Grant: Idea to Innovation

This research project will develop power electronics intended for applications within the industrial drive market such as: pumps, compressors, air ventilation and alternative energy systems such as windpower generators. The world market for industrial drive systems using power electronics is worth approximately C$75 billion with an average yearly growth of approximately 2.5%. The oil & gas, chemical and resource based industries in Alberta benefit greatly from technology advances made within the industrial drive market. A novel power electronic inverter design using coupled inductors has already been proven at low power levels (10kW). This design has many benefits, such as: a low semiconductor switch count; low system electrical stresses; immunity to electrical short circuits; smaller inductive electrical filters; more efficient operation of motor loads. This project plans to build prototype inverter designs at 60/120/180 kW power levels to prove the suitability of the novel technology at industrial power levels. The main technical goals are to design and test coupled inductor designs that use power electronic inverters with multi-level pwm output voltages and a low switch count. The main technical design features to be investigated are the relative system power ratings, power losses and associated efficiencies when compared with existing technologies. A comparison of the size, weight and cost of the novel technology will also be undertaken. The project results are expected to prove that the new technology will result in an economic and efficient industrial drive system, with lower electrical stresses on components and smaller electrical filters. This technology will contribution to the advancement of industrial drive system technology.