Development of A High-Power Density Megawatt-Scale Medium-Voltage Power Converter for Aircraft Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Systems

Power electronic converters are key components in hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft systems. Light weight and high efficiency converters are essential to achieve the goal of reduced fuel burn and emissions. For larger commercial aircraft, it is beneficial to increase the distribution voltage level from conventional 270Vdc to medium voltage for lower system losses and cable weight. A high-power density megawatt-scale medium-voltage power converter based on hybrid 3-level active-neutral-point-clamped (3L-ANPC) converter is developed to meet these requirements. This paper presents the hardware design and experimental test results of the converter.