Power Electronic Converter and Control System Technologies for AC-DC Distribution Systems

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Driven by environmental, economic, and technical concerns, power grids are facing unprecedented pressure to modernize. Power distribution systems are increasingly integrating distributed generation units empowered by renewable energy resources and distributed energy storage units. Most of these resources produce dc power and interfaced to host grids via power electronic converters. Large amounts of energy delivered as ac are now consumed as dc (e.g., electric vehicles and their charging stations, motor drives, data centers, and consumer electronics). To integrate these resources and loads efficiently, distribution systems are evolving to become hybrid ac-dc systems composed of several ac and dc subgrids interconnected via power electronic converters. Power electronics and control systems are the key enablers for ac-dc distribution systems. Existing power electronic converter and control system technologies fall short in several key emerging areas. First, medium-voltage ac-dc distribution systems demand highly efficient, power-dense, fault-tolerant, and scalable power electronic converters with multiple ports for reliable and cost-effective integration of ac and dc terminals. Modular multiport converter topologies have been recently proposed for medium- and high-voltage ac-dc grid applications; however, theory and algorithms for their optimal design, systematic analysis and control design, operation under faults, and integration with renewable and energy storage resources do not exist. Secondly, ac-dc distribution systems will mostly be power electronic converter-dominated grids with faster dynamics and complicated control systems interactions than classical grids. Such interactions are neither understood nor quantified, and, as a result, there are virtually no systematic tools for control systems coordination and instability mitigation. Finally, several system-level real-time control algorithms of next-generation ac-dc distribution systems do not exist. Real-time algorithms for robust energy management, grid fault management via coordinated control of power electronic converters, and cooperative control with transmission network controllers are yet to be developed. The main objective of the proposed research program is to develop improved and new power electronic converter and control system technologies enabling the development of reliable, efficient, and optimally managed ac-dc distribution systems. The fundamental research involving theories in power conversion, modeling, control, and system optimization is expected to advance knowledge, provide training to highly qualified personnel, and provide timely knowledge and solutions to the Canadian industry.