Intelligent Gate Drive for Cryogenic Solid-state Circuit Breaker with Current Limitation Capability for Aviation Application

Abstract

To increase the current interrupting capability for the DC solid-state circuit breaker (DC-SSCB), power semiconductors need to possess a higher pulse current. Moreover, for the power electronics protection system, it is also important to enable the system with a fault current limitation capability. Accordingly, this paper aims to design an intelligent gate drive for DC-SSCB, which can operate in cryogenic conditions to increase interrupting capability of the SSCB. Meanwhile, the proposed intelligent gate drive also enables the SSCB to operate in the current limitation mode to limit the overcurrent in the aviation system. The current limitation mode can help the aviation system limit the inrush current during startup and realize fault ride-through for the healthy part when the fault occurs. Finally, test results based on a 200V/150A SSCB with the current limitation mode prototype verify the proposed intelligent gate drive design for SSCB with cryogenic cooling.