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High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives II

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "F1: Electrical Power System".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 14957

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Dr. Massimiliano Luna

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Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto di Ingegneria del Mare, Via Ugo La Malfa, 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
Interests: power electronics and electrical drives; FPGA and embedded systems; energy management systems; smart micro/nanogrids; photovoltaics; wind energy conversion systems
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Dr. Marcello Pucci

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Institute for Marine engineering (INM), Section of Palermo, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Palermo, Italy
Interests: electrical machines; electrical drives; wind generations; photovoltaic generation; fuel cell systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Power electronics has radically transformed the way we condition electrical energy in both stationary and non-stationary applications. Over the years, we have witnessed a significant increase of power converter ratings and of the associated losses. However, the urge for a sustainable future requires further efficiency increase by either reducing losses or improving the performance under the same level of consumption.

In this regard, the use of wide bandgap power devices and multilevel/multiphase power converters should be fostered. Also, advanced converter topologies can process only a lower percentage of load power, down to the limit of differential power. As for the electrical drives, ELMT can reduce losses keeping the same load power, whereas MTPA techniques can reduce the current needed to obtain a given load torque level. Power electronics is also crucial to implement efficient demand response and power flow management, especially in micro/nanogrids, which are progressively shifting from AC to DC distribution. Other interesting and efficient devices are smart transformers.

Building on these premises, this Special Issue will address converter topologies and control techniques aimed at improving efficiency and performance of power electronics applications in power grids and electrical drives. Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:

Advanced power converter topologies
Power converters with very high voltage gain
Wide bandgap devices and drivers
Advanced control and modulation strategies for power converters and electrical drives
Model Predictive Control
Electrical Loss Minimization Techniques (ELMT)
Maximum Torque Per Ampere (MTPA) techniques
Power electronics for DC distribution
Smart microgrids/nanogrids
Smart transformers
Efficient converters for Energy Storage Systems

You also could find the successful first volume of our special issue in the following link:
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies/special_issues/high-efficiency_and_high-performance_power_electronics_for_power_grids_and_electrical_drives

Dr. Massimiliano Luna
Dr. Marcello Pucci
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

efficiency increase
high-performance control and modulation techniques
advanced power electronic converters
wide bandgap devices
power grids
microgrids, nanogrids
electrical drives for e-mobility and industry applications
renewable energy sources
energy storage systems

Related Special Issue

High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives in Energies (11 articles)

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 7641 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Power Loss Modelling and Performance Comparison of Three-Level GaN-Based Inverters Used for Electric Traction

by Arjun Sujeeth, Angelo Di Cataldo, Luigi Danilo Tornello, Mario Pulvirenti, Luciano Salvo, Angelo Giuseppe Sciacca, Giacomo Scelba and Mario Cacciato

Energies 2024, 17(3), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17030595 - 26 Jan 2024

Viewed by 628

Abstract

The main aim of this work is to present a step-by-step procedure to model and analyze the power loss distribution of three-level Gallium Nitride (GaN) inverters. It has been applied to three distinct three-phase three-level voltage source inverters utilized in electric traction drives: Active Neutral Point Clamped, Neutral Point Clamped and T-Type Neutral Point Clamped. The proposed analytical power loss modelling, combined with an equivalent representation of the electrical machine proved to be a viable solution to achieve a time-saving and low computational burden simulation platform, leading to satisfying accurate results. This has been confirmed by comparing the results carried out from the simulations of a 110 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor drive and those determined by considering a simplified circuital representation based on the proposed analytical power loss modelling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives II)

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20 pages, 7364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Modular Multilevel DC–DC Converter Derived from Modified Buck–Boost DC–DC Converter

by Ridha D. N. Aditama, Naqita Ramadhani, Tri Ardriani, Jihad Furqani, Arwindra Rizqiawan and Pekik Argo Dahono

Energies 2023, 16(19), 6950; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16196950 - 04 Oct 2023

