Carbon-based power electronics - for efficient electric power conversion
WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE?At present we see an unprecedented expansion of wind power as a renewable source of electricity. In the future many other sources of renewable energy can be expected to be added to the electricity grid, such as wave power, solar power and hydroelectric power from underwater currents and small streams. This requires conversion of the generated electricity which often varies both in frequency and amplitude to the 50 Hz power grid. These conversions cannot be achieved without having a certain amount of losses in every step. This means that the addition of many small distributed and to some extent unpredictable sources to the grid are not economically feasible without efficient converters with very low losses. Such converters are not only necessary in renewable energy conversion. Other applications include electric or hybrid vehicles and high voltage DC transmission. A high loss means wasting energy and can also necessitate cumbersome and expensive cooling systems. A major source of power loss in conventional converters is associated with losses in rectifiers and antiparallel switch diodes. These losses can be in excess of 50% of the total loss in the converter.HOW CAN THE PROJECT CONTRIBUTE TO A SOLUTION?
The goal of this project is to develop prototype diodes intended for electric converter systems, which are based on synthetic diamond films. Compared to present power semiconductor technology, these future devices have the big advantage of substantially smaller losses for electric energy conversion, e.g. from renewable sources. This means that diamond devices would be more energy efficient and therefore have less impact on the environment, by helping to reduce pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases. Other advantages are reduced losses in long-distance electric power transmission and simpler construction of hybrid vehicle engines
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE RESULTS?
Demonstration of a working carbon-based diode with low switching losses will enable manufacturers of converters to reduce losses, and thus by extension benefit the utility companies and in the end also the consumers of electricity.
