Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “three-phase inverter”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Improving EV Charger Resiliency for MW Charging Systems

In this paper, the resiliency of a megawatt-scale EV charging station is investigated. Fault detection and tolerance methodologies are presented, based on monitoring the voltage offsets in DABs and switch-level currents in three-phase inverters, with the goal of maintaining operation at rated power during single faults and at reduced power under multiple fault conditions. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, simulation results at the rated 1 MW power of the charging station are carried out, followed by controller hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) experiments on a 250 kW section of the station. The results highlight the feasibility of the integrated fault-tolerant methods for resilient, high-power EV charging infrastructure.

Adib, Aswad [ORNL] (ORCID:000000020997056X)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Critical Clearing Time for Droop-Controlled Grid-Forming Inverters With Circular Current Limiting and Virtual Impedance Current Limiting

The critical clearing time is a crucial parameter for assessing the large-signal stability of grid-forming (GFM) inverters. Variations in current limiters can significantly impact an inverter's transient behavior during large disturbances. Here, this letter introduces a method based on the power-angle relationship to evaluate the fault recovery of a droop-controlled GFM inverter under a three-phase bolted fault scenario, considering both the circular current limiter and the virtual impedance method. High-fidelity simulations validate the accuracy of the proposed formulas in estimating the critical clearing time of the GFM inverter.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Cost-Effective Wave Energy Harvesting System with Maximum Power Point Tracking Capability

In this paper, we propose a low-cost bidirectional four-switch inverter that transfers three-phase energy between a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) driven by a wave energy collector and the power grid or a local ac load. To achieve high control performance, the machine-side inverter uses a high-gain observer for rotor position estimation and a Lyapunov-based approach for torque control. For the gridside inverter control, we estimate the filter capacitor voltage with a model reference adaptive system and control the dc-link voltage with a Lyapunov-based energy function. We also track the maximum power point from the sea waves with an integral control law that actively matches the generator impedance with that of the wave collection device. The proposed system supports both grid-following/forming modes. We validate our control design with simulation results on a 3-kW hardware setup.

wave energy, power systems integration, control de↗
DOE OSTI2025

Virtual Self-Excited Induction Generator-Based Grid-Forming Inverter Control for Robust Voltage Regulation Under Nonideal Loading

This paper presents a generator-inspired control methodology for grid-forming (GFM) inverters that deliberately emulates a self-excited induction generator so that the inverter can hold its voltage and frequency under difficult loading and severe terminal disturbances across wide voltage and frequency ranges. The design integrates a Lyapunov energy function-based inner loop to provide high bandwidth and strong disturbance rejection, and it complements this with a passivity-based argument that furnishes a coherent large-signal stability guarantee beyond small-signal limits. Analytical insights are developed via the Krylov-Bogoliubov-Mitropolsky averaging method, which reveals an intrinsic resistive droop characteristic; these closed-form relations both explain the observed dynamics and yield simple, decentralized tuning rules. The methodology is validated on a controller-hardware-in-the-loop platform and exercised in real time across balanced, unbalanced, and nonlinear loads, as well as during parallel operation. Across these scenarios, the inverter maintains balanced three-phase voltages, limits harmonic content, settles quickly with well-damped transients, and remains resilient when multiple units operate in parallel. The contributions are a self-excited-machine-inspired GFM controller with enhanced dynamic performance and robustness, a single stability rationale grounded in passivity, closed-form expressions that guide tuning, and comprehensive hardware-in-the-loop validations demonstrating effectiveness and superiority under challenging operating conditions.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Enabling Grid-Forming Control with Fault Ride-Through in Unbalanced Distribution Networks