Viewed by 992

Abstract

Raising the electrification ratio to 100% is still a formidable challenge in Indonesia, especially in the remote areas of the eastern part of the archipelago. A DC microgrid system is one of the most viable solutions to increase the electricity supply in remote areas, taking advantage of various renewable energy sources that are located near the rural load centers. A DC–DC power converter for a rural DC microgrid system needs to have a high voltage gain to facilitate the power conversion from low-voltage PV output to a high-voltage DC microgrid bus, a very low input ripple current to help maintain the PV or battery lifetime, and be highly modular for ease of transport and assembly. Many topologies have been proposed to obtain high voltage gain, very low ripple current, and modularity. However, they usually use either bulky and lossy magnetic components, are sensitive to component parameter variance and need special voltage-balancing techniques, or have different component ratings for their multilevel configuration which weakens the modularity aspect. This paper proposes a new modular multilevel DC–DC converter that is very suitable for rural DC microgrid applications based on a modified buck–boost topology. The proposed converter is easily stackable to achieve high voltage gain and does not require any voltage balancing techniques, thus enhancing the modularity characteristics and simplifying its control method. Moreover, the ripple current can be reduced by employing a multiphase configuration. This converter can also facilitate bidirectional power flow to serve as a battery charger/discharger. A comprehensive analysis of voltage gain and ripple current are presented to explain the inner workings of this converter. Finally, the performance of this converter is verified through simulation and experiment, showing the converter’s modularity, bidirectional power capability, and potential to achieve voltage gain and ripple-current requirements of the DC microgrid system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives II)

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22 pages, 5738 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

An Intermodular Active Balancing Topology for Efficient Operation of High Voltage Battery Packs in Li-Ion Based Energy Storage Systems: Switched (Flying) DC/DC Converter

by Murat Ceylan and Abdulkadir Balikci

Energies 2023, 16(15), 5608; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16155608 - 25 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1174

Abstract

To meet the load voltage and power requirements for various specific needs, a typical lithium–ion battery (LIB) pack consists of different parallel and series combinations of individual cells in modules, which can go as high as tens of series and parallel connections in each module, reaching hundreds and even thousands of cells at high voltage (HV) levels. The inhomogeneity among the cells and modules results in voltage imbalances during operation and reduces the overall system efficiency. In this work, a robust and flexible active balancing topology is presented. It can not only mitigate the charge imbalance within a module, i.e., intramodular equalization, but also help to balance the state of charge (SoC) level of the modules in a high voltage pack, i.e., intermodular equalization, which is an often-overlooked topic. The proposed concept was proven by experimental verification on parallel and series configurations of cells in realistically sized modules and practical battery management system (BMS) hardware, when the LIB was both idle and under load. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives II)

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23 pages, 22849 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Control of Cuk-Based Microinverter Topology with Energy Storage for Residential PV Applications

by Yousef Alharbi and Ahmed Darwish

Energies 2023, 16(5), 2293; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16052293 - 27 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1301

Abstract

This paper proposes a modular inverter based on Cuk converters for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to mitigate the voltage and current mismatch issue at the PV module level. The proposed modular Cuk inverter (MCI) is formed by connecting several low-voltage (LV) microinverters (MIs) in series and linking their output sides to the distribution network. This architecture does not require a central inverter, and hence, it eliminates the need for large dc-link intermediate capacitors. The proposed MCI provides more controllability over the PV system by having a decentralized structure. The MCI will improve the PV system efficiency by reducing the voltage and current stresses in the MIs and will enable better voltage regulation due to the provided controllability. Since the proposed MI topology is based on the Cuk converter, it offers continuous input and output currents that will reduce the required filtering capacitance and will provide a wide range of voltage regulation for either supplying the loads or charging the storage batteries. The paper presents the associated control scheme for the proposed MCI that employs two controlling loops. The input loop at the PV side is designed and tuned to eliminate the ripples from the input current, while the outer loop at the grid side will control the output ac current and hence the MCI power. Computer simulations are presented using MATLAB/SIMULINK software to examine the validity of the suggested inverter for distributed generation PV residential applications. A scaled-down experimental prototype controlled by TMS320F28335 DSP was built and used to validate the mathematical analyses and simulation results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives II)

