A reversible solid oxide fuel cell (RSOFC) system could buffer intermittent electrical generation, e.g. wind, wave power by storing electrical energy as hydrogen and heat. RSOFC were fabricated by thermoplastic extrusion of (La₀.₈Sr₀.₂)₀.₉₅MnO[subscript(3−δ)] (LSM) ceramic support tubes, which were microstructurally stable with 55% porosity at 1350°C. A composite oxygen electrode of LSM-YSZ was applied, providing a homogeneous substrate for a 20 μm - 30 μm thick YSZ electrolyte. A dip-coated 8YSZ slurry, and a painted commercial 3YSZ ink gave sintered densities of 90% and nearly 100% at 1350°C, respectively. A porous NiO/YSZ fuel electrode was also painted on. A Ag/Cu reactive air braze was unsuccessful at forming a void-free joint between the RSOFC and a 316 stainless steel gas delivery tube, as the braze did not penetrate the oxidation layer on the steel. Two alumina-based ceramic cements failed to fully seal the cell to an alumina gas delivery tube, due to thermal expansion coefficient mismatches and porosity after curing. Therefore, the maximum open circuit voltage (OCV) obtained during RSOFC testing was 0.8 V at 440°C. LSM-YSZ symmetrical cell performance measurements with oxygen pressure showed a diffusion polarisation, which was assigned to dissociative adsorption and surface diffusion of oxygen species. A collaborative RSOFC system software model showed ohmic and activation losses dominated the RSOFC, and diffusion losses were insignificant. Pressurisation from 1 to 70 bar increased the RSOFC Nernst voltage by 11% at 900°C, and reduced the entropy of the gases, reducing heat production and increasing electrical efficiency. A 500 kg Sn/Cu phase change heat store prevented the system overheating. Over a 16 h discharge-charge RSOFC cycle in the range 5 mol.% - 95 mol.% hydrogen in steam, at 20.4 A per cell or 3250 A m⁻², the electrical energy storage efficiency was 64.4%.

<p>Magnetized planets, such as Earth, are strongly influenced by the solar wind. The Sun is very dynamic, releasing varying amounts of energy, resulting in a fluctuating energy and momentum exchange between the solar wind and planetary magnetospheres. The efficiency of this coupling is thought to be controlled by magnetic reconnection occurring at the boundary between solar wind and planetary magnetic fields. One of the main tasks in space physics research is to increase the understanding of this coupling between the Sun and other solar system bodies. Perhaps the most important aspect regards the transfer of energy from the solar wind to the terrestrial magnetosphere as this is the main source for driving plasma processes in the magnetosphere-ionosphere system. This may also have a direct practical influence on our life here on Earth as it is responsible for Space Weather effects. In this thesis I investigate both the global scale of the varying solar-terrestrial coupling and local phenomena in more detail. I use mainly the European Space Agency Cluster mission which provide unprecedented three-dimensional observations via its formation of four identical spacecraft. The Cluster data are complimented with observations from a broad range of instruments both onboard spacecraft and from groundbased magnetometers and radars.</p><p>A period of very strong solar driving in late October 2003 is investigated. We show that some of the strongest substorms in the history of magnetic recordings were triggered by pressure pulses impacting a quasi-stable magnetosphere. We make for the first time direct estimates of the local energy flow into the magnetotail using Cluster measurements. Observational estimates suggest a good energy balance between the magnetosphere-ionosphere system while empirical proxies seem to suffer from over/under estimations during such extreme conditions.</p><p>Another period of extreme interplanetary conditions give rise to accelerated flows along the magnetopause which could account for an enhanced energy coupling between the solar wind and the magnetosphere. We discuss whether such conditions could explain the simultaneous observation of a large auroral spiral across the polar cap.</p><p>Contrary to extreme conditions the energy conversion across the dayside magnetopause has been estimated during an extended period of steady interplanetary conditions. A new method to determine the rate at which reconnection occurs is described that utilizes the magnitude of the local energy conversion from Cluster. The observations show a varying reconnection rate which support the previous interpretation that reconnection is continuous but its rate is modulated.</p><p>Finally, we compare local energy estimates from Cluster with a global magnetohydrodynamic simulation. The results show that the observations are reliably reproduced by the model and may be used to validate and scale global magnetohydrodynamic models.</p>

This thesis presents the results of wind tunnel experiments performed for various model wind turbine arrays. The aim is to understand how siting affects power output. To optimize wind farm efficiency the experiments vary the parameters of the model wind turbines and the layout of the wind turbine array. The parameters include the alignment, height, spacing, and the rotational direction of the model wind turbines. These experiments employ mechanical torque sensors to simultaneously measure the torque and rotor angular velocity, which yields a direct measurement of the fluid mechanical power extracted by the turbine at multiple locations. For a 4 × 3 array, the power is calculated at the center turbine in each of the rows. Variations in wind farm efficiency ranging from 55% to 90% are observed between the 13 different layouts tested. Modifications to the layout of the wind turbine array clearly affects the power output of the wind turbines downstream. The results of such experiments highlight the importance of studying the relationship between wind farm layout and power output.

