Power Converter Technologies for Medium Voltage Distribution Grids

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The electrical grid is one of our most critical energy infrastructures. Today, the grid infrastructure built over the past century is experiencing a rapid increase in power generation from renewable sources, non-traditional loads, and different forms of energy storage systems. These trends coupled with the need to upgrade aging grids represent a timely opportunity to advance Canada's electrical grid with the best grid structures.To accommodate these changes, the power grid is evolving from a traditional AC grid to a more efficient and flexible hybrid AC-DC grid which can better integrate renewable energy sources, more efficient loads, and multi-area systems. Most AC-DC grid research today focuses on either high voltage transmission systems or low voltage secondary distribution systems. However, AC-DC grids for the medium voltage primary distribution system are becoming increasingly important because of the demand for medium voltage infrastructure such as charging stations for electrical vehicles, solar plants, wind farms, utility-scale battery energy storage, urban light-rail transportation, and data centres. The rapid growth of these new systems highlights the need for the deployment of medium voltage DC or medium voltage AC-DC systems.At medium voltage, multilevel converter technologies are needed to address this research gap. Technologies enabled by power electronics are vital to AC-DC grids because they convert voltage between AC and DC as well as various voltage levels. At UAlberta, my research group has been conducting high impact research on power electronics and AC-DC grid operation supported by state-of-the-art research and training facilities. In this Discovery research, I will focus on multilevel converter technologies for medium voltage distribution systems. The work plan includes new medium voltage converter topologies, multilevel converter modelling and analysis methods, as well as control and pulse-width-modulation strategies. Progress in these areas will provide a critical link to enable full spectrum integration of the AC-DC grid, including generation, transmission and distribution, with the highest efficiency and flexibility. The evolution from traditional electrical grids to AC-DC smart grids is a worldwide trend. This Discovery program will contribute vital knowledge and solutions to the Canadian smart grid industry and the young people trained under this program will give the industry a competitive edge.