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Results for “Integrated Power Converter”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Module-Integrated Power Converters Based on Universal Dock

Solar power installations using alternating current photovoltaic (ACPV) modules have significant cost and performance advantages over systems using conventional solar modules and string inverters. ACPV modules have improved energy harvest due to module-level power point tracking and redundancy. More importantly, ACPV modules are easier and cheaper to install, lowering the total installed cost, indirect costs, and barriers to market entry. Furthermore, ACPV modules have communications and data logging capability, yielding module-level telemetry data that is useful in site diagnostics and other data applications. The products of these efforts were threefold. First, an advanced microinverter power topology was developed, modeled, simulated, and tested. Second, new microinverter enclosure concepts were developed and tested. Third, a new ACPV module prototype was constructed, combining the power topology and the enclosure concepts. SolarBridge filed for patents in each of these areas and is transitioning the project from a concept phase to full development.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Integrated Solar Power Converters: Wafer-Level Sub-Module Integrated DC/DC Converter

Solar ADEPT Project: CU-Boulder is developing advanced power conversion components that can be integrated into individual solar panels to improve energy yields. The solar energy that is absorbed and collected by a solar panel is converted into useable energy for the grid through an electronic component called an inverter. Many large, conventional solar energy systems use one, central inverter to convert energy. CU-Boulder is integrating smaller, microinverters into individual solar panels to improve the efficiency of energy collection. The University’s microinverters rely on electrical components that direct energy at high speeds and ensure that minimal energy is lost during the conversion process—improving the overall efficiency of the power conversion process. CU-Boulder is designing its power conversion devices for use on any type of solar panel.

ARPA-E↗
DOE OSTI2013

Integrated Power Chip Converter for Solid State Lighting (Final Report)

The overall goal of the project was to develop an integrated power converter chip for solid-state lighting. We developed a low component count circuit topology, fast and low loss switching devices, compact and low loss passive components, and integration methodology to enable an integrated LED driver, where cost, size and efficiency are paramount. The converter was designed to operate directly from ac line voltage, nominally providing 24 V output at 25 W with features of dimming and control for light uniformity. We developed a power circuit and control suitable for chip-scale integration, low loss and high frequency GaN power devices with a new vertical architecture that reduces parasitics and lowers cost by decreasing the chip real estate, and high-density passives, including a chip-scale flyback transformer that integrates inductor and transformer action into a single component.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Control of power converters having integrated capacitor blocked transistor cells

Various examples of power converters including Integrated Capacitor Blocked Transistor (ICBT) cells and methods of control of power converters having ICBT cells are described. In one example, a power converter includes an upper arm including a plurality of upper ICBT cells connected in series to form a series connection path and a lower arm including a plurality of lower ICBT cells connected in series in the series connection path. A controller can be configured to provide a control signal pair to each of the upper ICBT cells and a complementary control signal pair to each of the lower ICBT cells to control the converter output. A capacitor voltage controller can be configured to balance a voltage potential among ICBT capacitors in at least one of the upper arm and the lower arm.

Yu, Jianghui↗
DOE OSTI2024

A graphical user interface platform to support power electronic converters and integrated systems

Power Electronic Systems have grown in size and complexity over the past years. Therefore, users require interfaces to properly configure, develop, and deploy these systems. This work presents a Graphical User Interface that dynamically adapts to the system and allows the user to control and monitor its operation. This GUI uses networked communication and open-source Python libraries to allow the user to interact with the system at its different hierarchical layers, as well as visualize the interconnection of the full system. This is demonstrated by showing the user interface applied to a megawatt class charging station that consists of various energy resources.

Dean, Ben↗
DOE OSTI2016

Alternate current magnetic property characterization of nonstoichiometric zinc ferrite nanocrystals for inductor fabrication via a solution based process

We investigate the ac magnetic behavior of solution processable, non-stoichiometric zinc ferrite nanocrystals with a series of sizes and zinc concentrations. Nearly monodisperse Zn{sub x}Fe{sub 3−x}O{sub 4} nanocrystals (x = 0–0.25) with an average size ranging from 7.4 nm to 13.8 nm are synthesized by using a solvothermal method. All the nanocrystals are in a superparamagnetic state at 300 K, which is confirmed by Superconductive Quantum Interference Device magnetometry. Due to the doping of non-magnetic Zn{sup 2+} into A site of ferrite, the saturation magnetization of nanocrystals increases as the size and Zn concentration increases. The ac magnetic permeability measurements at radio frequencies reveal that the real part of the magnetic permeability of similarly sized ferrite nanocrystals can be enhanced by almost twofold as the Zn{sup 2+} doping level increases from 0 to 0.25. The integration of 12.3 nm Zn{sub 0.25}Fe{sub 2.75}O{sub 4} nanocrystals into a toroidal inductor and a solenoid inductor prepared via a simple solution cast process yields a higher quality factors than air core inductors with the same geometries up to 5 MHz and 9 MHz, respectively, which is in the regime of the switching frequencies for the advanced integrated power converters.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Introduction of a Variable Inductance Transformer for the Design of Resonant Power Converters