The aim of this thesis is to analyse how space heating for single-family houses, and energy system conversion has been constructed and discussed at national, municipal and household levels. Political documents have been studied, and interviews have been carried out with politicians, civil servants and householders in the municipality of Falun. In order to study and analyse similarities and differences between these three political levels, the following main questions were asked: In which sense is the use of electrical heating formulated as problematic? How are the causes of these problems presented, and which solutions are suggested? What are the effects of how problems, causes and solutions are constructed? At the national level, the use of electricity produced by nuclear power was considered a problem. Initially the municipality’s policy documents present the same problem, but there is a change of focus to the problem of imported electricity produced by fossil fuel, and the resulting emissions. At household level, the problem was often an old and badly functioning space-heating system. But some households did not formulate a problem before they converted. Instead they were influenced by their neighbours and thereby convinced. At all three political levels, there is consensus on the households’ responsibility concerning energy transition. While industry tends to be considered incapable of cutting down its energy consumption, households are expected to take the responsibility seriously. Furthermore, within the household, the heating system tends to be constructed as a predominantly male concern. At all three levels, households are perceived as dependant on economical subsidies when taking the decision to convert from electrical heating. Although it is interesting that the interviewed householders only apply this view to others than themselves. They are convinced that other households need subsidies to act in an environmentally correct way. The discourse concerning the Swedish energy transition illustrates a shift away from a definition of ecological modernisation where environmental considerations influence economic development. The thesis clearly shows how economic arguments repeatedly influence environmental concerns. However, the tension between the two is played down and concealed through the lack of problematisation of the responsibility of industry, and through the focus on the need for education and future opportunities. Political dialogues concerning the use of electrical heating and the conversion of energy systems towards more renewable energies are dominated by economic arguments at the three levels. One effect of this is an assumption that energy policy instruments such as information and economic subsidies are essential for the energy transition. However, if householders rather are influenced by their neighbours should the government use economic subsidy as the main energy policy instrument?

L’énergie thermique des mers (ETM) offre une alternative intéressante pour la réduction de l’utilisation des énergies fossiles. En utilisant le gradient de température présent entre l’eau de surface et l’eau en profondeur, il est possible de produire de l’électricité grâce à un cycle thermodynamique. Les expérimentations sont peu nombreuses à l’heure actuelle, en raison d’un coût relativement élevé. Une approche fondamentale est donc développée avec la création de modèles numériques en régime permanent et dynamique. Le modèle en régime statique a été développé à partir d’une description mathématique simplifiée des composants du cycle. Ce modèle permet une évaluation globale des performances du système, incluant le prélèvement et le rejet de l’eau de mer ainsi que le cycle thermodynamique. À partir de la modélisation statique, un modèle dynamique a été établi en appliquant la méthode des systèmes équivalents de Gibbs. Cet outil permet de décrire les phases de démarrage et d’arrêt, d’étudier la modulation de la puissance électrique délivrée au réseau et d’optimiser le cycle. Les résultats de simulations des différents modèles sont confrontés à la littérature et à des données expérimentales, afin d’avoir des éléments de validation. L’un des intérêts du modèle en régime dynamique est la possibilité d’effectuer une analyse de type « premier et second principe » du système. Une optimisation du fonctionnement du cycle est réalisée à partir de cette analyse. Des pistes d’améliorations sont proposées. L’optimisation est réalisée grâce au couplage du modèle dynamique avec l’outil Genopt. Les outils numériques développés permettront d’élaborer des stratégies de contrôle des installations. / Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) offers an interesting alternative for reducing the use of fossil fuels for energy generation. Using the temperature gradient present between the surface water and deep water, it is possible to produce electricity through a thermodynamic cycle. At present, the experiments are limited due to a relatively high cost. A fundamental approach is developed with the creation of numerical models in steady and dynamic state. The model in steady state has been developed from a simplified mathematical description of the components of the cycle. This model allows for an overall assessment of system performance including the withdrawal and discharge of the sea water, as well as the thermodynamic cycle. From the static model, a dynamic model was established using the method of the equivalent Gibbs systems. This tool is used to describe the start-up and shutdown, to study the modulation of the electrical power delivered to the network and to optimize the cycle. The simulation results of the different models are confronted with the literature and experimental data in order to have points of validation. One of the advantages of the model under dynamic conditions is the ability to perform an analysis of the "first and second principle" of the system. Optimization of the operation is carried out from this analysis. Possible improvements are proposed. An optimization of the cycle operation is carried out from this analysis. The optimization is done by coupling the dynamic model with the tool Genopt. The numerical tools developed will permit in addition to develop strategies to control of the power plants.

