High Current Module and Technologies Optimised for HVDC

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Basic and strategic applied research

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr P Palmer
Engineering
University of Cambridge

Standard

EPSRC

16 December 2014

15 June 2019

54 months

£1,016,809

Energy

East of England

Energy : Energy

Dr P Palmer, Engineering, University of Cambridge

Dr O Alatise, School of Engineering, University of Warwick
Dr SJ Finney, Institute for Energy and Environment, University of Strathclyde
Professor P Mawby, School of Engineering, University of Warwick
Dr RA McMahon, Engineering, University of Cambridge
Professor F Udrea, Engineering, University of Cambridge

Project Contact, Amantys Ltd
Project Contact, Dynex Semiconductor Ltd
Project Contact, Alstom Grid Ltd

The proposed research will investigate the role that advanced power semiconductor module design can play in improving the efficiency and increasing the capacity of Voltage Source, HVDC converters.Growing use of HVDC for integration of renewable energy sources and transnational electricity transmission is driving development HVDC technologies. Within Europe there are over 20 HVDC schemes currently planned and under construction most of which will employ new IGBT based Voltage Source Converter (VSC) technology. The development of new multi-level converters greatly raised DC operating voltages in VSC converters and improved their performance.Despite these significant advances, there are still strong drivers to raise both capacity and efficiency. To date multi-level HVDC typically utilises high voltage power semiconductor modules originally designed for other applications. At projected deployment rates, VSC-HVDC is likely to become one of the key markets for high voltage power. The size of this potential market justifies the development of a new power semiconductor switch, specifically designed around the needs of multi-level VSC converters. Such a power switch will be a composite of high capacity multi-device module and an associated intelligent gate drive which can optimise module performance in multi-level VSC systems. It is proposed that such techniques can provide significant gains in both converter capacities and efficiency at a reduced cost.

06/01/15