99
An
Efficient DC-AC Architecture--OEM
Development Corporation, 840 Summer Street, Boston, MA
02127-1533;
617-464-4708
Dr.
Jamie Chapman, Principal Investigator, jchapmanoem@cs.com
Dr.
Jamie Chapman, Business Official, jchapmanoem@cs.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-02ER83533
Amount:
$98,100
Power
electronic systems currently used with variable-speed wind turbines suffer from
poor efficiency at power levels less than their rated power.
Since wind turbines often operate at less than full rating, this
inefficiency degrades the energy production and the economics. This project will
address this fractional power inefficiency by partitioning the power electronics
into several sub-systems that are only activated as power is required.
Thus, each activated module would operate near its full-rated,
optimally-efficient power point. The
approach will combine advanced digital signal processors and associated digital
logic in innovative ways to achieve enhanced system efficiency at all power
levels. Phase1 consists of a
trade analysis of competing semiconductor switch and circuit configurations,
leading to the selection of optimal semiconductor and magnetic components.
These will be integrated to form a complete power electronic system that
will serve as an experimental hardware/software proof-of-concept demonstration
unit. The unit will be tested and
characterized in the laboratory.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should not only be applicable to wind turbine control and more efficient operation but also to other forms of renewable energy requiring power electronic conversion to utility-grade electricity. An enhanced system also should have applicability to the control of industrial electric motors. Together, these applications constitute markets in the billions of dollars per year.