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Reference Number	EP/L020513/1
Title	Exploration of Multilevel Current Source Converters
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	ENERGY EFFICIENCY(Transport) 30%; ENERGY EFFICIENCY(Residential and commercial) 10%; OTHER POWER and STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES(Electric power conversion) 60%;
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 X Yuan No email address given Electrical and Electronic Engineering University of Bristol
Award Type	Standard
Funding Source	EPSRC
Start Date	30 June 2014
End Date	31 March 2016
Duration	21 months
Total Grant Value	£97,888
Industrial Sectors	Energy
Region	South West
Programme	NC : Engineering
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Dr X Yuan , Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bristol (100.000%)
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , Safran Power UK Ltd (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract	Power electronic conversion is a central element of energy conversion systems, acting as the interface between different forms of electrical energy and is an enabling technology for low-carbon economy. By 2030, it is expected that as much as 80% of all electric power will use Power Electronics somewhere within the energy supply chain between generation and consumption.Multilevel converter is one type of power electronics converter and can offer substantial benefits over the established two-level converter counterparts. These include reduced harmonic distortion, less voltage/current stress (dv/dt, di/dt), and mitigated electro-magnetic interference (EMI).Multilevel converters can be classified into multilevel voltage source converters (MVSCs) and multilevel current source converters (MCSCs). The MCSC exhibits several unique advantageous characteristics that may favour its adoption in the low voltage converters used in aircraft, hybrid/electric vehicles and micro renewable power generation. For example, inductors are used as the main energy storage elements in MCSCs, which are more reliable than capacitors in MVSCs. The MCSC has intrinsic current limiting capability, which can be used to constrain fault currents as well as leaving more time for device over-current protection. It may prevent further damage or failure of other components and avoid fire due to over-current.The research into MCSCs is at its infancy. The project therefore will explore the MCSCs through converter topology derivation, modulation techniques, inductor current balancing, loss and efficiency evaluation, etc. The successful investigations of these challenges will reveal the benefits of the MCSCs and facilitate the wide application of the converter. The research will be carried out through modelling, control, simulation and experimental verification.The study of power converter topologies is valued as enabling research in power electronic systems. A breakthrough in MCSCs will benefit the UK world-leading aerospace industry and renewable energy OEMs. Successful development of MCSCs will also feed into the component or sub-system supply chain, in exploiting new power semiconductor technologies (reverse blocking IGBT, wide-bandgap devices) and in requiring new power module configurations and new wound components.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	30/10/14