CAREER: Irregular Modulation: Harnessing the Hidden Potential of PWM

自现代电力电子技术诞生以来，调制就在控制算法和开关操作之间架起了桥梁。尽管其重要性，与调制相关的研究在过去十年中取得了相对较小的进展，通常是由于顺序计算设备（例如数字信号处理器）的广泛使用。然而，人工智能（AI）技术的最新突破将并行计算设备推向了前沿。为了利用并行计算设备和人工智能的潜在好处，该项目提出了一种不规则调制理论，该理论可以很容易地应用于并行计算设备和忆阻器件。此外，该项目将完全释放调制的控制能力，使控制带宽真正受益于宽带隙（WBG）器件带来的高开关频率。这种新颖的调制方法将不可避免地导致新的拓扑结构和控制策略的出现，自然会产生新的逆变器建模方法。 此外，PI还提出了一个小任务启发式学习体验（M-TILE）方法，以支持学生，特别是那些来自代表性不足的群体，克服冒名顶替者综合症。为了扩大M-TILE的影响，这一概念将通过为期一天的研讨会与当地K-12教师分享。通过深度整合不规则调制和M-TILE概念，教育活动将提供世界一流的教育，激励和培养未来的科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）领导者。不规则调制理论的提出将打破传统的双载波和三角载波的思想，并将导致一种新的变换器调制技术。它将从根本上改变未来功率转换器的工作原理。由于调制控制集成的快速响应特性，除了经典的双环控制架构之外，还可以实现新的超快控制环路。这种新的控制循环将适应人工智能技术的最新进展，并导致一种全新的网格服务类型。由于不规则的调制，各种新的转换器拓扑结构，控制和模型将被揭示，从而保持消除脆弱组件和降低电压/电流应力的潜力。因此，在这个项目中提出的不规则调制理论将作为新拓扑的基本使能器。反过来，这最终将减少设备压力和元件数量，显着降低转换器成本并提高可靠性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并且通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Modulation, since the birth of modern power electronics, bridges control algorithms with switch operations. Despite its significance, research related to modulation has seen relatively little progress in the past decade, generally due to the widespread use of sequential computing devices (e.g. digital signal processors). However, recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have propelled parallel computing devices into the forefront. To leverage the potential benefits of parallel computing devices and AI, this project proposes an irregular modulation theory, which can be easily applied to parallel computing devices and memristive devices. Additionally, this project will fully unlock the control capacity of modulation, enabling the control bandwidth to truly benefit from the high switching frequency brought in by Wide Bandgap (WBG) devices. This novel modulation approach will inevitably lead to the emergence of new topologies and control strategies, naturally giving rise to novel inverter modeling methodologies. Furthermore, the PI proposes a Mini-Task Inspired Learning Experience (M-TILE) approach to support students, particularly those from underrepresented groups, in overcoming imposter syndrome. To extend the impact of M-TILE, this concept will be shared with local K-12 teachers through a one-day workshop. By deeply integrating irregular modulation and the M-TILE concept, education activities will offer world-class education, inspiring and training future leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The proposed irregular modulation theory will break free from the conventional idea of sawtooth and triangular carriers and lead to a new genre of converter modulation technologies. It will fundamentally change the operating principle of future power converters. Due to the fast response nature of modulation-control integration, it is possible to enable a new ultrafast control loop in addition to the classic double-loop control architecture. This new control loop will accommodate the recent advancement of AI technologies and lead to an entirely new genre of grid services. As a result of irregular modulation, a wide variety of new converter topologies, controls, and models will be revealed, holding the potential to eliminate vulnerable components and reduce voltage/current stress. Therefore, the irregular modulation theory proposed in this project will serve as the fundamental enabler of new topologies. This, in turn, will ultimately reduce device stress and component count, significantly lowering converter cost and enhancing reliability.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.