Advanced High-Power Converters and Controls for Medium Voltage Drives

高功率转换器在几乎每个工业部门都有广泛的应用。随着最近的技术进步，兆瓦范围内的功率转换器正在扩展到许多新的应用领域。其中一个重要的应用是变速电机驱动器，越来越多地用于工业中，以节省能源，提高生产率和改善产品质量。其他重要的应用是可再生能源系统、石化、水泥、采矿、金属、造纸和纸浆、电力和能源、海洋和运输系统。然而，在开发具有高效、可靠和成本效益的特定应用控制系统的中压（2.3 - 15 kV）、大功率转换器方面存在许多技术挑战性问题。在与加拿大中压（MV）驱动器行业专家进行广泛交流后，我发现对高功率15 kV级无变压器MV驱动器的需求不断增长，以满足当前的行业需求。在接下来的五年NSERC发现资助计划中，我将专注于创新的15 kV级无变压器MV驱动技术的研究和开发。该研究计划将致力于三个研究目标：1）为15 kV级驱动器创新高效且经济的大功率变流器，2）为15 kV级驱动器设计可靠且高性能的模型预测控制方案，3）无变压器大功率中压驱动系统。 拟议的研究为当今行业面临的技术问题提供了重要的知识和实用的解决方案。通过行业合作，研究成果将转移到加拿大电力驱动行业进行商业化，使加拿大经济受益。此外，高素质人员将接受培训，以发展分析和计算机模拟技能、沟通技能、技术写作和演示技能以及测试/实验技能。

High power converters have found a wide range of applications in almost every industry sector. With recent technological advancements, power converters in the megawatt range are expanding into many new application areas. One of the important applications is variable speed motor drives that are increasingly used in the industries to conserve energy, increase productivity and improve product quality. Other important applications are renewable energy systems, petrochemical, cement, mining, metal, paper and pulp, power and energy, marine, and transportation systems. However, there are many technically challenging issues in developing the medium-voltage (2.3 - 15 kV), high-power converters with application-specific control systems that are efficient, reliable, and cost-effective. After extensive interaction with Canadian medium-voltage (MV) drive industry experts, I found a growing demand for high-power 15 kV-class transformerless MV drives to meet the present industry needs. During the next five years of NSERC Discovery Grant program, I will focus on the research and development of an innovative 15 kV-class transformerless MV drive technology. This research program will address three research objectives: 1) innovation of efficient and cost-effective high-power converters for 15 kV-class drives, 2) design of reliable and high-performance model predictive control schemes for 15 kV-class drive and 3) transformerless high-power medium-voltage drive system. The proposed research provides vital knowledge and practical solutions to the technical problems facing today's industry. Through industry collaboration, the research outcomes will be transferred to the Canadian electric drive industries for commercialization, benefiting the Canadian economy. Also, the highly qualified persons will be trained to develop analytical and computer simulation skills, communication skills, technical writing and presentation skills and testing/experimental skills.