Abstract: A solid state power controller (SSPC) for a direct current (DC) electrical system includes a high bandwidth fault detector, the high bandwidth fault detector configured to detect a possible fault and place a power switch of the SSPC in saturation at a predetermined current limit; and a low bandwidth fault detector, the low bandwidth fault detector configured to determine whether the possible fault is a confirmed fault, and in the event the possible fault is determined to be the confirmed fault, turning off the power switch, or in the event the possible fault is determined not to be the confirmed fault, turning on the power switch at a minimum on-resistance.

Abstract: A solid state power controller (SSPC) for detecting a parallel arc fault in a direct current (DC) power distribution system includes an input, the input being connected to a DC power source; a power switch connected to the input; an output connected to the power switch, the output being connected to a DC motor controller and associated capacitive load; an output current sensor; an output voltage sensor; and an SSPC controller, the SSPC controller being configured to determine the presence of a parallel arc fault in the DC power distribution system and control the power switch via a gate drive based on inputs from the output current sensor and the output voltage sensor.

Abstract: A solid state power controller (SSPC) for soft start of a direct current (DC) link capacitor of a DC power distribution system includes a power input connected to a DC power source of the DC power distribution system; a plurality of power switches arranged in parallel, the plurality of power switches being connected to a power output of the SSPC, the power output being connected to the DC link capacitor; and an SSPC controller configured to: pulse width modulate the plurality of power switches with a phase-shifted sequence in a current limiting mode; determine whether soft start is complete; and in response to determining that the soft start is complete, turn on the plurality of switches at a maximum gate-source voltage.

Abstract: A direct current (DC) power distribution system includes a first electrical distribution and power management (EDPM) unit including a first DC power source connected to a first high voltage DC bus connected to a first DC load, and a first bus-tie solid state power controller (SSPC) connected to the first HVDC bus; a second EDPM unit including a second DC power source connected to a second high voltage DC bus connected to a second DC load, and a second bus-tie SSPC being connected to the second HVDC bus; and a bus-tie connected between the first bus-tie SSPC and the second bus-tie SSPC, wherein in the event a power source failure occurs in the first EDPM unit, power flows from the second DC power source to the first HVDC bus via the second bus-tie SSPC, the bus-tie, and the first bus-tie SSPC.