This thesis describes a new concept, applicable to high-power current-sourced conversion (CSC), where a controllable firing-angle shift is introduced between series and parallel converters to enable independent active and reactive power control. The firing-shift concept solves a difficult problem, by giving thyristor based CSCs the control flexibility of pulse-width modulated (PWM) converters, but without a loss in efficiency or rating. Several configurations are developed, based on the firing-shift concept, and provide flexible, efficient solutions for both very high power HVDC transmission, and very high current industrial processes. HVDC transmission configurations are first developed for 4-quadrant high-pulse operation, based on the series connected multi-level current reinjection (MLCR) topology. Independent reactive power control between two ends of an HVDC link are proven under firing-shift control, with high-pulse operation, and without on-load tap changing (OLTC) transformers. This is followed by application of firing-shift control to a bi-directional back-to-back HVDC link connecting two weak systems to highlight the added dc voltage control flexibility of the concept. The fault recovery capability of an MLCR based ultra-HVDC (UHVDC) long distance transmis-sion scheme is also proven under firing-shift control. The scheme responds favourably to both ac disturbances and hard dc faults, without the risk of commutation failures and instability experienced during fault recovery of line-commutated conversion. The two-quadrant capability of very high current rectification is also proven with configurations based on phase-shifted 12-pulse and MLCR parallel CSCs. The elimination of the electro-mechanical OLTC/satruable reactor voltage control, the high-current CSC’s biggest shortcoming, greatly improves controllability and with firing-shift control, ensures high power-factor for all load conditions. This reduces the reactive power demands on the transmission system, which results in more efficient power delivery

abstract: This dissertation presents a novel current source converter topology that is primarily intended for single-phase photovoltaic (PV) applications. In comparison with the existing PV inverter technology, the salient features of the proposed topology are: a) the low frequency (double of line frequency) ripple that is common to single-phase inverters is greatly reduced; b) the absence of low frequency ripple enables significantly reduced size pass components to achieve necessary DC-link stiffness and c) improved maximum power point tracking (MPPT) performance is readily achieved due to the tightened current ripple even with reduced-size passive components. The proposed topology does not utilize any electrolytic capacitors. Instead an inductor is used as the DC-link filter and reliable AC film capacitors are utilized for the filter and auxiliary capacitor. The proposed topology has a life expectancy on par with PV panels. The proposed modulation technique can be used for any current source inverter where an unbalanced three-phase operation is desires such as active filters and power controllers. The proposed topology is ready for the next phase of microgrid and power system controllers in that it accepts reactive power commands. This work presents the proposed topology and its working principle supported by with numerical verifications and hardware results. Conclusions and future work are also presented. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Electrical Engineering 2013

The aim of the Master´s thesis is proposing and implementation of computer controlled optical radiation source. The theoretical part describes the photometric, the radiometric quantities, applied components such as LED, the microcontroller and possible methods for the LED brightness control. The development of the device is described from the selection of the individual LEDs to the end of the device assembling and programing. On the several LEDs were made properties measurement. A circuit with microcontroller was designed and then was fabricated. The device was programmed for communication and control from the PC. The entire electronic is fitted in the metal frame of the construction box and finally the device functionality is tested.

The aim of this thesis is to design, produce and verify the operation of two different LED drivers for automotive industry, which controls the ultra-bright white LEDs. At the beginning of a brief introduction explaining the principle of operation of LEDs. Furthermore theory describes the functions of all three basic drivers involved as buck, boost and buck-boost. Based on the requirements are selected ICs suitable for this implementation, theoretically described their block diagrams including the individual diagrams and eventually these samples are made, revived and measured their parameters.

No description available.