Distribution networks are often unbalanced, causing oscillatory responses in inverter control designed for balanced conditions. Here, to address this problem, this paper proposes a novel time-domain transformation appropriate for inverter control and enables the decomposition of three-phase unbalanced signals into constant positive and negative components. Relations useful for calculating unbalanced active and reactive power are derived from first principle, providing insight into vector products of unbalanced three-phase signals. Furthermore, a grid-forming control effective under unbalanced conditions is developed, which delivers superior performance while meeting UNIFI1 specifications for grid-forming control under unbalanced conditions. specifications applicable to category 4 inverter-based resource, like setting and regulating frequency/voltage, providing voltage support, sharing active power, injecting negative sequence current, and riding through faults. A current limiter is proposed for safe fault ride-through and integrates with the grid-forming control featuring frequency/voltage droop controllers and current and voltage control loops. The transformation of interconnected inverters is formulated and stability of the proposed control analyzed to support robust parameter selections. The effectiveness of the proposed transformation and grid-forming control is demonstrated through analytical results and real-time simulation of a IEEE 123 distribution network on the Real-Time Digital Simulator. Comparison with existing methods shows that the proposed strategy satisfies the UNIFI specifications with a much better performance.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Operation and Control of Electric Vehicle Charger with Enhanced Dynamic Performance Under Non-Ideal Grid Voltage Condition

This paper presents a three-phase electric vehicle charger connected to the grid, featuring multiple boost converters on the DC side, specifically designed to ensure smooth, oscillation-free power transfer during unsymmetrical voltage sags. Precise control mechanisms are implemented on the boost converter side to regulate both voltage and current on the electric vehicle side, thereby maintaining optimal charging conditions. The control architecture for both the grid-connected and boost converter components is based on the Lyapunov energy function, which is employed to achieve superior dynamic performance and stability. The system's robustness and reliability are demonstrated through its ability to maintain stable operation and efficient power transfer despite fluctuations in grid conditions. Furthermore, the implementation of Lyapunov-based control ensures rapid response and minimal energy loss, enhancing the overall efficiency of the system. To validate the effectiveness of this approach, a comprehensive model of the system was developed and tested using MATLAB/Simulink, with detailed computer simulations conducted across various significant case studies.

DC-DC boost converter↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enabling Grid-Forming Control Under Unbalanced Conditions

Standalone microgrids often experience unbalanced loading and faults, which can cause grid-forming control designed for balanced conditions to produce oscillatory responses. To address this issue, a compact time-domain transformation appropriate for inverter control is proposed, allowing the conversion of unbalanced three-phase signals to positive and negative synchronous reference frames. This transformation supports the development of a grid-forming control with fault ride-through, featuring frequency and voltage droop controllers and nested current and voltage control loops that seamlessly integrate an enhanced current limiter. The effectiveness of the proposed control and transformation is demonstrated through analytical results and electromagnetic transient simulation.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Hybrid Dynamic Modeling of Smart Inverter

This letter proposes a novel hybrid method for assessing grid-connected three-phase converter interfaced resources (CIR) dynamics with the IEEE standard 1547-2018 grid support functions (GSFs), which blends physics and data-driven techniques. First, the letter derives an analytical model of a CIR to represent the internal physics and data-driven model (DDM) using a system identification algorithm to represent the rest of the dynamics, including the GSF. The derived hybrid model combines the analytical model of CIR and DDM, which balances accuracy and flexibility and is compared with the detailed switched model. Furthermore, the efficacy of the proposed approach to represent the advanced CIR dynamics is substantiated by power hardware-in-the-loop experiment data where real measurements from a commercial CIR are used to cross-validate the proposed approach. Furthermore, the results indicate that despite simple, the hybrid model accurately reproduces the dynamics of the detailed CIR model with an acceptable accuracy.

Data-driven model↗
DOE OSTI2025

UNIFI's Grid-Forming (GFM) Inverter Reference Design: A Tutorial on Modeling, Control, and Experimental Implementation of GFM Inverters

The UNIFI Consortium's tutorial on grid-forming (GFM) inverters provides a comprehensive guide to the modeling, control, and experimental implementation of GFM inverters. As the integration of renewable energy accelerates, the transition from traditional grid following (GFL) to GFM inverters is crucial to ensure stable and sustainable power systems. This document outlines a reference design for three-phase and single-phase GFM inverters developed at the University of Texas at Austin. The tutorial also provides step-by-step guidance for accessing and using UNIFI’s GitHub repository, enabling users to design, build, and test GFM inverters efficiently. By fostering collaboration and equipping users with accessible resources, this initiative aims to drive widespread adoption of GFM technology across academia, utilities, and industries.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Integrated Motor and Drive (IMD) for Traction Applications Project (Final Technical Report)

