Power semiconductor devices for solid state power controller used in more electric aircraft

Protective devices such as circuit breakers play a critical role in electric power distribution systems in more electric aircraft (MEA). Due to the extreme safety requirements, fast response and arc-less operation is critical for protection and fault isolation of the electric power system of the aircraft and therefore solid-state power controller (SSPC) technology is gaining interest in this application domain. However, there are multiple technological challenges to develop this technology for wider range of power system requirements. Losses associated with current conduction in SSPC reduce system efficiency and demand an innovative thermal management for applicability in weight sensitive aerospace applications. Weight reduction is another important goal as the aerospace application demands light weight components. Hence, identifying an appropriate semiconductor technology is critical for SSPC application. The work in this paper discuss the selection process of the power semiconductor devices for SSPC.