Design Considerations and Coordinated Protection of an Integrated Multiport SSCB for Single-Bus Multi-load Power Distribution Systems in MEA

In high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) power systems for more-electric aircraft (MEA), a single DC bus typically supplies multiple loads. Equipping each load with an individual circuit breaker (CB) significantly increases the overall weight of the aircraft electric power system (EPS) and leads to redundant hardware. To address this issue, this paper proposes an integrated multiport solid-state circuit breaker (IM-SSCB) based on a typical LC commutating circuit, which enables coordinated protection for multiple loads connected to a single DC bus. The topology of the proposed IM-SSCB is first introduced, and its operating principle is further elaborated through analytical derivations. Based on the operation characteristics, a coordinated control strategy is then developed to achieve reliable fault protection for the bus and multiple load branches, enabling selective and synchronized fault interruption. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed IM-SSCB are validated through simulation and experimental results. Compared with conventional solutions using individual CBs for each load, the proposed IM-SSCB significantly reduces the number of components, weight, cost, and volume by sharing the commutating circuit, thereby providing a promising solution to enhance the power density of MEA power distribution systems.