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Microchip Expertise has launched a brand new built-in actuation energy answer in response to the aviation trade’s demand for extra environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient plane programs. This development is in keeping with the aviation sector’s transition towards Extra Electrical Plane (MEA) and the implementation of electrical actuation programs to mitigate emissions.
The proposed answer integrates companion gate driver boards with Hybrid Energy Drive (HPD) modules manufactured by Microchip. These modules are accessible in silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon (Si) applied sciences and supply energy capacities between 5 kVA and 20 kVA. This integration signifies a considerable development in aviation energy programs, accommodating the sector’s rising concentrate on environmental sustainability and effectivity.
By leveraging SiC and Si applied sciences, Microchip goals to ship options that meet present aviation calls for and anticipate future trade wants. This initiative underscores Microchip’s dedication to innovation in energy programs for aviation, supporting the trade’s transition towards cleaner and extra sustainable plane operations.
Amit Gole, product advertising and marketing supervisor of the discrete product division at Microchip, mentioned in an interview with EE Instances that Microchip’s announcement displays a broader development towards electrical actuation programs and sustainable applied sciences within the aviation trade. A majority of these developments are important for propelling air journey towards a sustainable future.
By International Unichip Corp. 04.18.2024
By Shruti Usgaonkar, Principal Engineer, Microchip Expertise 04.18.2024
Sustainability
There’s a clear shift towards electrical applied sciences that scale back weight, complexity and vitality consumption whereas enhancing the effectivity and reliability of aviation actuation programs. This transition helps the trade’s objectives of sustainability and decarbonization. In accordance with Microchip, “built-in energy options play a pivotal function on this shift,” offering complete packages for varied actuator sorts, akin to electro-hydrostatic, electrical backup hydraulic and electromechanical. These options optimize efficiency and contribute to lowering the carbon footprint of air transportation.
Each SiC and Si applied sciences provide distinct benefits in Microchip’s HPD modules. In accordance with Gole, each present low stray inductance, improved thermal efficiency and enhanced reliability. For prime-frequency purposes, SiC, together with SiC MOSFETs and Schottky diodes, is especially efficient at minimizing switching losses and enhancing general effectivity.
Gole additionally pressured the significance of flexibility in know-how selections, noting that the hybrid SiC answer (Si IGBT + SiC diode) is well-suited for purposes with decrease switching frequencies, balancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This method permits prospects to optimize their system advantages primarily based on particular necessities, akin to energy vary, price issues and scalability.
“Plane actuation programs are transitioning from absolutely hydraulic programs to electro-hydrostatic, electrical backup hydraulic and electromechanical, which use energy electronics drives for motor management,” Gole mentioned. “This transition helps scale back weight, complexity, vitality consumption and upkeep whereas enhancing vitality effectivity and reliability by avoiding leakage and different points related to centralized hydraulic programs.”
Microchip’s dedication to design excellence and integrating superior applied sciences underscores its contribution to sustainability initiatives within the aerospace trade. By leveraging revolutionary electrical actuation programs and strategic know-how selections, the corporate helps drive effectivity and efficiency whereas supporting the broader objective of attaining a greener future for aviation.
Microchip’s design
Microchip’s actuation energy options exhibit notable scalability to accommodate varied plane sorts, together with drones, electrical vertical takeoff and touchdown plane, and business plane. The corporate affords built-in options just like the SP6HPD energy module and companion driver board, designed with important parts, akin to a three-phase inverter, solenoid, brake swap and inrush limiting swap, making certain suitability for a variety of purposes.
“As well as, to cater to calls for under and above 5 kVA to twenty kVA, Microchip affords particular person energy modules, such because the baseless energy modules BL1, BL2 and BL3 sequence for low-power and SP6LI energy modules,” Gole mentioned. “For prime energy, these modules provide various present rankings, voltage rankings and topologies and can be found in Si IGBT and SiC MOSFET applied sciences. Prospects can use these modules to kind related subsystem designs as wanted.”
The SP6HPD energy module contains non-compulsory switches for capabilities like solenoid, brake and tender begin. Energy and low-voltage indicators are routed by way of pin terminals soldered onto the driving force board of the SP6HPD. This module can deal with DC-link voltages of 270–540 V, with swap choices of 650/700 V and 1,200 V. In accordance with Gole, given that almost all electrical motor actuation programs are designed inside these voltage rankings, this answer is well-suited for a variety of purposes. Moreover, Microchip affords 1,700-V switches for specialised necessities and might customise or present by-product options tailor-made to particular wants.
One of many standout options of those options is their capability to adapt to various energy wants whereas adhering to a standardized footprint. In accordance with Gole, “having the identical footprint throughout completely different energy ranges is a trademark of our Built-in Actuation Answer.” This uniformity permits for seamless scalability and integration into varied purposes with no vital redesign.
The core parts of those options exhibit outstanding consistency in weight throughout completely different energy rankings. “The usual weight of the HPD Energy Module and companion driver board is 380 grams, no matter energy score from 5 kVA to twenty kVA,” Gole mentioned. This uniformity simplifies product integration and accelerates time to marketplace for prospects, leveraging economies of scale and standardization.
Moreover, the compatibility of those gate driver boards with a variety of Microchip merchandise like FPGAs and microcontrollers provides one other layer of versatility. Gole famous that the corporate’s “Built-in Actuation answer can seamlessly interface with any microcontroller able to processing PWM indicators and different handshake protocols.” This interoperability empowers designers to leverage current Microchip applied sciences for enhanced performance and exact management over actuation programs.
The gate driver circuits are supposed to be powered by exterior PWM indicators per TIA/EIA-644–compliant low-voltage differential signaling to attenuate electromagnetic interference and supply glorious noise immunity. To generate differential outputs for telemetry indicators like DC bus present, part present and solenoid present, the gate driver board receives suggestions from the HPD module’s shunts and DC bus voltage.
The gate driver boards have a number of circuit safety options important for secure and dependable operation in difficult airborne circumstances, akin to a large temperature vary of –55°C to 110°C. In accordance with Gole, these protections embrace desat, energetic Miller clamping, shoot-through and tender turn-off. Moreover, the gate driver incorporates undervoltage lockout on the enter collector provide voltage and inside bias provide to make sure secure operations and allow unfavorable gate drive performance.
To facilitate correct swap commutation for IGBT and SiC gadgets, the driving force board is supplied with a 15-V energy provide and is galvanically remoted. Moreover, it’s outfitted with a mechanism for figuring out the DC-link bus voltage and generates an remoted differential voltage output. Floating bias energy provides built-in into the board present the required bias voltages for logic-side gate controllers and extra telemetry circuits.
Moreover, to enhance security and dependability, the driving force PCB incorporates two PT1000 temperature transducers immediately related to the low-voltage connector. The SP6HPD temperature is persistently monitored by these temperature sensors, which boosts the system’s general resilience and longevity.