This paper proposes the concept of the topological equivalence between the commutation cells of a voltage source inverter (VSI) and a current source inverter (CSI) using duality and equivalent circuit transformation techniques. A switching resonance of CSI is analyzed and an effective three-phase RC damper is derived from the dc-link RC damper of VSIs based on the topological equivalence of the VSI and CSI commutation cells. Furthermore, a new three-phase RC damper design framework utilizing the topological equivalence is proposed. Experimental results verify that the proposed three-phase RC damper design for CSI significantly reduces the switching resonance and improves the CSI’s output waveform total harmonics distortions (THDs).

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Dynamic Validation of CNN-Based Surrogate Models for Inverter-Based Resources in Open-Source Solvers

Traditionally, distribution system planning has focused on steady-state analyses, with limited consideration of dynamic behavior. However, as large or medium-scale inverter-based resources (IBRs), particularly grid-following (GFL) inverters in commercial or industry buildings, become more prevalent, understanding their dynamic impact is essential for grid planning and operation. This article presents an innovative deep-learning (DL)-approach using convolutional neural networks technique to model the GFL inverters. Developed from real grid-tied commercial IBR transient data, these dynamic DL models overcome proprietary constraints by requiring minimal knowledge of internal converter physics while maintaining high accuracy and flexibility. To demonstrate their applicability, the models were incorporated into GridLAB-D, an open-source, three-phase distribution analysis tool. This integration enables dynamic simulations of large-scale distribution networks with high IBR penetration stability analysis. Rigorous testing and validation, aligned with industry standards, confirmed the reliability and efficiency of this approach, paving the way for enhanced planning and operational assessments of modern power systems.

Deep-learning↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Digital Twin for an Inverter-Based Resource Power Plant: Real-time data streaming unlocks situation awareness

Here, this study presents the development and successful implementation of a digital twin specifically designed for a grid-connected IBR power plant. By integrating a reduced-order model of the IBR system and dynamically updating the grid impedance with real-time data, the digital twin effectively captures and replicates the behavior of the physical system. Its accuracy and reliability are validated through critical test scenarios, including a three-phase fault and a line-tripping event. The results confirm that the digital twin closely emulates its physical counterpart, demonstrating its strong potential for real-time analysis, system monitoring, and predictive decision making in modern power systems.

Digital twins↗
DOE OSTI2026

A Unified Off-Board Charger for Three-Phase Inductive and Single-Phase Conductive EV Charging

This paper presents a unified off-board charger integrating a three-phase inductive power transfer (IPT) system and a single-phase conductive (plug-in) charger for electric vehicles (EVs). The proposed charger shares a high-frequency inverter and an integrated magnetic structure that enables three operating modes: conductive charging, inductive charging, and simultaneous charging. The transmitter coils for the three-phase IPT and the high-frequency transformer windings for the conductive charger are arranged on a common ferrite pad while maintaining magnetic decoupling between the two power transfer paths. The proposed unified architecture effectively increases charger utilization and power density without a proportional increase in cost, weight, or volume. Finite-element analysis using Ansys Maxwell confirms negligible coupling between the inductive and conductive coils, and the extracted parameters are employed in PLECS simulations to verify the independent operation of each charging mode.

Jo, Cheolhui [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000322692434)↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Convolution Neural Network for Voltage Event Classification at a Photovoltaic Inverter

This paper presents a convolutional neural network (CNN) developed to identify voltage events in photovoltaic (PV) inverters. The CNN is trained on synthetic data generated using the IEEE 13-bus distribution feeder model and evaluated on field measured data collected from Energy Northwest’s Horn Rapids Solar, Storage, and Training (HRSST) facility. The study focuses on two common voltage events: faults and voltage sags. The CNN is configured to analyze voltage and current waveforms from three-phase PV systems, demonstrating excellent accuracy during training. Field data from the HRSST facility is employed to assess its real-world performance, where the CNN achieves perfect identification of faults and voltage sags in a sample of nine events. This work highlights the potential of the proposed method to enhance PV protection schemes, providing a robust foundation for improved voltage event detection and grid reliability.

