Matrix converter for frequency changing power supply applications

The purpose of this work is to investigate the design and implementation of a 7.5kVA Matrix Converter-based power supply for aircraft applications (GPU Ground Power Unit). A Matlab/Simulink as well as SABER simulation analysis of the candidate Matrix Converter system is provided. The design and implementation of the Matrix Converter is described, with particular attention to the strict requirements of the given power supply application. This AC-AC system is proposed as an effective replacement for the conventional AC-DC-AC system which employs a two-step power conversion. The Matrix Converter is an attractive topology of power converter for power supply applications where factors such as the absence of electrolytic capacitors, the potentiality of increasing power density, reducing size and weight and good input power quality are fundamental. An improved control structure is proposed. This structure employs an ABC reference frame implementation comprising at the Repetitive Control strategy combined with a traditional tracking controller in order to attenuate or eliminate the unwanted harmonic distortion in the output voltage waveform of the Matrix Converter and to compensate for the steady-state error. The system with the proposed control was initially fully analyzed and verified by simulation. The analysis of the input and output waveforms identified the constraints that need to be satisfied to ensure successful operation of the converter. Finally, to demonstrate both the Matrix Converter concept and the control strategy proposed, a 7.5kVA prototype of the proposed system was constructed and tested in Nottingham PEMC laboratory. The experimental results obtained confirmed the expectations from the simulation study and the validity of the power converter and control design

Built-in reliability design of a high-frequency SiC MOSFET power module

A high frequency SiC MOSFET-based three-phase, 2-level power module has been designed, simulated, assembled and tested. The design followed a built-in reliability approach, involving extensive finite-element simulation based analysis of the electro-thermo-mechanical strain and stress affecting the switch during both manufacturing and operation: structural simulations were carried out to identify the materials, geometry and sizes of constituent parts which would maximize reliability. Following hardware development, functional tests were carried out, showing that the module is suitable for high switching frequency operation without impairing efficiency, thus enabling a considerable reduction of system-level size and weight

Intelligent impedance based fault-location for zonal power systems

A laboratory based demonstrator has been constructed to study the Active Impedance Estimation (AIE) technique as a means of locating faults on a power system. The demonstrator has been used to verify results from simulation experimentally. The AIE system and associated signal processing are presented and some of the issues that have been encountered are discussed. The presented simulation and experimental results presented both validate the method used

Testing of a lightweight SiC power module for avionic applications

Functional and performance tests of a three-phase, two-level power module based on CREE 1.2kV SiC MOSFETs for avionic applications is presented in this paper. SiC devices have superior properties over conventional Si devices at high voltage operations and these properties make SiC devices at-tractive for avionic industry in order to reduce size of power electronic converters while maintaining high efficiency. This paper starts with a brief explanation of thermo-mechanical de¬sign approach of SiC power module. Thermo-mechanical de¬sign is followed by test setup and experimental results for dif¬ferent load and switching frequency conditions. The module is tested up to 540V DC link voltage, 6kW output power with 100kHz switching frequency. Experimental results show that the module can be successfully operated with high efficiency at high switching frequencies

Rapid Identification of Malaria Vaccine Candidates Based on α-Helical Coiled Coil Protein Motif

To identify malaria antigens for vaccine development, we selected α-helical coiled coil domains of proteins predicted to be present in the parasite erythrocytic stage. The corresponding synthetic peptides are expected to mimic structurally “native” epitopes. Indeed the 95 chemically synthesized peptides were all specifically recognized by human immune sera, though at various prevalence. Peptide specific antibodies were obtained both by affinity-purification from malaria immune sera and by immunization of mice. These antibodies did not show significant cross reactions, i.e., they were specific for the original peptide, reacted with native parasite proteins in infected erythrocytes and several were active in inhibiting in vitro parasite growth. Circular dichroism studies indicated that the selected peptides assumed partial or high α-helical content. Thus, we demonstrate that the bioinformatics/chemical synthesis approach described here can lead to the rapid identification of molecules which target biologically active antibodies, thus identifying suitable vaccine candidates. This strategy can be, in principle, extended to vaccine discovery in a wide range of other pathogens

Matrix converter for frequency changing power supply applications

The purpose of this work is to investigate the design and implementation of a 7.5kVA Matrix Converter-based power supply for aircraft applications (GPU Ground Power Unit). A Matlab/Simulink as well as SABER simulation analysis of the candidate Matrix Converter system is provided. The design and implementation of the Matrix Converter is described, with particular attention to the strict requirements of the given power supply application. This AC-AC system is proposed as an effective replacement for the conventional AC-DC-AC system which employs a two-step power conversion. The Matrix Converter is an attractive topology of power converter for power supply applications where factors such as the absence of electrolytic capacitors, the potentiality of increasing power density, reducing size and weight and good input power quality are fundamental. An improved control structure is proposed. This structure employs an ABC reference frame implementation comprising at the Repetitive Control strategy combined with a traditional tracking controller in order to attenuate or eliminate the unwanted harmonic distortion in the output voltage waveform of the Matrix Converter and to compensate for the steady-state error. The system with the proposed control was initially fully analyzed and verified by simulation. The analysis of the input and output waveforms identified the constraints that need to be satisfied to ensure successful operation of the converter. Finally, to demonstrate both the Matrix Converter concept and the control strategy proposed, a 7.5kVA prototype of the proposed system was constructed and tested in Nottingham PEMC laboratory. The experimental results obtained confirmed the expectations from the simulation study and the validity of the power converter and control design.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Intelligent impedance based fault-location for zonal power systems

A laboratory based demonstrator has been constructed to study the Active Impedance Estimation (AIE) technique as a means of locating faults on a power system. The demonstrator has been used to verify results from simulation experimentally. The AIE system and associated signal processing are presented and some of the issues that have been encountered are discussed. The presented simulation and experimental results presented both validate the method used

Intelligent impedance based fault-location for zonal power systems

A laboratory based demonstrator has been constructed to study the Active Impedance Estimation (AIE) technique as a means of locating faults on a power system. The demonstrator has been used to verify results from simulation experimentally. The AIE system and associated signal processing are presented and some of the issues that have been encountered are dis¬cussed. The presented simulation and experimental results pre¬sented both validate the method used