Reliability of Grid Connected Power Electronics Converter Systems
Project description
Power electronic converters (PECs) are work horses of the emerging distribution networks. PEC interfaced grids can function as flexible power corridors that facilitate compact and efficient energy exchange between distributed generation, load and storage elements. Introducing adequate Redundancy, Modularity and Reconfigurability (RMR) in such PEC driven hybrid ac-dc distribution networks can enhance power delivery capacity by 1.5-2 times during (n-1) contingencies, thus enabling infrastructure savings. Potential applications include parallel ac-dc links, embedded PEC energy routers, dc hubs and multi-parallel converter systems capable of regulating power flows between different nodes in the grid.
Research objective is to develop a simplified understanding of RMR based system reliability considerations for PEC interfaced grids. Specifically, trade-off between redundancy, modularity and reconfigurability should be explored in terms of cost, efficiency and space requirement for a fault tolerant design of node-to-node electronic links.
While this study needs knowledge of power systems and can include application specific considerations on distributed energy resources/loads like PVs, EVs, Wind and storage, the fundamental focus is on the impact of PEC interfaces as flexible power regulators on the RMR based reliability of operating such systems.
The Ph.D. project would broadly involve the following tasks:
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Construct a system reliability block diagram for node-to-node electronic link over its lifetime.
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Analyse the RMR trade-offs involved in the design of such systems.
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Recommend application specific design rules and suggest case-studies for optimal capacity selection.
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Perform reliability-based, time-dependent cost benefit analysis to highlight proposed concepts
Ph.D. candidate
Miad Ahmadi: M.ahmadi-3@tudelft.nl
Supervisor:
Dr. Aditya Shekhar: A.Shekhar@tudelft.nl
Promotor:
Prof. Pavol Bauer: p.bauer@tudelft.nl