A hybrid structure using phase-controlled rectifiers andhigh-frequency converters for magnet-load power supplies

Thyristor rectifiers are still the preferred choice for large magnet power supplies. However, large harmonic voltages, resulting in large current ripple, and slow dynamic response are major drawbacks of these converters. This paper presents a topology and a control technique for hybrid large-power high-precision magnet power supplies. The system consists of a phase controlled rectifier connected in series with a high-frequency PWM converter. The rectifier is designed to handle the main output power and the PWM converter is used only for harmonics cancellation and error compensation. A feedforward control scheme is proposed to ensure that the desired power sharing is maintained during both the steady state and transient operations. The operating principles of the proposed structure are discussed in the paper, and the results from a 1 kVA experimental setup are provided to validate the proposed topology     

Analysis of gross error rates in operation of commercial nuclear power stations

Experience in operation of US commercial nuclear power plants is reviewed over a 25-moth period. The reports accumulated in that period on events of human error and component failure are examined to evaluate gross operator error rates. The impact of such errors on plant operation and safety is examined through the use of proper taxonomies of error, tasks and failures. Four categories of human errors are considered; namely, operator, maintenance, installation and administrative. The computed error rates are used to examine appropriate operator models for evaluation of operator reliability. Human error rates are found to be significant to a varying degree in both BWR and PWR. This emphasizes the import of considering human factors in safety and reliability analysis of nuclear systems. The results also indicate that human errors, and especially operator errors, do indeed follow the exponential reliability model.     

High performance selectively oxidized VCSELs and arrays forparallel high-speed optical interconnects

High-bandwidth single-mode selectively oxidized vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays operate at 980 nm or 850 nm emission wavelength for substrate or epitaxial side emission. Coplanar feeding lines and polyimide passivation are used to reduce electrical parasitics in top-emitting GaAs and bottom-emitting InGaAs VCSELs. To enhance fundamental single-mode emission for larger devices of reduced series resistance a surface relief transverse mode filter is employed. Fabricated VCSELs are applied in various interconnect schemes. InGaAs quantum-well based VCSELs at 935 nm emission wavelength are investigated for use in perfluorinated graded-index plastic-optical fiber (GI-POF) links. We obtain a 7 Gb/s pseudo random bit sequence (PRBS) nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) data transmission over 80 m long 155 μm diameter GI-POF. We investigate data transmission over standard 1300 nm, 9 μm core diameter single-mode fiber with selectively oxidized single-mode GaAs and InGaAs VCSELs. We achieve biased 3 Gb/s and bias-free 1 Gb/s pseudo-random data transmission over 4.3 km at 830 nm emission wavelength where a simple fiber mode filter is used to suppress intermodal dispersion caused by the second order fiber mode. For the first time, we demonstrate 12.5 Gb/s data rate transmission of PRBS signals over 100 m graded-index multimode fiber or 1 km single-mode fiber using high performance single-mode GaAs VCSELs of 12.3 GHz modulation bandwidth emitting at λ=850 nm     

Pulse width modulated capacitor for series compensation

This paper presents a variable reactance type series compensator with pulse-width modulation (PWM) capability. On a per-phase basis, it can be represented by a bidirectional force-commutated switch in parallel with a combination of a capacitor in series with another bidirectional force-commutated switch. The equivalent reactance of the capacitor circuit can be continuously varied, with no risk of short-circuiting the capacitor or interrupting the line current. A simple and reliable PWM AC controller which requires only four force-commutated switches and a three-phase diode bridge is proposed for the implementation of the three-phase compensator. The degree of series compensation is controlled by duty cycle variation of a common train of pulses. No low order harmonics are generated since the force-commutated switches can operate at frequencies higher than that of the AC mains. The operating principles are presented and the theoretical analysis is verified by digital simulation and experimental results on a laboratory set-up     

Incorporating the overmodulation range in space vector patterngenerators using a classification algorithm

Operating voltage-source pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) inverters in the overmodulation region extends their voltage and power ranges. Proper operation in this region is of particular importance in AC motor drives. This paper presents a classification algorithm for the implementation of the space vector modulation (SVM) in the pulse-dropping region. It is demonstrated that the proposed algorithm allows smooth transitions through the entire operating range up to square wave operation. It does not require approximations and guarantees exact positioning of the switching instants. In addition, it is shown that the harmonic distortion can be kept lower than with conventional techniques in most of the overmodulation region. The technique requires less computational time, when compared with the conventional SVM methods. The results of the theoretical and mathematical analysis are verified on a 2-kVA prototype unit using a digital signal processor (DSP)-based controller     

Two Methods for Optimal MECG Elimination and FECG Detection from Skin Electrode Signals