Cornachione, Matthew A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Deep Learning-enhanced Block-Diagram Modeling of Solar Power Systems

Data-driven models of power system inverter-based resources are desired to run simulations faster than with detailed electromagnetic transient models, to hide proprietary design details, to support control system design applications, and to aggregate the effects of distributed energy resources. This paper applies a customized Hammerstein Wiener framework to train block diagram models from thousands of electromagnetic transient simulations or experimental test records. The block diagram models integrate with larger grid simulations as voltagecontrolled current sources or current-controlled voltage sources for several simulators. Guidelines for block architecture and training are presented. Three-phase balanced, three-phase unbalanced, and single-phase examples all achieve an acceptable root mean square error of no more than 0.05 per-unit.

Mcdermott, Thomas E. [Private consulting company]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Spacetime pq theory for AC and DC electric power systems

The 50/60 Hz alternating current (AC) electric power has been the standard and most flexible energy source powering our modern societies for one and a half centuries since the war of the currents: AC versus direct current (DC). A reactive power concept that was introduced at the beginning of the AC power was very useful for circuit/system analysis, design, control, optimization, and ultimately for more efficient and stable generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption. The initial reactive power theory was based on single-phase sinusoidal AC power to capture inductive and capacitive power that yields to net-zero average power over one fundamental cycle. Soon it was expanded to non-sinusoidal AC power and finally to instantaneous three-phase AC power. However, these reactive power theories remain separate and limited to special cases and have never been consolidated and made valid to all cases. Today, more widespread adoption of power electronics and renewable energy is bringing back DC power into the electric grids. The reactive power concept has never been applied to DC power systems. There is no reactive power in DC power systems according to the existing reactive power theories. Do DC power systems really have no reactive power? Capacitors and inductors are widely used in DC just like in AC power systems. Are they not reactive power components? Why are they different from their AC counterparts? Furthermore, are batteries active or reactive power components? What about active devices like power converters (or inverters) with AC (or DC) on one side and DC (or AC) on the other? Do they generate or consume reactive power? Finally, what about AC and DC hybrid power systems? How to define reactive power in such a complex power system that has a multitude of loads, buses, and sources? Is there reactive power between any two loads, any two buses, or any two sources in a power system and what is the total reactive power in such a complex power system as a whole? As the motivation and goal of this paper to answer the above basic questions, to unify the existing AC reactive power theories and to ultimately provide theoretical and insightful guidance for system analysis, design, control, efficiency, optimization, and operation of complex power systems, a concept of spacetime (both spatial and temporal) active and reactive power (pq) theory—the spatiotemporal aspect of active and reactive power—is developed for both AC and DC power systems. The theoretical definitions and physical meanings of the spacetime reactive power will be developed, and real applications and thought experiments/cases/exercises will be explored and discussed. The developed mathematics to define the active (or real) and reactive (or imaginary) power— p and q respectively by dot (scalar) and cross (vector) products of multi-dimension spacetime vectors and time-space mapping principle/law can have some fundamental implications as well.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Interleaved Cuk Converter Wave Energy System With Advanced Control and Grid Support Functions for Seamless Integration: Preprint

This paper presents an innovative wave energy conversion system employing an interleaved Cuk converter and advanced nonlinear control for seamless integration with the grid. The proposed system utilizes the interleaved Cuk converter for efficient power extraction on the DC side, while an inverter facilitates power transfer to the grid or load on the AC side. A sophisticated nonlinear control architecture based on Lyapunov energy functions ensures stable and optimal operation under varying wave conditions. Case study results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system, highlighting its ability to efficiently harness wave energy and seamlessly integrate with the grid, thus paving the way for sustainable and reliable renewable energy generation. The overall system is verified via computer simulations based on MATLAB/Simulink and various case study results are presented.

HYDRO ENERGY,TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