Magnetic integration is a hot topic in power electronics that concerns the use of a transformer’s leakage and magnetizing inductances purposefully in isolated power electronic converters, thereby giving the opportunity to save the cost and footprint of any additional inductor. This is of prime interest, especially in CLLLC resonant converters which require up to three inductors. For a complete integration of these inductances, the concept of a variable inductance transformer (VIT) is introduced in this thesis. A VIT is an adaptive magnetic structure that facilitates an easy adjustment of both magnetizing and leakage inductances to meet their desired values. However, for a more promising design, an accurate estimation of these inductances is necessary. While the evaluation of magnetizing inductance is quite straightforward, the calculation of leakage inductance is rather convoluted, because the leakage inductance is influenced by both the winding layout and the operating frequency. In this thesis, three new semi-analytical methods for calculating the frequency-independent leakage inductance, and a novel semi-analytical method for evaluating the frequency-dependent leakage inductance are proposed. These methods can calculate the respective leakage inductances of a VIT within an outstanding ±5% uncertainty. Finally, a bidirectional CLLLC resonant dc-dc converter is investigated for the constant current constant voltage (CCCV) charging of the next-generation 900 V traction battery of an electric vehicle. A new voltage gain equation is derived for designing the CLLLC resonant tank, and a small-signal model is presented for designing the variable-frequency feedback controller. Furthermore, a new methodology to design a VIT is developed to overcome the challenges associated with small coupling coefficients and guarantee a complete magnetic integration of the tank inductances. All theoretical results presented herein are verified through simulations and experiments performed on hardware prototypes designed in the lab.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2019

Area-Efficient, 600V 4H-SiC JBS Diode-Integrated MOSFETs (JBSFETs) for Power Converter Applications

This article reports the demonstration of a low-voltage (<; 600V) monolithically integrated 4H-silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET and JBS diode (JBSFET). A singlemetal and thermal treatment process were implemented to form ohmic contacts on the n+ and p+ source regions while forming the Schottky contact on the N- SiC epitaxial layer. Different layout methodologies are discussed for fabricating an energy-efficient low-voltage JBSFET by intermittently placing the JBS diode portion in the orthogonal direction to minimize the device area, hence improving the specific ON-resistance and reducing the overall chip size by 46%. A junction termination extension (JTE)-based edge termination structure (the Hybrid-JTE) was implemented to achieve a high breakdown voltage with a very low leakage current. In addition, it was investigated that the forward characteristic of the JBSFET can be further improved by adopting Ti-based metal as the Schottky contact for the JBS diode. Device design, layout approach, fabrication, electrical characterization, and future prospects of the 4H-SiC JBSFETs are discussed in this article.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Modular Coaxial Power Converter for High-Density Integration into Medium-Voltage Cables

This work proposes to combine the functionality benefits of power electronics with the power density benefits of medium-voltage cables to create a streamlined, high-density power electronics solution that seamlessly integrates with medium-voltage cables. Located at the ends of a medium- or high-voltage line, the proposed converter uses a cascade of coaxial power conversion cells to gradually step down the voltage, and excels in high step-down applications. By mimicking the coaxial geometry of medium-voltage cables, the converter preserves the axisymmetric electric field of the cable which, when combined with a solid insulating dielectric, provides a voltage scaling advantage over conventional planar and PCB-based converter solutions. Similar to medium voltage cables, the converter is fully passively cooled. A passive cooling strategy allows for combined installation with existing medium voltage cable systems without the added cost, maintenance needs, infrastructure, and reliability concerns associated with active cooling systems. The scalability of the modular structure in combination with the integration benefits provide a flexible power electronics system that can adapt to the evolving demands of the grid.

coaxial power conversion cells↗
DOE OSTI2016

Development and Demonstration of Grid Integration System for PEVs, ESS, and RE: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-13-515

NREL and Ideal Power Converters (IPC) will jointly develop and demonstrate a hybrid power converter system integrating bi-directional electric vehicle charging, photovoltaic generation, and stationary battery storage using IPC's 3-Port Hybrid Converter. The organizations will also jointly investigate synergies in tightly integrating these separate power conversion systems.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2013

An Integrated Onboard Charger and Accessary Power Converter for Plug-in Electric Vehicles

Abstract: In this paper, an integrated onboard battery charger and accessary dc-dc converter for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) is presented. The idea is to utilize the already available traction drive inverters and motors of a PEV as the frond converter of the charger circuit and the transformer of the 14 V accessary dc-dc converter to provide galvanic isolation. The topology was verified by modeling and experimental results on a 5 kW charger prototype

Su, Gui-Jia↗
DOE OSTI2014

A New Integrated Onboard Charger and Accessory Power Converter for Plug-in Electric Vehicles

In this paper, a new approach is presented for integrating the function of onboard battery charging into the traction drive system and accessory dc-dc converter of a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV). The idea is to utilize the segmented traction drive system of a PEV as the frond converter of the charging circuit and the transformer and high voltage converter of the 14 V accessory dc-dc converter to form a galvanically isolated onboard charger. Moreover, a control method is presented for suppressing the battery current ripple component of twice the grid frequency with the reduced dc bus capacitor in the segmented inverter. The resultant integrated charger has lower cost, weight, and volume than a standalone charger due to a substantially reduced component count. The proposed integrated charger topology was verified by modeling and experimental results on a 5.8 kW charger prototype.

Su, Gui-Jia↗