45. POWER ELECTRONICS AND ADVANCED MATERIALS FOR ENERGY STORAGE
Low cost, reliable, power control and storage technologies are needed to handle increasing levels of power flow in distribution and sub-transmission applications. Local voltage regulation and the supply of operational reserves from Distributed Energy Resources are being planned by major transmission operators. These power control and storage technologies are essential for optimizing overall transmission reliability and maximizing existing transmission flow capacity. The use of local resources is becoming increasingly accepted in many regions, but the reliability, cost and lifetime of power electronic equipment has been lagging behind the need. Power electronic interfaces are needed for Distributed Energy applications that can be more flexible, carry higher power levels, and solve existing control problems. Electrical energy storage devices have the potential to increase their capabilities through the use of custom engineered materials in the storage element. Specific items of interest for improvement are the energy storage density, cycle lifetime, and reliability of these devices. The desired end state of this topic is the significant improvement of distributed energy systems ability to meet the needs of the modern day grid.
Grant proposals are being sought in the following areas:
a. Wide Band Gap, High Voltage, High Frequency Switches—Semiconductor switches play a vital role in power conversion. System cost, performance, efficiency, reliability, speed and footprint are all dependent on the performance of switches. Power conversion systems are essential in the transmission and distribution system for incorporation of devices such as FACTS controllers, energy storage, and DER systems needed to increase electric grid reliability. Wide-band-gap materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) are being developed rapidly and are being proposed for use in higher performance switches. Potential improvements over existing, commercial silicon-based switches (e.g., Si-based thyristor and GTO switches) include higher operating voltages, higher operating frequencies, increased efficiency, lower losses and higher operating temperatures. Grant applications are sought to develop advanced SiC-based, or wide band gap MOSFET, high power switches that provide greater than 6kV breakdown voltage and 1kA operating current. The Phase I project should demonstrate the feasibility of such switches to advance the current state of development. Potential follow on projects would include improvement and testing of these devices, and the inclusion of these devices into a power conversion system for high power application.
Questions – contact Imre Gyuk (imre.gyuk@hq.doe.gov)
Subtopic a References:
1. Schmit, A., et al., “Development of a Current Scaleable Emitter Turn-off Thyristor Module,” Proceedings of APEC 2005: Twentieth Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, Austin, TX, March 6-10, 2005, 3: 2009-2013, March 2005. (Brief summary available at: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=/ie15/9847/31031/01453334.pdf?tp=&arnumber=1453334&isnumber=31031).
2. Agarwal, A. K., et al., “The First Demonstration of the 1 cm/spl Times/1 cm SiC Thyristor Chip,” Proceedings of The 17th International Symposium on Power Semiconductor Devices and ICs (ISPSD '05), Santa Barbara, CA, May 23-26, 2005. (See: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentCon.jsp?punumber=9957)
3. Sugawara, Y., et al., “12.7kv Ultra High Voltage Sic Commutated Gate Turn-Off Thyristor: Sicgt” Proceedings of The 16th International Symposium on Power Semiconductor Devices and ICs (ISPSD ’04), Kitakyushu, Japan, May 24-27, 2004, pp. 365–368, May 2004. (See: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentCon.jsp?punumber=9265)
b. Reactive Power Supply—Conventional Distributed Energy (DE) inverters (used in fuel cells, microturbines, etc.) generally operate in one of two modes: voltage source or current source. In the voltage source mode, the inverter supplies a regulated voltage to satisfy a local voltage schedule determined with the distribution utility and the load determines how much current is drawn – a low impedance load draws more current. Conversely, in the current source mode, the inverter does not regulate voltage, but regulates the supply of current. When microturbines are connected to an electricity grid, they normally are operated in the current source mode; i.e., the inverter regulates the amount of current (and thus power) supplied, and the microturbines are dependent on the grid for the regulation of voltage. However, when inverters are used in voltage regulation applications, and at the same time are required to supply power from a microturbine, they will have to regulate both voltage and current (power) at the same time. Grant applications are sought to design and build an inverter control circuit for a conventional DE inverter that will regulate voltage and power simultaneously. The research project should culminate with the demonstration of a prototype capable of providing 25 kW at 480 volts, while regulating voltage using an output power factor with a range of 0.7 lead/lag. The demonstration should show that the device can be set to provide a dispatched level of power and at the same time regulate its terminal voltage. A control method also should be selected for the device, based upon an evaluation of complexity, reliability, and cost.
Questions – contact Merrill Smith (merrill.smith@hq.doe.gov)
Subtopic b References:
1. “Principles for Efficient and Reliable Reactive Power Supply and Consumption,” Staff Report, Federal Energy Commission, February 4, 2005. (Docket No. AD05-1-000) (Full text available at: http://www.ferc.gov/eventcalendar/Files/20050310144430-02-04-05-reactive-power.pdf)
2. “A Preliminary Analysis of the Economics of Using Distributed Energy as a Source of Reactive Power Supply,” prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy, April 2006. http://www.ornl.gov/sci/engineering_science_technology/cooling_heating_power/pdf/2006_April_economics_of_dg_for_rp.pdf
3. “Synchronizing on West Point,” Public Utilities Fortnightly, page 54, “Technology Corridor,” February 2006. (Article discusses inverters used in today’s adjustable speed drives that can be used to change power factor; the net power factor for West Point could be corrected to near 1.0.) (ISSN: 1074-6099)
c. Advanced Nano-Materials for Energy Storage Applications—Electrochemical energy storage devices (batteries, electrochemical capacitors, etc.) are used in the transmission and distribution systems to provide emergency backup power, improve system stability and to lower demand peaks reducing T&D congestion at critical times. The science-based engineering and tailoring of the materials used in these devices provides a significant opportunity to improve device performance. These improvements include potential increases in energy density, improved rate capability (higher power), reduced corrosion, reduced rate of electrode failure (e.g. through sulfation), and increased lifetime. Grant applications are sought to develop and apply carbon nano-tubes and other nano-engineered materials to improve the performance, reliability, and lifetime, and reduce the costs, of energy storage devices used for a variety of utility applications.
Questions – contact Imre Gyuk (imre.gyuk@hq.doe.gov)
Subtopic c References:
1. Che, G., et al., “Carbon Nanotubule Membranes and Possible Applications to Electrochemical Energy Storage and Production,” Nature, 393(6683): 346-347, May 1998. (First paragraph and ordering information available at: http://www.nature.com/index.html. Search archives.)
2. Yuan, Y. F., et al., “Size and Morphology Effects of Zno Anode Nanomaterials for Zn/Ni Secondary Batteries,” Nanotechnology 16(6): 803–808, June 2005. (Abstract and ordering information available at: http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0957-4484/16/6/031.)
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