Current source is used in auxiliary power supplies, battery chargers, and LED drivers. The battery chargers are required to provide constant current within a wide output voltage range, similar to LED drivers. The load-independent (LI) Class-E inverter is a promising topology for such applications since it can realize zero-voltage switching (ZVS) within a wide load range. Class-E current source can be achieved by converting constant voltage (CV) Class-E inverter to current source with a trans-susceptance network or using parallel resonant topology. The design and analysis of LI Class-E inverters usually assume a high-Q resonant load tank so that the load current/voltage is sinusoidal. While this is the case in RF applications, it's not required in DC-DC power conversion. Besides, high-Q design leads to high inductance and increased voltage/current stress on the resonant components, increasing converter volume, loss, and cost. This work aims to provide a design guideline for the CC Class-E inverter when significant harmonics are present by reflecting the trade-off between load range and voltage stress, with the help of a modified frequency domain analysis method to eliminate the iteration existing in the time domain analysis. Output current variation and voltage stress can be automatically quantified when circuit parameters vary. Generalized load range contours are obtained to guide the circuit design. With the help of the analysis, a 10-W dual-output Class-E gate power supply is designed with optimized magnetics and reduced isolation capacitance. Compared with CC Class-E based on trans-susceptance network, the parallel resonant CC Class-E inverter has smaller part counts due to its low-order resonant network. However, the current topology suffers from limited maximum output power. In this work, a coupled-inductor based parallel resonant CC Class-E inverter is proposed with more than 2 times maximum power without increasing part counts. / Doctor of Philosophy / Current source is used in auxiliary power supplies, battery chargers, and LED drivers. The battery chargers are required to provide constant current within a wide output voltage range, similar to LED drivers. The load-independent (LI) Class-E inverter is a promising topology for such applications since it can realize zero-voltage switching (ZVS) within a wide load range. This work aims to provide a new design guideline for the CC Class-E inverter when significant harmonics are present by reflecting the trade-off between load range and voltage stress, with the help of a modified frequency domain analysis method to eliminate the iteration existing in the time domain analysis. Output current variation and voltage stress can be automatically quantified when circuit parameters vary. Generalized load range contours are obtained to guide the circuit design. With the help of the analysis, a 10-W dual-output Class-E gate power supply is designed with optimized magnetics and reduced isolation capacitance. Compared with CC Class-E based on trans-susceptance network, the parallel resonant CC Class-E inverter has smaller part counts due to its low-order resonant network. However, the current topology suffers from limited maximum output power. In this work, a coupled-inductor based parallel resonant CC Class-E inverter is proposed with more than 2 times maximum power without increasing part counts.

Ce travail traite de la conception de générateur alimentant une lampe DBD destinée à la production de rayonnement UV. Cette alimentation doit permettre un contrôle efficace du rayonnement, grâce aux degrés de liberté apportés par le contrôle du générateur (fréquence, amplitude du courant injecté dans la lampe). Le modèle électrique de la lampe est utilisé pour prédire l’impact des caractéristiques du générateur sur le rayonnement UV produit. Une synthèse des interrupteurs de puissance du convertisseur statique permettant le contrôle du courant injecté est proposée et des solutions d’implémentation sont étudiées. Une démarche de conception en vue de l’optimisation du transformateur haute tension est proposée, notamment en ce qui concerne la valeur de ses éléments parasites. L’ensemble de ces travaux est étayé par des réalisations expérimentales. / This work presents the concept of a generator supplying a DBD lamp for UV radiation production purpose. This supply permits effective control of radiation based on degree-of-freedom provided by generator control system (lamp current frequency and ampli-tude). Lamp electrical model is used to predict the impact of power source characteristics on the produced UV radiation. A synthesis of the switching devices of power converter for current lamp control is pro-posed and the implemented solutions are studied. A design procedure for high voltage transformer optimization is proposed in particular concerning parasitic elements. The entire work is supported by experimentations.