Thesis (M. Tech. - (Engineering: Electrical, Department: Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology)) -- Vaal University of Technology, 2011. / “Never before in peacetime have we faced such serious and widespread shortage of energy” according to John Emerson, an economist and power expert for Chase Manhattan Bank. Many analysts believe that the problem will be temporary, but others believe the energy gap will limit economic growth for years to come. A possible solution to this problem can be fuel cell technology. Fuel cells (FCs) are energy conversion devices that generate electricity from a fuel like hydrogen. The FC however, could also be used in the reverse or regenerative mode to produce hydrogen. The reversible fuel cell (RFC) can produce hydrogen and oxygen by introducing water to the anode electrode chamber, and applying a potential across the anode and cathode. This will cause the decomposition of the water to produce oxygen at the anode side and hydrogen at the cathode side. In order to make this process as efficient as possible several aspects need to be optimised, for example, the operation temperature of the RFC, water management inside the RFC and supply voltage to the RFC. A three cell RFC and its components were constructed. The three cell RFC was chosen owing to technical reasons. The design factors that were taken into consideration were the different types of membranes, electrocatalysts, bipolar plates and flow topologies. A water trap was also designed and constructed to eliminate the water from the hydrogen water mixture due to water crossover within the MEA. In order to optimise the operation of the RFC a number of experiments were done on the RFC. These experiments included the optimal operating voltage, the effect that the temperature has on the production rate of hydrogen, and the effect that the water flow through the RFC has on the production rate of hydrogen. It was found that there is no need to control the water flow through the RFC because it had no effect on the production rate of hydrogen. The results also showed that if the operating temperature of the RFC were increased, the energy it consumes to warm the RFC significantly decreases the efficiency of the whole system. Thus the RFC need not be heated because it consumes significantly more energy to heat the RFC compared to the energy available from the hydrogen produced for later use. The optimised operating voltage for the three cell RFC was found to be 5.05 V. If the voltage were to be increased or decreased the RFC efficiency would decrease.

L’objectif du présent travail a été de concevoir et de fabriquer des dispositifs sur silicium pour convertir de l’énergie thermique en une énergie électrique en utilisant le changement de phase liquide-gaz dans le but de générer une variation subite de pression suivie d’une conversion d’énergie mécanique vers une énergie électrique à l’aide d’un piézoélectrique. La construction des dispositifs a dû rester simple, avec des matériaux courants et en respectant des limites dimensionnelles. Empreinte inférieure à un diamètre de 20 mm et une épaisseur en dessous des 2 mm.Les prototypes fabriqués sont composés de 3 plaques en silicium, contenant une chambre d’évaporation, une chambre de condensation et un canal réunissant les deux. Un transducteur piézoélectrique a été reporté sur la chambre de condensation et assure l’étanchéité ainsi que la génération d’énergie électrique.Le processus de conception inclut plusieurs étapes, dont la définition de la géométrie et du type de fluide de travail utilisé en tant qu’agent thermique. Le travail effectué a permis de sélectionner le type de piézoélectrique, sa taille ainsi que sa méthode d’intégration. Une étude a également été conduite pour déterminer la méthode optimale d’assemblage des plaques en silicium.La réalisation pratique des dispositifs a été orientée vers la sélection des meilleurs procédés technologiques pour la fabrication des structures. Toutes les expériences ont été conduites en salle blanche avec utilisation de l’oxydation humide, la photolithographie, la gravure KOH, ainsi que d’une technique d’assemblage des plaques silicium avec utilisation de la résine SU-8 comme couche intermédiaire. En plus, quelques outils spécifiques ont été conçus lors du présent travail, pour faciliter la fabrication des dispositifs, dont un système sous vide dédié à l’assemblage des plaques en silicium.Les dispositifs ont été testés afin d’établir leur mécanisme d’oscillation thermique ainsi que leurs propriétés électriques. L’influence tu taux de remplissage et de la température de surface chaude sur le signal en sortie ont également été étudiées. Le calcul de l’énergie générée a aussi été effectué. Dans la dernière partie de l’étude, des étapes d’optimisation