I/UCRC - GOALI Fundamental Research: Gallium Nitride Optical Isolation for Wide Bandgap Power Electronic Systems

该提案旨在为阿肯色州大学（牵头）和南卡罗来纳州大学进行的电网连接先进电力电子系统中心（GRAPES）研究提供资金。基础研究的资助申请由NSF批准的招标（NSF 10-507）授权。 征集邀请I/UCRC提交支持行业定义的基础研究的提案。该项目的技术优势在于推进了基于GaN的全集成、全宽带隙、全隔离电力电子转换器的发展。这将在开关速度、体积减小、功率密度、工作温度、效率和抗干扰性方面产生新的最新边界。最终，这些技术将应用于并网系统。这一基本努力的成果有可能改变电力电子系统的设计方式，以适应众多智能电网和功率转换器应用。参与的大学教师团队非常有资格进行该项目，他们得到了来自行业成员的有能力和知识渊博的专业人士的支持。这是一个构思良好的创造性建议，因为它对问题采取了实用的概念验证方法。这两所大学都配备了优秀的设施来执行各自的研究任务。如果他们的方法被证明是成功的，那么拟议的项目有可能产生巨大的社会影响，为转换器和电网应用开发更集成，更便宜和更高效的电力电子产品。该研究计划从事研究生的研究工作，并将对本科生的影响。预计许多参与的学生将来自代表性不足的少数群体。研究结果将广泛分发，并直接传达给主要行业代表。

This proposal seeks funding for the Center for Grid Connected Advanced Power Electronics Systems (GRAPES) studies conducted by the University of Arkansas site (lead) and the University of South Carolina site. Funding Requests for Fundamental Research are authorized by an NSF approved solicitation, NSF 10-507. The solicitation invites I/UCRCs to submit proposals for support of industry-defined fundamental research. The technical merit of this project is in advancing the state of the art in fully-integrated, fullywide-bandgap, fully-isolated power electronic converters based on GaN. This will produce new state-of-the-art boundaries in switching speeds, volumetric reduction, power density, temperature of operation, efficiency, and immunity to interference. Eventually, these technologies will be applied to grid-connected systems. The outcome from this fundamental effort has the potential for transforming how power electronic systems are designed for numerous smart-grid and power converter applications. The team of participating university faculty is very well qualified to conduct the project and they are supported by capable and knowledgeable professionals from their industry members. It is a creative proposal that is well conceived in that it takes a practical, proof-of-concept approach to the problem. Both universities are well equipped with excellent facilities to perform their respective research tasks.The proposed project has the potential to make a huge societal impact if their approach is proven successful for the development of more integrated, less expensive and more efficient power electronics for converter and power grid applications. The research plan engages graduate students in the research effort and will have an influence on undergraduate students as well. Many of the participating students are expected to come from underrepresented minority groups. The research results will be distributed broadly and communicated directly to key industry representatives.