La pile à combustible convertit l’énergie chimique des réactants en énergie électrique continue, en chaleur et en eau. Elle est généralement utilisée autour d’un point de fonctionnement (ou zone) correspondant à un maximum de puissance électrique. Le courant continu produit par la réaction d’oxydo-réduction est proportionnel à la surface active de la pile et la tension, qui est d’environ 0,6 V au point de nominal de fonctionnement, peut être augmentée par la mise en série de plusieurs cellules (constituant un stack). En raison de son faible niveau de tension continue, son utilisation dans des systèmes électriques nécessitent de l’associer à des convertisseurs de puissance. Les travaux effectués dans le cadre de cette thèse s’intéressent au potentiel d’une source électrique continue basse tension et plus exactement à l’utilisation de la pile à combustible en fonctionnement source de courant commandée (par le débit d’un des réactants). L’expertise du laboratoire GREEN dans le domaine des supraconducteurs, nous a conduits naturellement vers une application innovante à savoir substituer les alimentations de puissance dédiées aux dispositifs supraconducteurs par une pile à combustible. Un premier essai prometteur mené sur une bobine supraconductrice de 4 mH a mis en évidence tout le potentiel d’une telle application et nous a encouragés à étendre l’étude à des bobines supraconductrices fortement inductives, des plusieurs henrys. En effet, les énergies mises en jeu sont alors plus importantes et exigent de dimensionner avec soin le banc d’essai, aussi bien du point de vue de la protection de la pile que des conditions opératoires. Pour ce faire, une modélisation et une expérimentation d’un ensemble pile à combustible/bobine supraconductrice ont également été réalisées. En parallèle du travail mené sur la partie alimentation de la bobine supraconductrice, nous avons travaillé sur le dimensionnement d’un dispositif supraconducteur innovant, communément appelé aimant vectoriel, à trois axes. Ce système peut servir comme charge pour une pile à combustible mais aussi, et surtout, comme outils de caractérisation d’échantillons supraconducteurs. Cet aimant vectoriel permet d’orienter dans les 3 directions de l’espace un champ magnétique de plusieurs teslas, uniforme à plus de 95 % dans une sphère de 100 mm de diamètre. Ce dimensionnement, nous a permis de concevoir et réaliser la structure supportant le bobinage du fil et de choisir un certain fil supraconducteur. Le système complet devant coûter moins de 50 k€, cryostat inclus, nous nous sommes orientés vers du fil supraconducteur à basse température critique, refroidi à l’hélium liquide / The fuel cell (FC) converts the chemical energy of the reactants into direct electrical energy, heat and water. The FC is generally used around an operating point (or area) corresponding to a maximum of electric power. The direct current produced by the redox reaction is proportional to the active surface of the single cell and its voltage, which is approximately 0.6 V at the nominal operating point, can be increase by connecting several cells in series (constituting a stack). Due to its low DC voltage amplitude, its use in electrical systems requires the use of power converters. In this work, we have been interested taking benefit of such DC low voltage power source and more precisely the use of the FC as a current source controllable by the one of the reactant flow rates. The expertise of GREEN laboratory in the field of superconductors has naturally led us to an innovative application, namely to substitute the power supplies dedicated to the superconducting devices by a FC. A first promising test conducted on a 4 mH superconducting coil highlighted the full potential of such an application and encouraged us to extend the study to highly inductive superconducting coils where the energies involved are more important. This requires to carefully design the test bench with a protection system for the FC as well as operating conditions. To this end, a FC model supplying a superconducting coil has been developed and tested experimentally. At the same time, we have focused on the supply part of the superconducting coil by designing an innovative superconducting device, commonly called a three-axis vector magnet. This system can be used as a load for a fuel cell, but also, and above all, as a tool for the characterization of superconducting samples. This vector magnet allows to orient a magnetic field of several tesla in the three space directions, with a uniformity of more than 95 % in a 100 mm sphere of diameter. This design allowed us to realize the windings supporting structure and to choose a superconducting wire. The complete system has to cost less than 50 k€, including the cryostat, we have finally choose a superconducting wire with low critical temperature, cooled by liquid helium

