Enhancing Power Quality Using 12-Pulse AC-DC Converter with DC Side Current Injection Scheme in More Electric Aircraft Applications

This research introduces a novel circuit arrangement design to minimize the presence of harmonics in the AC current mains of a 12-pulse based autotransformer with Diode Bridge Rectifier (DBR) utilizing a star configuration. The suggested circuit setup involves the utilization of a tapped interphase full bridge rectifier (TIFBR) on the DC side of the parallel connection of two 6-pulse DBRs. This modification leads to an increase in the number of pulses within the supply current. Consequently, it effectively mitigates the harmonic components, resulting in an enhancement of the overall power quality for the system that aligns with the stipulated criteria of the IEEE-519 standard across different load conditions. Notably, the outcomes indicate that the proposed arrangement of the 24-pulse AC-DC converter can achieve an input line current total harmonic distortion (THD) within specified limit under varying load circumstances suitable for More Electric Aircraft (MEA) applications. Additionally, the suggested setup undergoes power quality analysis in MATLAB/Simulink simulations. These results validate power quality enhancement within the incoming AC line current.