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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	EP/C52652X/1
Title	Complex Structures of Power Electronic Converters: An Exploration of Benefits
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Not Energy Related 80%; Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electric power conversion) 20%;
Research Types	Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Dr C Klumpner No email address given Electrical and Electronic Engineering University of Nottingham
Award Type	Standard
Funding Source	EPSRC
Start Date	01 September 2005
End Date	31 March 2008
Duration	31 months
Total Grant Value	£124,542
Industrial Sectors	Electronics; Energy
Region	East Midlands
Programme	Materials, Mechanical and Medical Eng, Process Environment and Sustainability
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Dr C Klumpner , Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Nottingham (100.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract	This research project proposal to relates to an area of power electronic converters known as Direct Power Converters (DPC). These are a special class of converters which do not rely on large energy storage components such as electrolytic capacitors or large inductors to perform the energy conversion. This makes them very attractive compared to conventional converters. However, DPCs have also a few major drawbacks which have delayed their industrial implementation. First, the voltage transfer ratio (output-input) is less than unity making them unable to compete with the more traditional converter topologies in many applications. Secondly, their operation is highly sensitive to system disturbances such as voltage unbalance, and this results in a limitation of converter power output under many conditions.A hybrid power electronic converter consists of a main power electronic converter which processes most of the electrical power while a small interconnected auxiliary power converter improves the performance of the assembly above the typical performance of the main power converter topology. The gains of a hybrid power electronic converter cover, for example, reduced component cost, reduced passive filter component size, reduced power losses and reduced waveform harmonic content. The added cost of the auxiliary converter is very small. A few research teams worldwide are currently investigating hybrid power electronic converters for conventional main converter topologies.Thepurpose of this proposal is to investigate hybrid power converter topologies where the main converter is a DPC topology. The auxiliary converter is used to improve the DPC performance by minimizing its inherent limitations. It is expected that this will allow both the increase of the output voltage capability and the improved operation under unbalance voltage supply. The added cost of the auxiliary converter will be justified by the increase in the output power capability. Additional studies will investigate the interleaving of modular topologies which promise considerable benefits, such as improving the input current quality or decreasing the size of the filters, especially at higher powers.The investigation work will consist in identifying the most promising hybrid DPCs, building their simulation models (in Saber), developing new control strategies for the hybrid DPCs to overcome their limitations, building two prototypes of the most promising hybrid DPCs and evaluating their performance.The research program is intended to run over a two year period, requiring a research assistant over the full period and needing a six-months technician time to assist in building the two prototypes demonstrators and carry out the tests. The deliverables of this project will be the verification of a novel power electronic converter concept that will overcome the known disadvantages of the DPCs.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	01/01/07