Solid-state transformer for mitigation of common mode insults
AssigneeNational Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
InventorsLee Joshua Rashkin, Timothy James Donnelly, David Wilson, Ronald Craig Matthews, Jr., Steven F. Glover, Kyle Jackson Goodrick
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Abstract
A high altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) or other similar geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) has the potential to severely impact the operation of large-scale electric power grids by introducing low-frequency common-mode (CM) currents which deteriorate the performance of key grid components, such as large power transformers. A solid-state transformer (SST) can replace susceptible equipment and improve grid resiliency by safely redirecting, absorbing, and/or converting these CM insults.
Claims5
A solid-state transformer for mitigation of common mode insults, comprising:
- a primary-side ac/dc converter on a grid side,
- an intermediate dc/dc converter electrically connected in series to an output of the primary-side ac/dc converter which provides galvanic isolation of the grid side and a load side, thereby enabling large step-up/step-down ratios,
- a secondary-side dc/ac converter electrically connected in series to an output of the intermediate dc/dc converter and configured to feed a downstream load,
- an energy storage system electrically connected in parallel to the output of the primary-side ac/dc converter and configured to absorb common mode energy incident on the grid side of the primary-side ac/dc converter, and
- a controller configured to divert the common mode energy to the energy storage system and output enough power from the primary-side ac/dc converter to ensure the secondary-side dc/ac converter outputs a constant current to a downstream load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.