A Low Cost, High Capacity, Smart Residential Distribution Network Enabled By SiC Power Electronics

英国配电网络运营商（DNOs）今天面临的主要挑战之一是住宅网络对电力的需求不断增加，例如一般负荷增长，电动汽车（ev）的扩散和电气化供热。与此同时，由于分布式发电（DG）和储能设备连接的增加，存在与电压限制违规相关的问题。该项目遵循TSB可行性研究，该研究表明，通过将本地网络相位电压增加到400 V（现有电缆额定电压为600V），可以在现有基础设施上实现这些问题的成本效益解决方案。为了将每户家庭的电压降至230伏，dno拥有的低成本、99%效率的电力电子转换器（PECs）需要安装在计量箱中。我们之前的研究表明，99%的效率对于避免仪表箱过热至关重要，因此必须采用新的低成本SiC器件。然而，现有的商用碳化硅成本非常高，这与低成本的需求相冲突。因此，本项目将考虑一种新的、高度创新的SiC功率器件制造技术，即3C硅基SiC。该系统不仅将增加网络容量，还将为新兴的电动汽车充电、DG和能源存储提供优化的连接——即“智能电网”。该项目将开发一个pecc原型，由西部配电公司在项目的小规模示范中部署。

One of the key challenges facing the UK electrical Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) today is the Increasing demandfor power being placed on residential networks e.g. general load growth, the proliferation of electrical vehicles (EVs) andelectrified heat. At the same time, there are problems associated with voltage limit violations caused by an increase in theconnection of distributed generation (DG) and energy storage devices. This project follows on from a TSB Feasibility Studywhich showed that a cost effective solution to these problems can be achieved on the existing infrastructure by increasingthe local network phase voltage to 400 V (existing cable is rated at 600V). To step the voltage back down to 230 V at eachhouse, DNO-owned, low-cost, 99% efficient power electronic converters (PECs) will need to be installed in the meter-box.Our previous study showed that the 99% efficiency was essential to avoid over-heating in the meter-box and hence new,low-cost SiC devices were mandatory. However, the cost of existing commercially available SiC is very high, whichconflicts with the need for low-cost. Therefore this project will consider a new, highly innovative fabrication technique forSiC power devices namely 3C SiC on Silicon. This system will not only increase network capacity, but also provideoptimised connections for emerging EV charging, DG and energy storage - the "smart-grid". The project will develop a PECprototype which will be deployed by Western Power Distribution in a small-scale demonstration of the project.