Abstract
This paper proposes a single-stage modular medium-voltage soft-switching solid-state transformer (M-S4T). The 7.2 kV 50 kVA M-S4T consists of five stacked 1.44 kV 10 kVA single-phase converter modules using 3.3 kV SiC MOSFETs and diodes in reverse blocking mode. The proposed converter has some unique features. First, the M-S4T is a medium-voltage stacked converter with reduced dc-link. Second, the M-S4T has a three-port structure (MVAC, LVAC, LVDC) for renewable, storage integration, or EV fast charging. Third, the M-S4T is a single-phase medium-voltage converter with active power decoupling, i.e. using a buffer port for 120 Hz power absorption to avoid large dc-link passives. According to the literature, though already applied to low-voltage converters for improved power density, the reduced dc-link and active power decoupling strategies have not been used in medium-voltage converters before. With high-frequency isolation, reduced dc-link, and a 120 Hz active power decoupling port, passive components in the MS4T can be minimized - which often dominate the size of medium-voltage converters. Also, the M-S4T is electrolytic capacitor less and high reliability is achieved - critical for utility applications like SST. Moreover, the 7.2 kV M-S4T has low EMI through low dv/dt, and high efficiency (~97% expected at full power) over the full load range with ZVS technique. Finally, the transformer of the M-S4T is designed to pass 55 kV basic-insulation level (BIL) and 60 kV high potential (Hipot) dielectrics withstand test - major challenges for SST. The topology, design, operating principle, controls, and simulation results are presented. These concepts are finally verified with experimental results at 2 kV peak of a single converter module and 1.6 kV peak of two stacked modules.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | APEC 2020 - 35th Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition |
Publisher | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. |
Pages | 1575-1581 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781728148298 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | 35th Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2020 - New Orleans, United States Duration: Mar 15 2020 → Mar 19 2020 |
Publication series
Name | Conference Proceedings - IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition - APEC |
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Volume | 2020-March |
Conference
Conference | 35th Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, APEC 2020 |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | New Orleans |
Period | 03/15/20 → 03/19/20 |
Funding
This work is supported by ARPA-E under DE-AR0000899.
Keywords
- MV converter
- Solid-state transformer
- ZVS
- active power decoupling
- electrolytic capacitor less
- multiport converter
- reduced dc-link