Power electronics for industrial drives, electric transportation and clean energy systems

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Introduction: Power electronics are a key component in many applications using electrical power systems. This program will focus on applications such as: electric transportation; clean-energy sources (wind and photovoltaics); battery energy storage systems; high power and high speed variable frequency drives. Many aspects of power electronic circuit design are improving on a yearly basis. Central goals are normally to improve power conversion efficiencies and use cheaper more compact designs. A significant challenge in this process is to incorporate an enhanced performance, higher reliability and longer product life-times. ***Objectives: The size, cost and lifetime of power electronic converters are often associated with their use of cooling systems and electrical filter components such as capacitors and inductors. The cooling systems are often linked to the power semiconductor technology being used and the nature of the circuits that best suit their characteristics. The capacitor is a relatively cheap, compact and widely used component in many industrial power electronics, but can suffer from short lifetimes and potential failure. Alternatively, inductors are regarded as being reliable with long lifetimes, but suffer from being naturally large, heavy and costly. The basic technical research objective of this research program is to use innovations in power electronic circuit topologies to reduce the size of these three components, resulting in more compact, higher performance products with a higher reliability and lower cost. ***Novelty: For each application being considered, innovations in power electronic circuit topologies will be achieved using the following circuit concepts: multi-functional power converters; coupled inductors using multi-limb cores and low magnetic flux densities; floating capacitor converters using multi power conversion techniques with a lower total capacitance; hybrid power electronic topologies using both coupled inductors and floating capacitor modules; advanced pwm switching techniques. New power converter designs will be also be examined that take advantage of recent advances in power semiconductor device technology (SiC and GAN). These devices are expected to change the nature of many power electronic converters over the next 10 years.?***Significance: This research program will contribute to more economic, more reliable and more efficient electrical power conversion systems in applications such as clean energy electrical power generation, energy storage systems, electric transportation and industrial processes. The Canadian economy will benefit from the creation of intellectual property and the training of highly qualified personnel with skills associated with the technology of efficient, reliable and cost effective electrical power conversion systems.