pour les dispositifs développés dans le présent travail sont proposées. / The goal of the present work was to design and fabricate a fully silicon oscillating device that converts thermal energy into electricity, applying phenomena of liquid to gas phase-change and piezoelectricity. It should be characterized by simplicity of construction, small size, and ease of manufacture. The diameter should not exceed 2 cm, while the thickness should be within 2 mm.The device was composed of three Si wafers comprising evaporation and condensing chambers, and the channel connecting these two elements. A PZT-based transducer mounted on top of the structure was applied to ensure energy conversion.The design process included the establishment of the device geometry, the type of the working fluid enclosed inside the system, a type, size and assembly technique of a piezoelectric element, as well as a bonding method of several silicon elements of the device.The practical realization of the designed prototypes was aimed at selecting the most suitable technological processes for structure fabrication. All the experiments had been performed in a clean room environment and employed wet oxidation, photolithography, a well-known, easily available wet chemical etching in KOH solution, and a silicon bonding technique with the use of SU-8 photoresist as an intermediate layer. Additionally, during the practical work a few tools have been designed and developed to enhance the device fabrication, amongst which a vacuum pump dedicated to bond the three silicon wafers as structural elements of the prototypesThe fabricated prototypes were tested in terms of oscillation mechanism and electrical properties. The influence of the filling ratio and the hot temperature value on the generated signal was established. Additionally, the power range of the prototypes has been evaluated. In the last part of the study, optimization steps for the devices developed in the present work have been proposed.

Esta tese focou em três tópicos principais: caracterização de filmes compactos de TiO2 e seu comportamento em células solares sensibilizadas por corante; estudo das propriedades fotoquímicas e fotofísicas de um complexo fotoisomerizável de rênio(I); elucidação das propriedades fotofísicas e eletrônicas de complexos de irídio(III) e suas aplicações em dispositivos emissores de luz. Filmes compactos foram automontados nos fotoanodos de células solares sensibilizadas por corante (DSCs), sob o filme mesoporoso de TiO2/corante, utilizando sols de TiO2 ácidos e básicos como cátions e ânions, respectivamente. A obtenção dos sols foi realizada sob controle absoluto para resultar em propriedades morfológicas e ópticas apropriadas para filmes compactos de alta qualidade, como indicado por perfilometria e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão e varredura. As DSCs com bicamadas de TiO2 melhoraram as eficiências de conversão em até 62%. Uma investigação detalhada por parâmetros fotoeletroquímicos, IPCE, tempo de vida do elétron e espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica demonstrou que o contato entre o vidro condutor (FTO) e o TiO2 é melhorado e que a recombinação de carga no FTO/I3- é diminuída. O novo complexo fac-[Re(CO)3(Ph2phen)(trans-stpyCN)]+ foi sintetizado para apresentar o intercâmbio entre as configurações trans e cis do ligante coordenado por meio de fotoisomerizações eficientes e reversíveis. As fotólises em 313, 334, 365 e404 nm resultam em mudanças espectrais no UV-Vis e RMN atribuídas à fotoisomerização trans-cis do ligante stpyCN coordenado. O processo reverso cis-trans também foi observado com irradiação em 255 nm, com um notável rendimento quântico (&#934 = 0,16), de mesma magnitude que para o processo trans-cis (&#934; = 0,38). A caracterização fotofísica e os espectros de absorção do transiente corroboraram na atribuição de um comportamento incomum para os estados excitados quasedegenerados 3ILstpyCN e 3MLCTRe&#8594;Ph2phen. Complexos heterolépticos de Ir(III) foram sintetizados e suas propriedades fotofísicas avaliadas, como rendimentos quânticos e tempos de vida de emissão, constantes radiativas e não-radiativas e coordenadas CIE. Os parâmetros fotofísicos variaram sistematicamente com variações nos substituintes retiradores ou doares de elétrons, como corroborado por cálculos TD-DFT, que mostraram uma mistura de estados excitados IL-MLCT. Três desses complexos foram utilizados na camada ativa de dispositivos emissores de luz e caracterizados optoeletronicamente por curvas de corrente-brilho-potencial e espectros eletroluminescentes. / Three main topics are discussed in this thesis: characterization of TiO2 compact films towards high-performance dye-sensitized solar cells; investigations of photophysical and photochemical