Authors: Giampaolo Buticchi; Thiago Pereira; Jiajun Yang; Giovanni De Carne; Xiang Gao; Youngjong Ko; Zhixiang Zou; Kangan Wang; Marco Liserre

Extended Abstract: Green transportation and renewable energy production have attracted a global attention due to the needs of decreasing the environmental impact and still sustain increased energy needs. In this framework, the aircraft and airports are facing a profound renovations towards green technologies, among which the electrical ones are playing a central role. The Smart Transformer (ST), which is a type of power electronic transformers, was proposed for replacements of conventional transformers. Compared to conventional ones, the ST can additionally provide dc connectivities as well as decoupling between ac sides. This paper explores how a ST can upgrade the existing airport power system, enabling an efficient interface for renewable energy, electric vehicles and the future hybrid/electric aircraft, substituting the ground power units and enabling a smarter behavior of the electrical grid. To meet the requirements of a modular architecture while maximizing the number of interfaces available for renewable energy sources and storage units, a multiple-active-bridge-based smart transformer (ST) with an intertwined design is proposed in this paper. Accordingly, a power-decoupling control strategy is developed to reduce interactions between ports, thereby simplifying power management. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of the proposed smart transformer (ST) in a real airport power system.

ST powering green airport: Proposed concept

 

This paper has been published the Industrial Electronics Magazine in https://www.ieee-ies.org/pubs/industrial-electronics-magazine

Check full paper at: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10251166/