on SSPC internal structure and the second model is based on the SSPC behaviour. Finally, the SSPC behavioural model has been validated within an experimental test bench using commercial SSPC.