High Current Module and Technologies Optimised for HVDC

提出的研究将探讨先进的功率半导体模块设计在提高电压源和高压直流变流器的效率和增加容量方面所起的作用。高压直流输电越来越多地用于可再生能源和跨国输电的整合，推动了高压直流技术的发展。在欧洲，目前正在规划和建设的高压直流输电方案超过20个，其中大多数将采用新的基于IGBT的电压源转换器（VSC）技术。新型多级变换器的发展大大提高了变频器的直流工作电压，改善了变频器的性能。尽管取得了这些重大进展，但仍有强大的动力来提高产能和效率。迄今为止，多级高压直流输电通常利用最初为其他应用设计的高压功率半导体模块。按照预计的部署速度，VSC-HVDC很可能成为高压电力的关键市场之一。这个潜在市场的规模证明了开发一种新的功率半导体开关是合理的，这种开关是专门针对多级VSC转换器的需求而设计的。这种电源开关将由高容量多器件模块和相关的智能栅极驱动器组成，可以优化多级VSC系统中的模块性能。有人提出，这种技术可以提供显着的增益在转换器容量和效率在降低成本。

The proposed research will investigate the role that advanced power semiconductor module design can play in improving the efficiency and increasing the capacity of Voltage Source, HVDC converters. Growing use of HVDC for integration of renewable energy sources and transnational electricity transmission is driving development HVDC technologies. Within Europe there are over 20 HVDC schemes currently planned and under construction most of which will employ new IGBT based Voltage Source Converter (VSC) technology. The development of new multi-level converters greatly raised DC operating voltages in VSC converters and improved their performance.Despite these significant advances, there are still strong drivers to raise both capacity and efficiency. To date multi-level HVDC typically utilises high voltage power semiconductor modules originally designed for other applications. At projected deployment rates, VSC-HVDC is likely to become one of the key markets for high voltage power. The size of this potential market justifies the development of a new power semiconductor switch, specifically designed around the needs of multi-level VSC converters. Such a power switch will be a composite of high capacity multi-device module and an associated intelligent gate drive which can optimise module performance in multi-level VSC systems. It is proposed that such techniques can provide significant gains in both converter capacities and efficiency at a reduced cost.