| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/C51226X/1 |
| Title: |
Fault-Tolerant, Low-Cost Power Conversion And Control For Variable-Speed Generators |
| Principal Investigator: |
Ran, Professor L |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Engineering and Computing Sciences |
| Organisation: |
Durham, University of |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
25 April 2005 |
Ends: |
24 April 2008 |
Value (£): |
226,473
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Electric Motor & Drive Systems |
Sustainable Energy Networks |
| Wind Power |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Until recently, the vast majority of electrical generators were fixed-speed synchronous or occasionally induction machines. The benefits of variablespeed operation for many types of prime movers and the availability of electronic frequency converters have created a new market for generating systems that can deliver power to the grid whilst turning at any speed. Gearless direct drive wind turbines have been at the leading edge of this development and continue to set the most demanding requirements. With the present drive to install large numbers of wind turbines offshore, new demands for reliability arise for every component including the frequency converter.While significant progress is being achieved in semiconductor devices, converter topologies and switching strategies, there is clearly a need also to consider the converter together with the generator to create an integrated design that combines good performance with low cost. The proposed project aims to provide a low-cost modular power conversion system with extensive fault tolerance features for variable speed generators with multiple isolated electrical output coils. It aims to develop the circuit topology needed for such a scheme and to develop appropriate control and protection algorithms. It is intended to take advantage of the unusual nature of multi-pole low-speed generators, which have a large number of winding coils that can easily be arranged to provide a number of electrically independent outputs. This feature lends itself to a modular multi-level high-voltage converter configuration. It is intended to achieve a transformer-less configuration while providing the capability to ride through grid faults.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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