processes of a Re(I) complex; photophysical elucidation of Ir(III) complexes and their application in light emitting devices. All-nano-TiO2 compact films were auto-assembled in the photoanodes of dyesensitized solar cells (DSCs), beneath the TiO2 mesoporous film, employing acid and basic nano-TiO2 sols as cations and anions, respectively. TiO2 syntheses were performed under absolute control to lead to appropriate morphological and optical properties to yield high quality compact films, as indicated by profilometry, tunning and scanning electron microscopy. DSCs with TiO2 bilayers on top of the conducting glass (FTO) improved the conversion efficiency up to 62%. A detailed study by photoelectrochemical parameters, IPCE, electron lifetime and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy demonstrates that the contact between FTO and TiO2 was improved and that the FTO/I3- charge recombination was prevented. The novel fac-[Re(CO)3(Ph2phen)(trans-stpyCN)]+ complex was synthesized to show switchable trans-cis configurations of the coordinated stpyCN ligand through efficient and reversible photoassisted isomerizations. Photolyses at 313, 334, 365 and 404 nm led to UV-Vis and NMR spectral changes ascribed to the trans-to-cis photoisomerization of the coordinated ligand. The reverse cis-to-trans process was alsoobserved at 255 nm irradiation, with a remarkable quantum yield (&#934; = 0.16), in the same magnitude to the one for trans-to-cis photoprocess (&#934; = 0.38). Photophysical characterization and transient absorption spectra provided insights on the light-driven trans ? cis pathways and indicated an unusual behavior for the 3ILstpyCN excited state, induced by an interplay with the quasi-degenerated 3MLCTRePh2phen state. Heteroleptic Ir(III) complexes were synthesized and phophysical properties evaluated, such as emission quantum yields and lifetimes, radiative and non-radiative constants and CIE coordinates. The photophysical parameters varied systematically with variations in electron-donating or -withdrawing substituents on the ligands, as corroborated by TD-DFT calculations that showed an IL-MLCT mixing in their emissive excited state. Three complexes were employed in the active layer of light emitting devices and had their optoeletronic properties characterized by current-brightness-voltage curves and electroluminescent spectra.

Energy conversion processes such as the water splitting and CO2 hydrogenation reactions have emerged as attractive approaches to mitigate environmental concerns on CO2 emissions as well as to provide an alternative source of renewable fuels. These strategic processes can capitalize on the energy of renewable resources (e.g solar and wind) to drive chemical reactions to generate, in a green and sustainable way, fuels and value-added chemicals. Economically feaseable heterogeneous catalysts play a central role in advancing such processes for globally-relevant production scales. Hence, in this work, we focused on the synthetic development of several catalyst systems based on cost-effective earth-abudant 3d transition metals such as nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). Specifically, we turned our attention to produce a series of catalysts comprised of: i) NiFe oxyhydroxide supported on carbon for application in oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a bottleneck reaction for the water splitting process, and ii) Ni and Co nanoparticles supported on Zinc oxide (ZnO) for the CO2 hydrogenation reaction. Regarding the NiFe oxyhydroxide systems, we evaluated the catalytic performance of these materials towards the OER and benchmarked those with that of state-of-the-art OER electrocatalyts such as Ir/C. In addition to that, we also focused on rationalizing the key reasons for the significant enhancements in OER activity of such catalysts in terms of their surface and bulk compositions. For Co/ZnO and Ni/ZnO catalysts, aside from assessing their catalytic activity and selectivity behavior, we performed a systematic investigation of the catalytically important properties of such catalyst interfaces under typical CO2 hydrogenation reaction conditions using in situ ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS). This allowed us to acquire important knowledge into the origin and the nature of the active sites associated with the catalytic activity and selectivity in these materials. / Processos de conversão de energia, como as reações de quebra de água e hidrogenação de CO2, têm surgirdo como abordagens atraentes para mitigar as preocupações ambientais das emissões de CO2, bem como para fornecer uma fonte alternativa de combustíveis renováveis. Esses processos estratégicos podem capitalizar a energia de recursos renováveis (por exemplo, solar e eólica) para realizar