EPE Association: EPE 2009 - Subtopic 14-8 - LS: 'Renewable Energy Converters'

EPE 2009 - Subtopic 14-8 - LS: 'Renewable Energy Converters'
You are here: EPE Documents > 01 - EPE & EPE ECCE Conference Proceedings > EPE 2009 - Conference > EPE 2009 - Topic 14: 'Electrical Energy Generating Systems, Renewable Energy Systems' > EPE 2009 - Subtopic 14-8 - LS: 'Renewable Energy Converters'

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   A Cost Effective Inverter Topology for Fuel Cell Residential Power Applications
By Ahmed ZOBAA, MOHAMED YOUSSEF, mohamed ORABI [View]
[Download]

Abstract: This paper presents a new climate friendly cost-effective inverter for residential fuel cell applications. Meeting this need was one of the objectives for the 2007 Future Energy Challenge, a contest sponsored by the US Department of Energy, US Department of Defense and the IEEE. The aim of this paper is to design, simulate, and build a scale model of a 5 kVA inverter capable of performing the power conversion process while meeting the aggressive component cost target of $200 US for a 10,000 unit production. The means by which we proposed to build the most efficient and cost effective inverter was by breaking the inverter down into two separate sections. The first section was a full-bridge DC/DC converter, with 200 VDC output, and the second section was a DC/AC converter, with 120 VAC 60Hz output. The input voltage of the fuel cell is of a range of 42 VDC to 72 VDC. The maximum peak current drawn from the fuel cell is 28 A. A thorough study was undertaken to prove that the two-stage method is the most effective in minimizing component cost. Circuit design, simulation, and experimental results are presented to provide the proof of concept of the presented work.

   A Single Phase Multi-String PV Inverter with Minimal Bus Capacitance
By John SCHOENBERGER [View]
[Download]

Abstract: The multi-string photovoltaic (PV) inverter is of interest for building grid-connected PV systems because it offers a number of advantages compared to conventional centralized or single-stage inverters. Optimal operation of the system can be achieved since the maximum power point (MPP) of each string is controlled by a local dc-dc converter input stage. The input dc-dc converter also provides voltage decoupling, allowing the storage capacitance to be minimized by permitting increased voltage fluctuations on the intermediate dc bus. The electrolytic bus capacitor can therefore be replaced by a smaller, more-reliable film capacitor in order to increase the lifetime of the converter. This minimization of capacitance is not possible in a single-stage string inverter as a large input capacitor must directly decouple the PV string from the pulsating single phase output power. In this paper, the capacitance requirements of a two-stage string PV inverter are compared to those of a single-stage inverter and evaluated in light their impact on PV utilization efficiency. A complete simulation model, developed in PLECS and Simulink, is used to determine the interaction between the power conversion stages and the PV supply for the two systems and to demonstrate the relationship between capacitance, dc bus voltage fluctations and overall system efficency.

   Modeling and simulating an Archimedes Wave Swing park in steady state conditions
By Balazs CZECH, PAVOL BAUER, HENK POLINDER, Peter KORONDI [View]
[Download]

Abstract: To increase the clean and renewable energy used presently, energy could be extracted from the sea. Here an Archimedes Wave Swing (AWS) park is proposed to convert the motion of the sea waves into electricity with a capacity of 90 MW. In order to find the most suitable way to connect these devices, various electrical components are used which need to be modeled precisely to carry out the calculations and simulations. Several different topologies are implemented by linking up the devices to each other and to the electrical network and they will be evaluated according to important electrical and economical factors. The interest lies primarily in identifying farm configurations with a low cost profile and high efficiency.

EPE 2009 - Subtopic 14-8 - LS: 'Renewable Energy Converters'
You are here: EPE Documents > 01 - EPE & EPE ECCE Conference Proceedings > EPE 2009 - Conference > EPE 2009 - Topic 14: 'Electrical Energy Generating Systems, Renewable Energy Systems' > EPE 2009 - Subtopic 14-8 - LS: 'Renewable Energy Converters'
	[return to parent folder]

	A Cost Effective Inverter Topology for Fuel Cell Residential Power Applications By Ahmed ZOBAA, MOHAMED YOUSSEF, mohamed ORABI	[View] [Download]
Abstract: This paper presents a new climate friendly cost-effective inverter for residential fuel cell applications. Meeting this need was one of the objectives for the 2007 Future Energy Challenge, a contest sponsored by the US Department of Energy, US Department of Defense and the IEEE. The aim of this paper is to design, simulate, and build a scale model of a 5 kVA inverter capable of performing the power conversion process while meeting the aggressive component cost target of $200 US for a 10,000 unit production. The means by which we proposed to build the most efficient and cost effective inverter was by breaking the inverter down into two separate sections. The first section was a full-bridge DC/DC converter, with 200 VDC output, and the second section was a DC/AC converter, with 120 VAC 60Hz output. The input voltage of the fuel cell is of a range of 42 VDC to 72 VDC. The maximum peak current drawn from the fuel cell is 28 A. A thorough study was undertaken to prove that the two-stage method is the most effective in minimizing component cost. Circuit design, simulation, and experimental results are presented to provide the proof of concept of the presented work.

	A Single Phase Multi-String PV Inverter with Minimal Bus Capacitance By John SCHOENBERGER	[View] [Download]
Abstract: The multi-string photovoltaic (PV) inverter is of interest for building grid-connected PV systems because it offers a number of advantages compared to conventional centralized or single-stage inverters. Optimal operation of the system can be achieved since the maximum power point (MPP) of each string is controlled by a local dc-dc converter input stage. The input dc-dc converter also provides voltage decoupling, allowing the storage capacitance to be minimized by permitting increased voltage fluctuations on the intermediate dc bus. The electrolytic bus capacitor can therefore be replaced by a smaller, more-reliable film capacitor in order to increase the lifetime of the converter. This minimization of capacitance is not possible in a single-stage string inverter as a large input capacitor must directly decouple the PV string from the pulsating single phase output power. In this paper, the capacitance requirements of a two-stage string PV inverter are compared to those of a single-stage inverter and evaluated in light their impact on PV utilization efficiency. A complete simulation model, developed in PLECS and Simulink, is used to determine the interaction between the power conversion stages and the PV supply for the two systems and to demonstrate the relationship between capacitance, dc bus voltage fluctations and overall system efficency.

	Modeling and simulating an Archimedes Wave Swing park in steady state conditions By Balazs CZECH, PAVOL BAUER, HENK POLINDER, Peter KORONDI	[View] [Download]
Abstract: To increase the clean and renewable energy used presently, energy could be extracted from the sea. Here an Archimedes Wave Swing (AWS) park is proposed to convert the motion of the sea waves into electricity with a capacity of 90 MW. In order to find the most suitable way to connect these devices, various electrical components are used which need to be modeled precisely to carry out the calculations and simulations. Several different topologies are implemented by linking up the devices to each other and to the electrical network and they will be evaluated according to important electrical and economical factors. The interest lies primarily in identifying farm configurations with a low cost profile and high efficiency.