Cette thèse porte sur les possibilités que les méthodes d’imagerie géoélectrique offrent à la fois pour la caractérisation des processus géochimiques mais aussi pour l’étude d’interaction sol-racines. La ligne conductrice de ce travail, repose sur la position centrale de la qualité des sols et des interactions racines-sols dans de nombreux problèmes environnementaux. En effet, un nombre croissant d’études rapportent l’importance des interactions mutuelles entre les racines et le sol. Dans cette optique, cette thèse explore l’utilisation le développements approfondis de méthodes géoélectriques. Les processus physico-chimiques ainsi que les interaction sol-racines sont à l’origine de mouvement d’eau et de soluté, d’altération de la structure des sols ainsi que de perturbations biologiques. Les méthodes géoélectriques sont potentiellement sensibles à ces modifications hydrologique et biochimique. La méthode de Polarisation Provoquée Spectrale (PPS) a été combinée avec des analyses et des modélisations géochimiques permettant de connaitre sa sensibilité à la composition du fluide interstitiel (contenu dans l’espace poral), du pH et de la force ionique. Plus particulièrement, la signature PPS de la substitution Na+/Cu2+ a été analysée car il s’agit d’un critère pertinent traduisant la qualité d’un sol et reconnu mondialement. L’analyse PPS a été réalisée sur un sable (silicate) saturé et pour des concentrations typiques de Na+/Cu2+ que l’on trouve classiquement dans des sols exposés à des utilisations de pesticides au Cuivre (Cu). Les résultats ont montré que le pH et la force ionique ont été les variables prépondérantes contrôlant le signal PPS, alors que des effets négligeables sont liés à la substitution Cu/Na. L’utilisation simultanée d’analyses chimiques et géophysiques en laboratoire a permis de mieux caractériser les processus de complexation étudiés et d’appuyer considérablement l’interprétation des signaux PPS. Enfin, la tomographie de résistivité électrique et la méthode de Mise-A-La-Masse ont été combinées pour développer une nouvelle approche d'imagerie du chemin préférentiel emprunté par le courant électrique dans le système racines-sols. Etant donné que la conduction électrique dans le sol et les racines est principalement électrolytique, l'approche proposée repose sur le mouvement de l'eau et des solutés dans le système racines-sol. Le potentiel de la méthode pour son application in-situ a été testée à l’aide d’une série d’expériences sur une vigne. À la suite des résultats prometteurs, la méthode a été développée et appliquée lors d’une expérience en laboratoire portant sur la croissance racinaire dans un rhizotron de plantes de coton et de maïs. La méthode s'est révélée sensible aux différences physiologiques entre les espèces et éventuellement à la réponse de la plante aux facteurs de stress environnementaux. De nouvelles expériences contrôlant les variables physiologiques des tissus racinaires sont nécessaires pour une meilleure compréhension de leurs influences. Les développements technologiques récents soutiennent fortement la diffusion de l’imagerie et du suivi géoélectriques à l'échelle du terrain. Dans ce contexte prometteur, les résultats de cette thèse contribuent au développement d'approches géoélectriques pour l'étude du sol et de ses interactions mutuelles avec les racines des plantes à des échelles spatio-temporelles pertinentes. / In this thesis I investigate some of the possibilities offered by the use of geoelectrical methods for characterizing soil geochemical processes and root-soil interactions. The motivation for this thesis arises from the pivotal role of soil quality and root-soil interactions in manifold environmental issues. In addition, there is growing evidence of the importance of mutual interactions between roots and soil, for this reason this thesis explores the use of geoelectrical methods for more comprehensive approaches. Both soil physicochemical processes and root-soil interactions involve, among others, the movement of water and solutes, altercations of the soil structure, and biological feedbacks. Geoelectrical methods are potentially sensitivity to these hydrogeological and biogeochemical modifications. The Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) method was combined with geochemical analyses and modeling in order to investigate its sensitivity to pore fluid composition, pH, and ionic strength. In particular, the SIP signature of Na+/Cu2+ substitution was investigated because of their worldwide relevance for soil quality. The SIP investigation focused on saturated silica, and explored concentrations of Na+ and Cu2+ that are typical to agricultural soils exposed to the use of Cu pesticides. The results showed how pH and ionic strength were the main variables controlling the SIP signals, while negligible effects were related to the Cu/Na substitution. The concurrent use of chemical and geophysical laboratory experiments allowed a better characterization of the investigated complexation processes and significantly supported the interpretation of the SIP signals. The Electrical Resistivity Tomography and the Mise-A-La-Masse methods were combined to develop a novel approach for imaging the electric current pathways in the root-soil system. Since the current conduction in soil and roots is mostly electrolytic, the proposed approach relates to the movement of water and solutes within the root-soil system. The potential of the method for field investigations was explored with a set of experiments on a grapevine. In light of the promising results, the method was further developed and applied to rhizotron laboratory experiments on cotton and maize plants. The method proved to be sensitive to inter-species physiological differences and possibly to the plant response to environmental stressors. New experiments with physiological analyses of root tissues are needed to elucidate these aspects. Emerging technologies are strongly supporting to the diffusion of imaging and monitoring geoelectrical applications at the field-scale. In this promising context, the results of this thesis contribute to the development of geoelectrical approaches for studying soil and its mutual interactions with plant roots over relevant spatiotemporal scales.

This research work is devoted to the design, development and implementation of a Current Source Converter (CSC) based Active Power Filter (APF) for Medium Voltage (MV) applications. A new approach has been proposed to the design of the CSC based APF for reducing the converter kVA rating considerably. This design approach is called the Selective Harmonic Amplification Method (SHAM), and is based on the amplification of some selected harmoniccurrent components of the CSC by the input filter, and the CSC control system, which is specifically designed for this purpose. The proposed SHAM has been implemented on the first industrial CSC based APF for the elimination of 11th and 13th current harmonics of 12-pulse rectifiers fed from Medium Voltage (MV) underground cables in order to comply with IEEE Std. 519-1992. 450 kVA rated APF with only 205 kVA CSC rating has been connected to the MV bus via a coupling transformer of 600kVA, 34.5/1.1 kV. The power stage of the CSC based APF is composed of water-cooled high voltage IGBT and diode modules. Reference currents to be generated by the CSC are obtained by the use of a selective harmonic extraction method, by mploying synchronously rotating reference frames for each selected harmonic component. An Active damping method is also used to suppress the oscillations around the natural frequency of the input filter, excluding the harmonic components to be eliminated by APF. Simulation and field test results have shown that SHAM can successfully be applied to a CSC based APF for reduction of converter kVA rating, thus making it a cost- competitive alternative to voltage source converter based APFs traditionally used in industry applications.