Power Distribution System Modernization with Power Electronic Converters and Integrated Renewables

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The integration of power electronic converters, local renewable generation, load, and/or storage is currently finding widespread applications in microgrids, electric ships, drone delivery, electric vehicle fast chargers, large scale data centers, and commercial/industrial buildings bringing the benefits of high efficiency, power quality, flexibility, stability, and reliability. The future customer is expected to interact with the provider or utility based on economic, social, environmental and security considerations.  Power electronics is a key technology that connects modern customers with utility by enabling distributed generation, microgrids and the integration of electronic loads. FREEDM Systems Center at North Carolina State University have been pioneering many of the power converter and control developments. One of the core technologies being  developed at FREEDM is the solid-state transformer (SST) which behave like a smart transformer with the advantages of power flow control, reactive power compensation capability, and potential fault current limitation. In addition, system controls play a key role in networked power electronics systems where they are implemented in a hierarchical manner starting from local power converter controls to primary to secondary, and to tertiary levels. The control challenges are immense both due to interaction among the power electronics converters and the intermittency of the renewables. The demand and desire is to make control algorithms for these power electronic converters that can provide automated and robust power, energy and fault management in a network. In the transportation electrification sector, the transition to electric road transport technologies is gaining momentum with record-high new electric vehicle registrations taking place in recent years and fast vehicles chargers being incorporated into the power distributions system. DC-link voltage level up to 800-V standard is being considered to support charge rates up to 350kW with extreme fast chargers.

This seminar will give an overview of the power electronic converters, system controls, electric vehicle extreme fast charger, and electric powertrain inverters being developed at FREEDM with an attempt to relate to the electrification and renewable generation interests in Australia.