reações químicas que geram, de forma sustentável e ecológica, combustíveis e produtos químicos com valor agregado. Catalisadores heterogêneos economicamente viáveis desempenham um papel central no avanço de tais processos para escalas de produção globalmente relevantes. Assim, neste trabalho, nos concentramos no desenvolvimento sintético de vários sistemas catalisadores baseados em metais de transição 3d abudantes como o níquel (Ni), cobalto (Co), ferro (Fe) e zinco (Zn). Especificamente, voltamos nossa atenção para produzir uma série de catalisadores compostos de: i) oxi-hidróxido de NiFe suportado em carbono para aplicação na reação de evolução de oxigênio (OER), uma reação limitante para o processo de quebra de água, e ii) nanopartículas de Ni e Co suportadas em Óxido de zinco (ZnO) para a reação de hidrogenação do CO2. Com relação aos sistemas de oxi-hidróxido de NiFe, avaliamos o desempenho catalítico desses materiais frente a OER e comparamos estes com eletrocatalisadores para OER de última geração, como Ir/C. Além disso, também nos concentramos em racionalizar as principais razões para as melhorias significativas na atividade catalítica de tais catalisadores em termos de suas composições de superfície e volume. Para os catalisadores de Co/ZnO e Ni/ZnO, além de avaliar sua atividade catalítica e seletividade, realizamos uma investigação sistemática in situ das propriedades cataliticamente importantes de tais interfaces usando a Espectroscopia de Fotoelétrons de Raios X a Pressão Ambiente. (APXPS) sob condições típicas de reação de hidrogenação de CO2. Isso nos permitiu adquirir conhecimentos importantes sobre a origem e a natureza dos sítios ativos associados à atividade e seletividade catalítica nesses materiais.

Les convertisseurs statiques triphasés AC/DC/AC à structure tension sont largement utilisés dans de nombreuses applications de puissance. La continuité de service de ces systèmes ainsi que leur sécurité, leur fiabilité et leurs performances sont aujourd'hui des préoccupations majeures de ce domaine lié à l'énergie. En effet, la défaillance du convertisseur peut conduire à la perte totale ou partielle du contrôle des courants de phase et peut donc provoquer de graves dysfonctionnements du système, voire son arrêt complet. Afin d'empêcher la propagation du défaut aux autres composants du système et assurer la continuité de service en toute circonstance lors d'une défaillance du convertisseur, des topologies de convertisseur "fault tolerant" associées à des méthodes efficaces et rapides de détection et de compensation de défaut doivent être mises en oeuvre. Dans ce mémoire, nous étudions la continuité de service de trois topologies de convertisseurs AC/DC/AC avec ou sans redondance, lors de la défaillance d'un de leurs interrupteurs. Deux applications sont ciblées : l'alimentation d'une charge RL triphasée et un système éolien de conversion de l'énergie basé sur une MADA. Un composant FPGA est utilisé pour la détection du défaut, afin de réduire autant que possible son temps de détection. Des variantes permettant d'optimiser la méthode de détection de défaut sont également proposées et évaluées. Les trois topologies de convertisseurs proposées, associées à leurs contrôleurs, ont été validées de la modélisation/ simulation à la validation sur banc de test expérimental, en passant par le prototypage "FPGA in the Loop" du FPGA, destiné plus spécifiquement à la détection du défaut / AC/DC/AC converters are widely being used in a variety of power applications. Continuity of service of these systems as well as their reliability and performances are now of the major concerns. Indeed, the failure of the converter can lead to the total or partial loss of the control of the phase currents and can cause serious system malfunction or shutdown. Thus, uncompensated faults can quickly endanger the system. Therefore, to prevent the spread of the fault to the other system components and to ensure continuity of service, fault tolerant converter topologies associated to quick and effective fault detection and compensation methods must be implemented. In this thesis, we present the continuity of service of three AC/DC/AC fault tolerant converters with or without redundancy, in the presence of a fault in one of their switches. Two types of applications are studied: the supply off a three-phase charge and a wind energy conversion system based on a DFIG. An FPGA based implementation is used for fault detection, in order to reduce the detection time as much as possible. Three optimizations in the fault detection method are also presented. During these researches, the three proposed converter topologies and their controllers are validated in simulations and also experimentally, while being validated in a "FPGA in the Loop" prototyping