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This paper presents a multilevel step-up dc/dc converter for dc-grid-based offshore wind energy conversion applications. The main features of the proposed multilevel converter are as follows: 1) the voltage stress of the power devices can be reduced, making it suitable for high-voltage applications; 2) the boost inductor can be reduced significantly, leading to the outstanding dynamic performance; and 3) high-voltage gain can be obtained and thus is well-suited for high-gain applications. Theoretical analysis was carried out for a four-level step-up converter, based on which, the converter can be extended to any arbitrary number of levels. The proposed four-level converter was verified by a simulation and evaluated by comparing with a conventional multilevel dc/dc converter in terms of the component stress and power device count. The developed topology was implemented on a 2-kW prototype converter to evaluate its feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a high-efficiency multilevel flying-capacitor (FC) dc/dc power conversion with a lower passive component rating and power device count for distributed renewable energy systems. A resonant technique is adopted for the proposed dc/dc converter to achieve zero-current switching (ZCS) for all switches. Theoretical analysis is carried out for the proposed quintuple topology with three active switches. The proposed converter is evaluated to the conventional FC converter, in terms of the component rating and count, to highlight its advantages with respect to the power density and cost. The experimental results of a 1-kW prototype FC converter are presented to validate the theoretical analysis and principles, as well as attest the feasibility of the proposed topologies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper reports a comprehensive optimization process of the associated passive components of three-phase front-end interleaved boost converters to enhance the power density. The effects of the circulating zero-sequence current between the rectifiers were analyzed in detail, and the mean input current model was developed in the presence of a circulating current. The model was then incorporated into the development of a physics-based average current controller to compensate for the input current low-order harmonic distortions without sacrificing the system power density. The proposed method is expected to be an attractive solution for enhancing the power density of consumer electronic applications needed to meet the harmonic regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the interest in offshore wind farms has been significantly increased because of the stronger and more stable winds at sea, which will lead to a higher power production. DC/DC power conversion solutions are becoming more popular for fulfilling the growing challenges in the high-voltage (HV) dc-connected offshore wind power industry. This paper presents several multilevel modular dc/dc conversion systems based on the capacitor-clamped (CC) module concept for high-power offshore wind energy applications. Two types of the CC modules, namely, the double-switch (DS) module and the switchless (SL) module, are discussed. A soft-switching technique is adopted to achieve minimal switching losses and the maximum system efficiency. Theoretical analysis is carried out for the $2n+1$-level cascaded configurations based on the CC modules. The inherent interleaving property of the proposed configurations effectively reduces the output voltage ripple without adding extra components. A cascaded hybrid topology is developed by the combination of DS and SL modules. The proposed hybrid topology achieves higher efficiency and lower component count. The cascaded hybrid approach is evaluated in terms of the power device count, reliability, and efficiency against other HV dc/dc topologies to demonstrate its advantage for HVDC-connected offshore wind farms. The experimental results of two 5-kW prototype CC converters are presented to validate the theoretical analysis and principles as well as attest the feasibility of the proposed topologies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With the increasing integration of renewable energy generation into high-power grids, transmission at the dc level is becoming increasingly more useful than ac transmission. In this regard, emerging applications, such as offshore wind farms, require a high voltage gain dc/dc conversion system to interface with high-power transmission networks. This paper presents a new high-voltage gain resonant switched-capacitor dc/dc converter for high-power offshore wind energy systems. The proposed dc/dc converter is characterized by the resonant switching transitions to achieve minimal switching losses and maximum system efficiency. Therefore, a higher switching frequency is conceivable to attain a higher power density. The double stage output voltage of the proposed converter operates at seven times as high as the input voltage with a small device count. The output capacitors are charged and discharged continuously by a 180° phase shift with respect to each other to eliminate the output voltage ripples with the low capacitance requirements. The proposed series-modular and cascade configurations show the intrinsic advantage of being readily applicable to multistage power switching converters. The developed topology has been implemented on a 5-kW prototype converter to test its feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore wind farms are rapidly growing owing to their comparatively more stable wind conditions than onshore and land-based wind farms. The power capacity of offshore wind turbines has been increased to 5MW in order to capture a larger amount of wind energy, which results in an increase of each component's size. Furthermore, the weight of the marine turbine components installed in the nacelle directly influences the total mechanical design, as well as the operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. A reduction in the weight of the nacelle allows for cost-effective tower and foundation structures. On the other hand, longer transmission distances from an offshore wind turbine to the load leads to higher energy losses. In this regard, DC transmission is more useful than AC transmission in terms of efficiency because no reactive power is generated/consumed by DC transmission cables. This paper describes some of the challenges and difficulties faced in designing high-power-density power conversion systems (HPDPCSs) for offshore wind turbines. A new approach for high gain/high voltage systems is introduced using transformerless power conversion technologies. Finally, the proposed converter is evaluated in terms of step-up conversion ratio, device number, modulation, and costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]