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23 pages, 5819 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling and Experimental Validation of a Voltage-Controlled Split-Pi Converter Interfacing a High-Voltage ESS with a DC Microgrid

by Massimiliano Luna, Antonino Sferlazza, Angelo Accetta, Maria Carmela Di Piazza, Giuseppe La Tona and Marcello Pucci

Energies 2023, 16(4), 1612; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16041612 - 06 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1044

Abstract

The Split-pi converter can suitably interface an energy storage system (ESS) with a DC microgrid when galvanic isolation is not needed. Usually, the ESS voltage is lower than the grid-side voltage. However, limitations in terms of the ESS current make the use of a high-voltage ESS unavoidable when high power levels are required. In such cases, the ESS voltage can be higher than the microgrid voltage, especially with low microgrid voltages such as 48 V. Despite its bidirectionality and symmetry, the Split-pi exhibits a completely different dynamic behavior if its input and output ports are exchanged. Thus, the present work aims to model the Split-pi converter operating with an ESS voltage higher than the grid-side voltage in three typical microgrid scenarios where the controlled variable is the converter’s output voltage. The devised state-space model considers the parasitic elements and the correct load model for each scenario. Furthermore, it is shown that the presence of the input LC filter can make the design of the loop controllers more complicated than in the case of a lower ESS voltage than the grid-side voltage. Finally, the study is validated through simulations and experimental tests on a lab prototype, and a robustness analysis is performed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives II)

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12 pages, 5482 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AC-DC DAB Converter with Power Factor Correction

by Pablo Guzmán, Nimrod Vázquez, Marco Liserre, Rodolfo Orosco, Joaquín Vaquero and Claudia Hernández

Energies 2023, 16(1), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16010320 - 28 Dec 2022

Viewed by 2359

Abstract

AC-DC conversion is required in many applications, and in some of them isolation is strictly required, certainly while maintaining characteristics such as a high power factor and low input current THD. In this paper, an AC-DC converter, comprising a full-bridge diode rectifier and a dual-active-bridge (DAB) converter, is utilized to fulfill these characteristics. The used modulation makes the converter behave as a resistive load, maintaining the output voltage constant while achieving a high power factor and low input current THD. The operation of the converter is simple, as only two voltage sensors are required, and no inner current loop is utilized. A low-power prototype was experimentally tested to corroborate the proposal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives II)

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28 pages, 8028 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Observer-Based, Robust Position Tracking in Two-Mass Drive System

by Jacek Kabziński and Przemysław Mosiołek

Energies 2022, 15(23), 9093; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15239093 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 813

Abstract

Precise motion control remains one of the most important problems in modern technology. It is especially difficult in the case of two-mass systems with flexible coupling if only the motor position and velocity are measured. We propose a new methodology of control system design in this situation. The concept is founded on a robust observer design, based on a linear matrix inequality (LMI) solution. The observer cooperates with the original nonlinear controller. The presented approach allows us to solve the position tracking problem for a two-mass drive, with unknown parameters, in the presence of disturbances (for instance, nonlinear friction-like torques) acting on both ends of the flexible shaft. Under this set of assumptions, the problem was never solved previously. The closed-loop system stability is investigated, and the uniform ultimate boundedness of state estimation errors and tracking errors is proven using Lyapunov techniques. Numerical properties of the design procedure and characteristic features of the observer, controller, and closed-loop system are demonstrated by several examples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives II)

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Review

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27 pages, 6329 KiB

Open AccessReview

Technology and Applications of Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Materials: Current State and Future Trends

by Omar Sarwar Chaudhary, Mouloud Denaï, Shady S. Refaat and Georgios Pissanidis

Energies 2023, 16(18), 6689; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16186689 - 18 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1726

