A silicon-carbide based, high voltage gain medium voltage power inverter for utility-scale renewable energy systems

根据《巴黎协定》，加拿大承诺到2030年将其温室气体排放量(GHG)在2005年的基础上减少30%。由于安大略省是加拿大可再生能源发电的领先者，为了实现该国积极的温室气体减排目标，优先发展清洁、负担得起的可再生能源发电至关重要。在可再生能源转换系统中，高能效和高性价比的中压电源接口是确保从可再生能源中提取的能量高效转化为电能的关键。通过之前与北方变压器公司(一家总部位于安大略省的变压器制造商)的合作，已经开发出具有扩展软开关能力的模块化升压中压DC-DC转换器。在成功成果的基础上，提出的研究项目的目标是开发一种新的、完全集成的中压高压增益三相功率逆变技术，用于公用事业规模的可再生能源电网。拟议的设计将采用最新的碳化硅(SIC)开关模块。所设计的逆变器将通过高频交流环节与前端电压升压变换级集成在一起，形成一个完全集成的升压DC-AC三相功率变换单元。最终的结果将是一种真正高能效和超紧凑的创新中压升压功率逆变器，用于公用事业规模的可再生能源发电。除了技术进步，拟议的研究项目将为学生和博士后研究人员提供机会，发展强大的分析技能来设计新的中压功率电路，并在概念验证中压电路原型中获得丰富的硬件测试经验。拟议中的电力逆变技术的成功开发将有助于加拿大成为可再生能源系统中压电力电子研究的全球领先者之一。

Canada is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030 under the Paris Agreement. As Ontario is Canada's leader in renewable energy generation, to meet the nation's aggressive GHG reduction target, it is important to prioritize the development of clean and affordable, renewable power generation. Highly power-efficient and cost-effective medium voltage (MV) power interface is the key to ensure that the extracted energy from renewable sources is converted to electricity efficiently in renewable energy conversion systems. Through prior collaborations with Northern Transformer Corporation (an Ontario-based manufacturer of electrical transformers), a modular step-up MV DC-DC converter with extended soft-switching capability has been developed. Based on the successful outcomes, the objective of the proposed research project is to develop a new and fully integrated MV high voltage gain three-phase power inverter technology for use in utility-scale renewable energy power networks. The latest silicon-carbide (SiC) switching modules will be employed in the proposed design. The devised inverter will be integrated with the front-end voltage step-up conversion stage through high frequency AC (Alternating Current)-link to form a fully integrated step-up DC-AC three-phase power inversion unit. The end result will be a truly high power-efficient and ultra-compact innovative MV step-up power inverter for utility-scale renewable power generation.In addition to technology advancement, the proposed research project will provide opportunities for student and post-doctoral researchers to develop strong analytical skills to devise novel MV power circuits, and to gain extensive hardware testing experience in proof-of-concept MV circuit prototypes. The successful development of the proposed power inversion technology will help in establishing Canada as one of the global leaders in MV power electronics research for renewable energy systems.