Platform: Future Technologies in Power Electronics
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Electrical and Electronic Eng
Abstract
To date, the PG has enabled blue-sky and applied research in AC-AC conversion, the latter, in particular, enabling growth of strategic collaborations in the aerospace, RF and energy sectors. Whilst the Group's strategic integration into the international aerospace sector is well advanced, that into the RF and energy sectors is at an early stage; this is because the mass penetration of power electronic conversion in to the respective markets has yet to be realised. The market potential and the opportunities for new partnerships and strategies are discussed in Section 2.Scientifically, the existing PG has enabled the PEMC Group to grow its base-expertise and knowledge transfer potential to span the spectrum of power electronic technologies in which AC-AC and multi-level, multi-cellular topologies are seen as particular solutions dependent on the nature of the application performance specifications. For example, in RF power electronics, all three topologies (and other paradigms) can be applied. The broad aim of the Platform Grant Renewal (PGR) is to provide the manpower base to exploit the Group's increased scientific potential in addressing existing and future challenges in power electronic conversion; and to apply this potential to selected application areas in order to develop new and existing strategic collaborations with industry and institutions, both within the UK and internationally.
Organisations
Publications
Cook D
(2008)
Development of a Predictive Controller for Use on a Direct Converter for High-Energy Physics Applications
in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics
Hao Wang
(2008)
State space ZCS control for three-phase resonant converter
Zanchetta P
(2008)
Control Design of a Three-Phase Matrix-Converter-Based AC-AC Mobile Utility Power Supply
in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics
Leon J
(2009)
Feed-Forward Space Vector Modulation for Single-Phase Multilevel Cascaded Converters With Any DC Voltage Ratio
in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics
Carastro F
(2009)
Reliability considerations in pulsed power resonant conversion
in Microelectronics Reliability
Description | Platform Grant: developments include - high power matrix converter with SiC diodes and integrated wholly SiC matric converter, both represented World firsts. New technologies for HV resonant power supplies. New technologies for fault location in marine power systems. New technologies for More Electric Aircraft. |
Exploitation Route | Platform grant provides for developments in base technologies - being taken forward through collaboration with industry, TSB (Innovate programs) and in follow-on research programmes. Follow-on activities span the transport and energy sectors. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Electronics Energy Transport |
Description | PROGRESS AGAINST OBJECTIVES 1. To undertake scientific research relating to environmental, parameter and quality optimisation of PE converter technologies, both generically and application specific as appropriate, and to assess the impact of new developments in devices, packaging, insulation, and heat transfer technologies. Research in this area has led to levered funding from TSB via TULIP - Technologies for Ultra Integrated Power Electronics and DIPEC. Developments under industry funding - high power matrix converter with SiC diodes and integrated wholly SiC matric converter, both represent World firsts. 2. To maintain and develop new standard power electronic and control platforms, based on a modular, building block approach, in order to accelerate project progress and to formalise synergies and commonalities across strategic areas. Standardised control platforms and converter building blocks have been developed and have significantly accelerated research as intended. Control platforms and converter designs/hardware have been shared under agreements with collaborators in Spain, Chile, Malta and the UK (Cardiff) - accelerating the progress of collaborative research through standardisation of hardware/firmware across institutions. Additional funding has been levered through SCARLETT (FP7) and ELGEAR (TSB). 3. To grow research activities in the energy and RF sectors through levered funding, and developing new industrial and institutional collaborations. Research in the RF sector has grown significantly during the Platform period, with new research activities being funded by STFC/DSTL and TSB and industry. Two of the Research Fellows funded under the Platform now work in industrial research in this sector. The Energy portfolio has also seen considerable growth with the Group playing a major role in the "Energy technologies Research Institute" at Nottingham and in winning funding from (£8M) for a new Micro-grid and Renewable Energy Laboratory - this includes £589k (ERDF) for power conversion activities in the new facility. New institutional collaborations (Imperial, Strathclyde, Manchester etc) have recently been formed through the award of "HubNet" under the EPSRC Supergen call and through a bid into the EPSRC "Energy Networks Grand Challenge" call - Nottingham's work in both of these focuses on power electronics and power conversion. 4. To carry out pump-priming projects in new application areas with aim of seed-bedding future strategic growth. Projects in new areas have been established in marine power systems (fault location), micro-grid control, high voltage resonant power supplies and in silicon carbide matrix converters. 5. To provide continuity of technical expertise in order to consolidate the Group's new strategic partnerships within the UK and international aerospace community. The Group in now one of the leading research groups in aerospace electrical systems worldwide - evidenced by continued support from leading airframers, associate status in the EU Clean Sky JTI (£8.5M budget), £5.3M (CIF + ERDF) university award for an "Aerospace Research Instutute", including £2M for an "Aerospace Research Center" to house the PEMC aerospace research and a major share of an EPSRC equipment award (£1.5M) to underpin aerospace reearch at Nottingham. 6. To provide technical assistance in the establishment of a technology transfer arm of the Group's activities funded through DTI and RDA. The Group has established 4 KTPs and one EPSRC KTS in the area of the Platform |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Electronics,Energy |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | AREVA T and D Power Electronic Systems (VSC Gen2) |
