Electrical Insulation Challenges for High Voltage, High Power Density Wide-Bandgap Power Electronics
Virginia Tech
Abstract: By 2030, it is expected that 80% of all electric power will flow through power electronics systems. (Ultra)Wide bandgap (WBG) power modules that can tolerate higher voltages and currents than silicon-based modules are the most promising solution to reducing the size and weight of power electronics systems. These WBG power modules constitute powerful building blocks for power electronics systems, and WBG-based converter/power electronics building blocks are envisaged to be widely used in power grids in low- and medium-voltage applications and possibly in high-voltage applications for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS) as well as for use in the next generation of more and all-electric aircraft, ships, trains, and vehicles. Insulation materials and systems that are currently working well for Si-based power devices will be insufficient for the envisioned high voltage, high-density WBG power modules and high power density WBG-based converters due to accelerated insulation aging and degradation. Reasons for this accelerated insulation aging and degradation are due to a combination of 1) a high electric field, 2) exposure to high slew rates () (ranging from tens to hundreds of kV/μs) and repetitive (frequencies ranging from hundreds of kHz to MHz) voltage pulses, and 3) operation at high temperatures up to 500°C. These working conditions create an extremely high electrical and thermal stress working environment for dielectrics in next-generation WBG-based power devices that is not experienced in Si-based power devices. Thus, there is a vital need to develop new dielectrics and design novel insulation systems for WBG power devices.
On the other hand, accelerated aging and degradation of insulation systems in other electrification components such as electrical machines, cables, transformers, etc. as a consequence of exposure to the high slew rates and repetitive voltage pulses that originate from emerging WBG-based power electronics systems are one of the most significant barriers for the acceptance and utilization of WBG power modules. Thus, although WBG devices are revolutionizing power electronics, electrical insulating systems are not prepared for such a revolution; without addressing insulation issues, the electronic power revolution will fail due to dramatically increased failure rates of electrification components.
In this talk, challenges concerning insulation degradation when benefitting from WBG-based conversion systems are reviewed and technical gaps and future research needs are identified. I particularly show that the investigations carried out to date in dielectrics and electrical insulation are in their infancy in interaction with next-generation WBG power electronics. Thus, there is a vital need to develop new dielectrics and design novel insulation systems. This talk will provide a useful framework and point of reference for future research.
Date and Time
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- Date: 11 May 2021
- Time: 04:00 PM to 05:30 PM
- All times are (GMT-05:00) US/Eastern
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- Raleigh, North Carolina
- United States
- Starts 23 April 2021 03:00 PM
- Ends 11 May 2021 03:30 PM
- All times are (GMT-05:00) US/Eastern
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Prof. Mona Ghassemi of Virginia Tech
Electrical Insulation Challenges for High Voltage, High Power Density Wide-Bandgap Power Electronics
Biography:
Mona Ghassemi received her M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees (Hons.) in electrical engineering from the University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, in 2007 and 2012, respectively. She spent two years researching, as a Post-Doctoral Fellow, at the High Voltage Laboratory of NSERC/Hydro-Quebec/UQAC, the Industrial Chair on Atmospheric Icing of Power Network Equipment, and the Canada Research Chair on Power Network Atmospheric Icing Engineering, University of Quebec, Chicoutimi, QC, Canada, from 2013 to 2015. She was also a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Electrical Insulation Research Center, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA, from 2015 to 2017. In 2017, She joined the ECE Department, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA, as an Assistant Professor and in 2021 has been appointed as Steven O. Lane Junior Faculty Fellow and College of Engineering (COE) Faculty Fellow. Dr. Ghassemi is an At-Large Member of the Administrative Committee of the IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (DEIS) for 2020–2023, a Corresponding Member of the IEEE Conference Publication Committee of the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES), an Active Member of several CIGRE working groups and IEEE Task Forces, and a member of the Education Committee of the IEEE DEIS and PES. She is Senior Member of IEEE since 2016; Professional Engineer since 2015; Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, IET High Voltage, International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, and Power Electronic Devices and Components, Elsevier; Guest Editor in Energies; and received the 2020 Contribution Award from High Voltage journal. Mona is a recipient of the 2020 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award and the 2020 Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Young Investigator Research Program (YIP) Award. Her research interests include electrical insulation materials and systems, high voltage/field technology, Multiphysics modeling, electromagnetic transients in power systems, and power system analysis and modeling.
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Agenda
PELS Section Update 4:00-4:05PM
Attendee Introductions 4:05-4:15PM
Presentation 4:15-5:15PM
Q&A 5:15-5:30PM