Modular Multiphase Interleaved High Current Conversion for Distributed Energy Resources

该项目将研究一种新型的大电流转换技术，以促进各种分布式能源(DER)相关应用，包括电池储能、电动汽车快速充电、太阳能和风能生产氢气，以及数据中心。随着DER对能源需求的快速增长，直接供应高达几千安培甚至更高的巨大直流电流是一个巨大的挑战。从电力系统的角度来看，该项目旨在提供高效、快速地支持高功率需求响应的能力。从电力电子角度出发，提出了一种高功率密度、低成本、满足大电流要求的解决方案。本项目旨在缓解现有的技术差距，为下一代高效、紧凑、低成本的大电流变换技术的发展做出贡献。该项目预计将使可再生能源和交通电气化行业受益，并为美国在技术和经济上的进步做出贡献。该项目将利用最先进的宽带隙(WBG)半导体器件开发一种适用于各种DER和负载的模块化多相交错式大电流转换技术。为了满足大电流的需求和克服现有的挑战，该项目提出了研究高效谐振电路、集成磁耦合以及功率变流器的建模和控制。一项关键技术是补偿电路的拓扑设计，包括电感、电容及其互连产生的谐振。该项目的一个独特创新将是开发新的补偿拓扑结构，以实现不同于传统电压源输出的大电流源输出特性。通过这种方式，可以实现预期的大电流能力，以满足多种DER应用。所开发的高频软开关策略将显著减小无源元件的尺寸，并有助于在实际应用中获得高功率密度。同时，教育努力也将被整合到研究中，以确保该项目的研究成果将造福学生。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will investigate a novel high-current conversion technology to promote various distributed energy resources (DERs)-related applications, including battery energy storage, electric vehicle fast charging, hydrogen production from solar and wind power, and data centers. With the rapid growth of energy demand from DERs, there is a significant challenge to directly supply a huge DC current, up to a few kiloamperes or even higher. From the power systems perspective, this project aims to provide capability to support high-power demand response with high efficiency and fast speed. From the power electronics perspective, it suggests a solution to satisfy the high-current requirements with high power density and low cost. This project aims to alleviate the existing technical gaps and contribute to the development of the next-generation high efficiency, compact, and low-cost high current conversion technology. The project is expected to benefit the renewable energy and transportation electrification industry and contribute to the advancements of the US both technically and economically.This project will leverage the state-of-the-art wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductor devices to develop a modular multiphase interleaved high current conversion technology for various DERs and loads. To satisfy the high current needs and overcome existing challenges, the project proposes to study high-efficiency resonant circuits, integrated magnetic coupling, and modeling and control of power converters. A key technology is the compensation circuit topology design, including inductors, capacitors, and their interconnections to create resonance. A unique innovation of this project will be the development of novel compensation topologies to achieve a high-current source output property, which is different from a conventional voltage-source output. In this way, the expected high-current capability could be realized to satisfy many DER applications. The developed high frequency soft-switching strategy would significantly reduce the size of passive components and contribute to high power density in practical use. Meanwhile, education efforts will also be integrated into the research to ensure that the research achievements in this project will benefit students.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.