Amount | £98,500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Areva |
Sector | Private |
Country | France |
Start | 05/2009 |
End | 09/2011 |
Description | AREVA T and D Power Electronic Systems (s-ship) |
Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Studentship support |
Organisation | Areva |
Sector | Private |
Country | France |
Start | 06/2009 |
End | 12/2010 |
Description | AREVA T and D Power Electronic Systems (s-ship) |
Amount | £25,600 (GBP) |
Organisation | Areva |
Sector | Private |
Country | France |
Start | 03/2007 |
End | 03/2010 |
Description | Alstom Grid Centre of Excellence |
Amount | £610,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Alstom |
Department | Alstom Grid |
Sector | Private |
Country | France |
Start | 08/2012 |
End | 06/2017 |
Description | E.On (SuperCapB) |
Amount | £380,034 (GBP) |
Organisation | E ON |
Sector | Private |
Country | Germany |
Start | 03/2008 |
End | 03/2012 |
Description | E2V Technologies Ltd (Mag PSU) |
Amount | £14,600 (GBP) |
Organisation | e2v Technologies |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2010 |
End | 01/2011 |
Description | EPSRC (China) |
Amount | £121,794 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/F063350/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2008 |
End | 01/2013 |
Description | EPSRC (Equip) |
Amount | £540,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/H049746/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2010 |
End | 03/2010 |
Description | EPSRC (Fault ID) |
Amount | £349,458 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/H00419X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2009 |
End | 09/2012 |
Description | EPSRC (Hubnet) |
Amount | £400,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I013636/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2011 |
End | 12/2015 |
Description | European Commission (EC) - Scarlett |
Amount | £183,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ACP7-GA-2008-211439 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 04/2008 |
End | 04/2012 |
Description | European Regional Development Fund |
Amount | £589,501 (GBP) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Department | European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 03/2010 |
End | 04/2013 |
Description | European Union Framework 7 (CS-all) |
Amount | £8,730,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Clean Sky JTI |
Organisation | European Commission |
Department | Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 05/2008 |
End | 12/2013 |
Description | GE Aviation Mechanical Systems (ELGEAR) |
Amount | £291,200 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ELGEAR |
Organisation | GE Aviation Systems |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 12/2006 |
End | 11/2011 |
Description | IAA (Impact accelerator account) discretionary fund |
Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K503800/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2012 |
End | 09/2015 |
Description | ITT Monitoring and Control |
Amount | £213,223 (GBP) |
Organisation | ITT PRO Services |
Sector | Private |
Country | United States |
Start | 07/2009 |
End | 05/2011 |
Description | Infineon Technologies (SiC) |
Amount | £86,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Infineon Technologies |
Sector | Private |
Country | Germany |
Start | 12/2010 |
End | 06/2011 |
Description | KTP Programme Office (Areva) |
Amount | £159,364 (GBP) |
Funding ID | KTP7140 |
Organisation | Knowledge Transfer Partnerships |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2009 |
End | 03/2012 |
Description | KTP Programme Office (B and F) |
Amount | £123,349 (GBP) |
Funding ID | KTP6572 |
Organisation | Knowledge Transfer Partnerships |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2007 |
End | 11/2009 |
Description | KTP Programme Office (Dynex) |
Amount | £123,588 (GBP) |
Funding ID | KTP7347 |
Organisation | Knowledge Transfer Partnerships |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2009 |
End | 06/2011 |
Description | KTP Programme Office (RF) |
Amount | £130,465 (GBP) |
Funding ID | KTP7906 |
Organisation | Knowledge Transfer Partnerships |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2008 |
End | 12/2009 |
Description | Ministry of Defence (Cap Charge) |
Amount | £36,300 (GBP) |
Organisation | Ministry of Defence (MOD) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2008 |
End | 02/2009 |
Description | Ministry of Defence (Fault Prot) |
Amount | £491,811 (GBP) |
Organisation | Ministry of Defence (MOD) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2008 |
End | 12/2010 |
Description | Research Development Fund - Pathways to Impact |
Amount | £32,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K50354X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2012 |
End | 03/2013 |
Description | STFC Laboratories (Grouped) |
Amount | £314,473 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/F007655/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2008 |
End | 09/2011 |
Description | TMD Technologies Ltd (AFE) |
Amount | £93,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | TMD Technologies Limited |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2007 |
End | 11/2009 |
Description | TMD Technologies Ltd (Foster) |
Amount | £24,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Studentship support |
Organisation | TMD Technologies Limited |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2009 |
End | 08/2012 |
Description | Technology Strategy Board (Active Stat) |
Amount | £554,640 (GBP) |
Funding ID | H0265K |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2006 |
End | 05/2011 |
Description | Technology Strategy Board (Downhole) |
Amount | £75,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | H0093G |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2008 |
End | 10/2008 |
Description | Technology Strategy Board (Hippos) |
Amount | £213,168 (GBP) |
Funding ID | H0056A |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2006 |
End | 12/2009 |
Description | Technology Strategy Board (Tulip) |
Amount | £467,823 (GBP) |
Funding ID | H0521B |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2009 |
End | 01/2012 |