Evaluation on the Autoconfigured Multipulse AC/DC Rectifiers and Their Application in More Electric Aircrafts

Multipulse ac/dc rectifiers (MPRs) are widely used in aviation applications due to their rugged structure, cost effective, and high-reliability features. In this article, an overview of the recent advances and trends on the MPR technology, mainly the autoconfigured transformer-based MPRs, and its application in more electric aircrafts is performed. This article covers system topologies, transformer configurations, passive and active harmonic reduction schemes, case study, practical selection and design guidelines, and applications. To fairly evaluate the performances of MPRs with different pulse numbers, necessary simulation studies are carried out under comparable conditions, including power rating, input and output specifications, and transformer configuration. Then, an 18-pulse asymmetric delta-polygon configured prototype is established based on the simulation evaluation and experimental verification is performed. It is expected that this article can provide a broad perspective on MPR technology, and, in particular, highlight the latest emerged technology that significantly promotes the performances of MPRs. More importantly, it is desired that the results obtained in this article can provide an effective selection guideline and design suggestion for researchers and engineers engaged in designing MPRs, especially for aviation applications.