Engineering Research Equipment Grant: Power Electronics Research Equipment

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This equipment grant proposal is intended to support power electronics research at the University of Toledo. Power electronics is a rapidly- growing electrical-engineering specialty area which deals with electronic circuits capable of efficiently processing electrical energy at high power levels. Two research projects to be supported are the high-power-factor rectifier and high-power switching converters suitable for application in space (such as NASA's space station). Rectifiers convert AC power from the utility distribution system into DC power for use by computers, variable-speed motors and other electronic equipment. However, simple rectifiers draw relatively large currents for the amount of power being processed. This research seeks advanced circuit designs which draw lower AC line currents for equal amounts of power. NASA's space station will initially use a 100 kilowatt power distribution system. This will require electronic converters to raise or lower DC voltage levels, or convert DC to AC power. The researchers at the University of Toledo are looking for electronic converters which can perform unattended for long periods of time in the hostile environment of outer-space. The equipment requested meets the specialized measurement and testing needs of these research projects.