Company Description:
The section “Electromechanics and Power Electronics” (EPE) is part of the Department of Electrical Engineering of TU Eindhoven (TU/e), with as mission to conduct fundamental research in the broad area of Electromechanics and Power Electronics, with emphasis on modelling, analysis, design trajectories and multi-objective optimization of energy conversion systems. Power Electronics related research is mainly focused on multi-port converter systems with added functionality and improved power quality for high-precision applications and also for the interface, power management, and grid connection of decentralized energy generation and storage. A steady increase over the last decades in the power rating of semiconductors has opened the door for using more power electronics in power systems. New opportunities rise for the application of power electronics in transmission and distribution systems, including DC/AC conversion. Since power electronics is an expensive technology we try to influence and control the power flow with small converters. We strive to use the control possibilities that existing converters have to improve the power quality of the systems.
Role and main tasks within the project:
TU/e will investigate protective interface schemes between local grid and connected power processing fast chargers such that the converters are able to withstand either under-voltages or too high peak voltages as originated from the middle voltage grid side, while not being over-dimensioned. The functionality of a protective interface with respect to voltage stresses between grid and EV high-power charger based on external protection devices, including smart control, will demonstrate in Use-case 2. It is expected that the interface should be able to limit surges to at most 2 times the convertor nominal voltages, with the capability to handle 20% under-voltages.