| Abstract |
The shift toward electric propulsion in aircraft brings unique challenges to power distribution and protection systems, requiring the advancement of technologies like solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs). This paper explores the pivotal role of SSCBs in electric aircraft, highlighting their potential to improve safety, reliability, and efficiency in 800V high-power environments. However, their integration in aviation also presents challenges, such as ultra-fast fault isolation within complex electrical architectures, efficient thermal management, enhanced reliability and safety, and the demand for lightweight, compact designs. This paper addresses these challenges by analyzing current technological limitations, exploring potential solutions, and presenting experimental results from a bidirectional silicon carbide (SiC) SSCB that successfully detects a 1kA fault current with a response time of less than 1µs. The results emphasize the need for continued innovation in SSCB technology to meet the stringent demands of next-generation electric aircraft. |
