Hardware-based electric drive train fault detection unit enabling fail-operational capabilities for aviation applications

• Integrating multiple three-phase structures in the motor and inverter is a possible solution to meet the prerequisites of reliability and availability in aviation. A critical condition is the ability to isolate faulty subsystems effectively from the overall system. This leads to a hardware-based electric fault detection unit (FDU). This work developed a FDU for an active fuse, in this case, a pyrofuse, which can isolate faults within 1.5 ms. A new solution that closed the gap in large scale electric propalsion aircrafts fault management concepts. The aircraft electrification process imposes safety requirements to ensure the reliability and availability of the electric drive train. Integrating multiple three-phase structures in the motor and inverter is a possible solution to meet these prerequisites. A critical condition to successfully implement such multiple three-phase structures is the ability to isolate faulty subsystems effectively from the overall system. The usage of traditional melting fuses is limited due to possible low short-circuit currents, as they cannot guarantee reliable isolation in such a case. A solution is the use of an active fuse in the DC link of the drive train. For the actuation of such an active fuse, a system is required that detects possible faults in the electrical drive train. This leads to a hardware-based electric fault detection unit (FDU). Therefore, this work aims to develop and simulative evaluate a redundant hardware-based FDU for an active fuse, in this case, a pyrofuse. A new solution that closed the gap in large scale electric propalsion aircrafts fault management concepts.