Abstract

Silicon (Si)-based semiconductor devices have long dominated the power electronics industry and are used in almost every application involving power conversion. Examples of these include metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), gate turn-off (GTO), thyristors, and bipolar junction transistor (BJTs). However, for many applications, power device requirements such as higher blocking voltage capability, higher switching frequencies, lower switching losses, higher temperature withstand, higher power density in power converters, and enhanced efficiency and reliability have reached a stage where the present Si-based power devices cannot cope with the growing demand and would usually require large, costly cooling systems and output filters to meet the requirements of the application. Wide bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor materials such as silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN), and diamond (Dia) have recently emerged in the commercial market, with superior material properties that promise substantial performance improvements and are expected to gradually replace the traditional Si-based devices in various power electronics applications. WBG power devices can significantly improve the efficiency of power electronic converters by reducing losses and making power conversion devices smaller in size and weight. The aim of this paper is to highlight the technical and market potential of WBG semiconductors. A detailed short-term and long-term analysis is presented in terms of cost, energy impact, size, and efficiency improvement in various applications, including motor drives, automotive, data centers, aerospace, power systems, distributed energy systems, and consumer electronics. In addition, the paper highlights the benefits of WBG semiconductors in power conversion applications by considering the current and future market trends. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives II)

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18 pages, 16762 KiB

Open AccessReview

Wide-Speed Range Sensorless Control of Five-Phase PMSM Drive under Healthy and Open Phase Fault Conditions for Aerospace Applications

by Ihab Assoun, Lahoucine Idkhajine, Babak Nahid-Mobarakeh, Farid Meibody-Tabar, Eric Monmasson and Nicolas Pacault

Energies 2023, 16(1), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16010279 - 27 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1570

Abstract

This paper presents a speed sensorless control of a five-phase PMSM in healthy operation and under the Open-Phase Fault on any phase of the machine. The solution is recommended for mission-critical applications requiring high reliability capacities, such as Aerospace applications. An adapted Active Fault Tolerant Control is proposed with the aim of obtaining electromechanical torque as close as possible to that normally developed by a machine working in healthy condition. In instances of a loss of power to one phase of the machine, a reconfiguration of the control law is performed to ensure the continuity of service and to maintain acceptable control performances without requiring a hardware rearrangement of the power architecture. The motor rotation speed and position, required for the Field Oriented Control (FOC) of the stator currents, are estimated using a Back-Electromotive Forces (Back-EMF) observer based on a mathematical model of the motor and implemented in the stator diphase reference frame. Different electrical models that describe the behavior of the five-phase machine in the normal and degraded operations are given. Experimental results on a 1.25 kW synchronous PM machine are shown to confirm the effectiveness of the motor control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives II)

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24 pages, 8483 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review on Power Electronic Topologies and Control for Wave Energy Converters

by Ahmed Darwish and George A. Aggidis

Energies 2022, 15(23), 9174; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15239174 - 03 Dec 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2075

Abstract

Ocean energy systems (OESs) convert the kinetic, potential, and thermal energy from oceans and seas to electricity. These systems are broadly classified into tidal, wave, thermal, and current marine systems. If fully utilized, the OESs can supply the planet with the required electricity demand as they are capable of generating approximately 2 TW of energy. The wave energy converter (WEC) systems capture the kinetic and potential energy in the waves using suitable mechanical energy capturers such as turbines and paddles. The energy density in the ocean waves is in the range of tens of kilowatts per square meter, which makes them a very attractive energy source due to the high predictability and low variability when compared with other renewable sources. Because the final objective of any renewable energy source (RES), including the WECs, is to produce electricity, the energy capturer of the WEC systems is coupled with an electrical generator, which is controlled then by power electronic converters to generate the electrical power and inject the output current into the utility AC grid. The power electronic converters used in other RESs such as photovoltaics and wind systems have been progressing significantly in the last decade, which improved the energy harvesting process, which can benefit the WECs. In this context, this paper reviews the main power converter architectures used in the present WEC systems to aid in the development of these systems and provide a useful background for researchers in this area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High-Efficiency and High-Performance Power Electronics for Power Grids and Electrical Drives II)

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