A flexible power electronic converter system with rapid control prototyping for research and teaching

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Power Electronics
• Control Systems

Background:

• Research and teaching laboratories require flexible and advanced power electronic systems.
• Existing systems may lack integrated rapid control prototyping capabilities.
• Development of efficient power conversion is crucial for renewable energy and smart grids.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and describe a flexible power electronic converter system.
• To integrate a rapid control prototyping platform for versatile applications.
• To facilitate research, testing, and education in power electronics.

Main Methods:

• The system comprises three half-bridge power boards, a DC-link capacitor bank with active control, and an interfacing motherboard.
• A digital control unit with rapid control prototyping functionalities is utilized.
• Gallium Nitride (GaN) electronic switches are employed for enhanced performance.

Main Results:

• The described architecture and implementation provide a detailed system overview.
• The system integrates sensors, conditioning circuits, driving circuits, and protection circuits within power modules.
• GaN switches ensure optimal performance in the conversion circuits.

Conclusions:

• The developed system is suitable for implementing various AC/DC conversion circuits.
• It serves as a valuable platform for testing new control algorithms and converter systems.
• The system is ideal for training students in power electronics and smart grid applications.