Testing Smart Grid Scenarios with Small Volume Testbed and Flexible Power Inverter

The growing penetration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) due to the transition to future smart grid requires a huge number of power converters that participate in the power flow. Each of these devices needs the use of a complex control and communication system, thus a platform for testing real-life scenarios is necessary. Several test techniques have been so far proposed that are subject to a trade-off between cost, test coverage, and test fidelity. This paper presents an approach for testing microgrids, by developing an emulator, with emphasis on the micro-inverter unit and the possibility of flexible configuration for different grid topologies. In contrast to other approaches, our testbed is characterized by small volume and significantly scaled-down voltages for safety purposes. The examination is concentrated specifically on the inverter behavior. The test scenarios include behaviors in case of load changes, transition between grid-tied and islanded mode, connection and removal of subsequent inverters, and prioritization of inverters.

The Influence Factor Analysis of Symmetrical Half-Bridge Power Converter through Regression, Rough Set and GM(1,N) Model

Analysis of power converter performance has tended to be engineering-oriented, focusing mainly on voltage stability, output power and efficiency improvement. However, there has been little discussion about the weight relations between these factors. In view of the previous inadequacy, this study employs regression, rough set and GM(1,N) to analyze the relations among the factors that affect the converter, with a symmetrical half-bridge power converter serving as an example. The four related affecting factors, including the current conversion ratio, voltage conversion ratio, power conversion ratio and output efficiency, are firstly analyzed and calculated. The respective relative relations between output efficiency and the other three factors are obtained. This research can be referred to by engineers in their design of symmetrical half-bridge power converters.

Aircraft Electric Machines

Current trend in aviation is to increase efficiency of all the aircraft’s systems. This leads to a reduction of fuel consumption which has also positive effect on emissions. One possibility how to reach this aim is to replace hydraulic and pneumatic system with an electrical power system. Because many on-board electrical loads are in the form of electrical drives, the special attention is given to electric motors and their electronic speed controllers / power converters. Furthermore, electric motors suitable for traction/propulsion are presented. Moreover, the various types of starter/generators suitable for on-board utilisation are compared in the paper.

Prediction of Radiated Emissions From a Power Converter by Measuring the Common-Mode Current in the Attached Cable

<div>Being able to predict radiated emissions before using an accredited laboratory can be both time-effective and cost-effective. This study presents a model for predicting radiated emissions from power converters by measuring the common mode current in the attached cable. When power converters are tested for radiated emissions, the attached cables tend to be thick because of the high currents they carry. Ideally, these cables leave the chamber through connectors in an opening positioned precisely at the middle of the bottom of the turntable in keeping with CISPR 32. However, these connectors are typically not intended for currents higher than 16 A. Consequently, such cables are usually inserted through the side wall of the chamber and are necessarily laid horizontally on the chamber floor. When the turntable is to be rotated with a device on it during a test, the length of the cable attached to the device can exceed 10 meters. The proposed model in this study is based on the transmission line model of a cable loaded with reactive impedance and the assumption that the current distribution along the cable follows a sinusoidal distribution law, much like in dipole antenna theory. The analytic equation of the radiation pattern is derived, and a simplified approximation equation has also been presented. The proposed model also works with short, attached cables and is thus universal. The Maxima software code for automated calculation of the radiated field from measurement data is supplied as supplemental material. The proposed model was experimentally validated by running the fuel cell converter module at 5 kW output power.</div>

Prediction of Radiated Emissions From a Power Converter by Measuring the Common-Mode Current in the Attached Cable

<div>Being able to predict radiated emissions before using an accredited laboratory can be both time-effective and cost-effective. This study presents a model for predicting radiated emissions from power converters by measuring the common mode current in the attached cable. When power converters are tested for radiated emissions, the attached cables tend to be thick because of the high currents they carry. Ideally, these cables leave the chamber through connectors in an opening positioned precisely at the middle of the bottom of the turntable in keeping with CISPR 32. However, these connectors are typically not intended for currents higher than 16 A. Consequently, such cables are usually inserted through the side wall of the chamber and are necessarily laid horizontally on the chamber floor. When the turntable is to be rotated with a device on it during a test, the length of the cable attached to the device can exceed 10 meters. The proposed model in this study is based on the transmission line model of a cable loaded with reactive impedance and the assumption that the current distribution along the cable follows a sinusoidal distribution law, much like in dipole antenna theory. The analytic equation of the radiation pattern is derived, and a simplified approximation equation has also been presented. The proposed model also works with short, attached cables and is thus universal. The Maxima software code for automated calculation of the radiated field from measurement data is supplied as supplemental material. The proposed model was experimentally validated by running the fuel cell converter module at 5 kW output power.</div>