A silicon-carbide based, high voltage gain medium voltage power inverter for utility-scale renewable energy systems

根据《巴黎协定》，加拿大承诺到2030年将温室气体排放量在2005年的基础上减少30%。由于安大略省是加拿大可再生能源发电的领导者，为了实现国家积极的温室气体减排目标，优先发展清洁和负担得起的可再生能源发电是很重要的。在可再生能源转换系统中，高效节能、高性价比的中压（MV）电源接口是保证可再生能源提取能源高效转化为电能的关键。通过先前与Northern Transformer Corporation（一家总部位于安大略省的电气变压器制造商）的合作，开发了具有扩展软开关能力的模块化升压MV DC-DC变换器。基于成功的成果，拟议的研究项目的目标是开发一种新的、完全集成的毫伏高压增益三相功率逆变器技术，用于公用事业规模的可再生能源电网。该设计将采用最新的碳化硅（SiC）开关模块。所设计的逆变器将通过高频交流（交流电）链路与前端电压升压转换级集成，形成一个完全集成的直流-交流三相升压逆变单元。最终的结果将是一个真正的高能效和超紧凑的创新中压升压电源逆变器，用于公用事业规模的可再生能源发电。除了技术上的进步，该研究项目将为学生和博士后研究人员提供机会，发展强大的分析能力，设计新颖的中压电源电路，并在中压电路原型的概念验证中获得广泛的硬件测试经验。所提出的功率反转技术的成功开发将有助于加拿大成为可再生能源系统中压电力电子研究的全球领导者之一。

Canada is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030 under the Paris Agreement. As Ontario is Canada's leader in renewable energy generation, to meet the nation's aggressive GHG reduction target, it is important to prioritize the development of clean and affordable, renewable power generation. Highly power-efficient and cost-effective medium voltage (MV) power interface is the key to ensure that the extracted energy from renewable sources is converted to electricity efficiently in renewable energy conversion systems. Through prior collaborations with Northern Transformer Corporation (an Ontario-based manufacturer of electrical transformers), a modular step-up MV DC-DC converter with extended soft-switching capability has been developed. Based on the successful outcomes, the objective of the proposed research project is to develop a new and fully integrated MV high voltage gain three-phase power inverter technology for use in utility-scale renewable energy power networks. The latest silicon-carbide (SiC) switching modules will be employed in the proposed design. The devised inverter will be integrated with the front-end voltage step-up conversion stage through high frequency AC (Alternating Current)-link to form a fully integrated step-up DC-AC three-phase power inversion unit. The end result will be a truly high power-efficient and ultra-compact innovative MV step-up power inverter for utility-scale renewable power generation.In addition to technology advancement, the proposed research project will provide opportunities for student and post-doctoral researchers to develop strong analytical skills to devise novel MV power circuits, and to gain extensive hardware testing experience in proof-of-concept MV circuit prototypes. The successful development of the proposed power inversion technology will help in establishing Canada as one of the global leaders in MV power electronics research for renewable energy systems.