Two signal processing techniques for the suppression of the maternal ECG and simultaneously optimal detection of fetal ECG with respect to noise are presented. Both techniques are based on the singular value decomposition of a measurement matrix. Criteria are given in order to evaluate, a priori, electrode locations and sampling schemes for both methods. A fundamental difference with other methods is that the number of linearly independent FECG signals is not constrained to one. One of the presented techniques is a typical offline method. It is well suited for a large number of electrodes and large number of samples, which results in a better signal to noise ratio. The second technique is a typical on-line method. It gives fetal ECG signals within about 1 s, and is adaptive to changes of the transfer (e.g., due to fetal movement). It can be applied with a small number of electrodes (e.g., eight). It is shown that if three of these signals are from thoracic electrodes, the MECG suppression is guaranteed.     

State variable decoupling and power flow control in PWMcurrent-source rectifiers

Pulsewidth modulated (PWM) current-source rectifiers (CSR), among other alternatives, offer marked improvements over thyristor line-commutated rectifiers as a source of variable DC power. Advantages include reduced line current harmonic distortion and complete displacement power factor control, including unity displacement power factor operation. However, due to nonlinearities of the PWM-CSR model, their control has usually been carried out using direct line current control in a three-phase stationary frame (abc). This paper proposes the application of a nonlinear control technique that introduces more flexibility in the control of the rectifier and results in a more straightforward approach to controller design. The proposed technique is based on a nonlinear state variable feedback approach in the rotating frame (dq). The approach allows the independent control of the two components of the line current (active and reactive) with the same dynamic performance, regardless of the operating point. The control strategy also eliminates the need for input damping resistors and rejects the effect of supply voltage variations. Furthermore, a space vector modulation (SVM) technique is used to maximize the supply voltage utilization. This paper includes a complete formulation of the system equations and a controller design procedure. Experimental results on a 2 kVA digital-signal-processor-controlled prototype confirm the validity of theoretical considerations     

A Secondary Voltage Control Strategy for Transmission Level Interconnection of Wind Generation

This paper addresses implementation issues associated with secondary voltage control in a doubly-fed induction generator based wind farm. The effects of different system parameters on the performance of the control are considered, namely the short circuit ratio of the interconnection and the inherent communication delay between the wind park and the remote bus. In addition, a strategy for allocation reactive power requirements to each of the generators within the wind park is proposed. The system is developed and simulated for a wind park consisting of six wind generators connected to a typical transmission system. The paper proposes an optimal tracking secondary voltage control method developed to achieve effective voltage regulation, enhance the network voltage profile and provide optimal reactive power compensation to the interconnected power system. The performance of the controller is compared with secondary voltage control at one selected bus, primary voltage control and the optimal voltage profile obtained from the optimal power flow analysis. The performance of the controllers is tested for steady state operation and in response to system contingencies, taking into account the impact of communication time delays and short circuit ratio (SCRs). Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the capability of the controllers to provide the desired reactive power compensation and voltage support to the electric power grid.     

Supercapacitor Energy Storage for Wind Energy Applications

As wind energy reaches higher penetration levels, there is a greater need to manage intermittency associated with the individual wind turbine generators. This paper considers the integration of a short-term energy storage device in a doubly fed induction generator design in order to smooth the fast wind-induced power variations. This storage device can also be used to reinforce the dc bus during transients, thereby enhancing its low-voltage ride through (LVRT) capability. The topology is evaluated in terms of its ability to improve the performance both during normal operation and during transients. Results show that when storage is sized based upon the LVRT requirement, it can effectively damp short-term power oscillations, and it provides superior transient performance when compared with conventional topologies     

An optimum modulation strategy for a novel "notch" commutated 3-/spl Phi/ PWM inverter

The introduction of soft switching features in medium power static converters promises improved semiconductor utilization and higher switching frequencies. In this paper a DC-side commutated zero voltage switching (ZVS) PWM 3-/spl Phi/ VSI topology is discussed. This topology consists of a typical six-switch bridge with the addition of a simple DC bus commutating subcircuit which can provide, on demand, the necessary soft switching zero-volts interval across the inverter DC bus. The objective of this paper is to identify a specific PWM technique which, in combination with the proposed ZVS scheme, can provide optimum overall converter switching performance. Moreover, the combination of the inverter topology and the modulation strategy proposed here yields a soft switching environment at the lowest possible switching frequency. Reduction in switching losses is further enhanced by increasing the effective and reducing the actual switching frequency. Finally, this paper includes a detailed analysis and design procedure for the proposed notch commutated inverter topology. Simulation and experimental results are also presented to verify key predicted results.<>