Generator Rectification in More Electric Aircraft High-Voltage DC Electric Power Systems: A Review

With the rapid evolution of more electric aircraft (MEA) technology, the aviation industry has witnessed an enormous, continuing increase in the capacity of the onboard electric power system (EPS). The 270-/540-V high-voltage dc (HVdc) EPS has emerged as a highly promising candidate for MEA applications. The generator system serves as a vital core component of the onboard EPS, with the rectifier acting as its pivotal node. The efficiency and reliability of the rectifier considerably influence the performance of the EPS. This article presents a comprehensive review of generator rectification in MEA systems. The state of the art of aircraft dc generators is summarized. Topologies and control strategies of different rectifiers are analyzed and compared. The trends, challenges, and opportunities of MEA rectification are discussed. As a case study, a wound-field doubly salient generator (WFDSG) system is implemented. The diode rectifier, the active rectifiers based on angular position control (APC), and pulsewidth modulation (PWM) are compared. The output characteristics and the losses are analyzed, highlighting the differences in interactions between the generator and rectifier. Due to the higher output power, higher efficiency, and bidirectional characteristics, the APC active rectifier is a promising candidate in MEA WFDSG EPS.