A Novel Re-configurable LLC Converter for Electric Aircraft

With the expansion of research in the field of more electric aircraft (MEA), demand for more efficient power-electronic converters is increasing. LLC converters are one of the most used typologies in terms of energy density and efficiency for both automotive and aerospace applications. However, especially in the case of aerospace application, a fault-tolerant topology is required. This paper presents a new LLC-based resonant converter with multiple re-configurable fault-tolerant architecture to address this issue. The proposed converter, with the help of a specially designed transformer and six extra semiconductor switches, can re-configure the converter in such a way that in the event of a catastrophic fault in one or more semiconductor switches, the converter can still maintain the nominal output voltage and current, so that the aircraft does not lose its critical functionality.