Abstract: An electrical component includes a magnetic core, an insulator, and a first winding. The insulator includes a first aperture disposed about a first portion of the core and a first insulator passage extending through the insulator, encircling the first aperture. The first winding extends through the first insulator passage and conducts an electrical current.

Abstract: A transformer is provided which includes an insulating sheet separating the primary-side windings and portion of split magnetic core from the secondary-side windings and portion of split magnetic core. Thin layers of conductive and semiconductive material are deposited on areas of the insulating sheet surfaces facing the primary and secondary sides. These layers are electrically referenced or tied to the potentials of the respective primary or secondary sides. This ensures that the high electric field due to primary-to-secondary potential gradient is substantially placed across the insulating sheet dielectric and avoided in the air gaps or voids in the transformer, thus reducing undesirable partial discharge effects. The two core sections on the primary and secondary side are also electrically referenced or tied to the potentials of their adjacent windings, thus reducing high electric fields and partial discharge in the space between the core sections and the windings.

Abstract: A system for connecting and disconnecting rail vehicle system for storing, transporting, and delivering bulk electric energy using railroads is described. The system includes. The system includes at least one rail vehicle system. The rail vehicle system includes a locomotive and a group of rail cars. The group of rails cars includes several rail cars with energy storage, power electronics and communication system. The rail car further includes a pantograph. The system also includes a plurality of electrical feeders. The electrical feeders are substantially dedicated for providing power transfer to and from the respective groups of rail cars. The system further includes at least one position controls system.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to provide power to a load or electronic equipment which includes a multi-pole switch that connects the input of the load or electronic equipment to a first AC source or a DC source or an optional second AC source created from the DC source through a DC-AC converter. The connection to the DC source is either direct or through a DC-DC converter that provides voltage adjustment or isolation. A controller changes the position of the switch in response to the sensing of the presence and magnitude of the sources or in response to an external command to select a preferred source.

Abstract: A modular power conversion system is provided which includes a plurality of building blocks comprised of transformers and power conversion bridges, and a high frequency AC link that transfers power and provides galvanic isolation between the building blocks. The high frequency link includes an insulating tube separating an AC link conductor and the building blocks. The insulating tube is further provided with conductive or semiconductive layers on its inner and outer surfaces for referencing them to the electric potentials of the adjacent conductors and windings, thereby placing the high electric fields substantially directly across the tube and reducing electric fields and partial discharge or corona in the adjoining space or media. The building blocks may be arranged in multiple stacks for DC or AC interface, preferably with neutral or lower voltage connections at the outer edges of the stacks and higher voltage terminals at the centers of the stack.

Abstract: A system and method to generate high voltage pulses for testing of electrical insulation is presented. The system is comprised of multiple bridges in series that are connected across the insulation through an output inductor. The switching of the bridges are timed to allow a resonant half-cycle of current through the output inductor and the effective capacitance of the insulation which results in a transition of the voltage across the insulation from one level to another. The sequence of switching of the bridges is swapped intermittently such that the dc links of the bridges are substantially kept balanced. In one embodiment, only the dc link of the first bridge is supplied from an external source, while the other bridges are fed via the chain of series bridges from the first bridge through the switching operation of the circuit.

Abstract: A power generation system includes a first power source, a second power source, an inverter, a DC-DC boost converter, and a control system. The control system includes a switching contactor coupled to the first power source, the second power source, the inverter, and the DC-DC boost converter. The control system further includes a controller operatively coupled to the switching contactor. The controller is configured to selectively connect one power source of the first power source and the second power source having a lower output voltage level among the first power source and the second power source to the inverter via the DC-DC boost converter. The controller is further configured to selectively connect other power source of the first power source and the second power source directly to the inverter.

Abstract: A transformer with improved insulation structure is provided which includes an insulating sheet separating the primary-side windings and portion of split magnetic core from the secondary-side windings and portion of split magnetic core. Thin layers of conductive and semiconductive material are deposited on areas of the insulating sheet surfaces facing the primary and secondary sides. These layers are electrically referenced or tied to the potentials of the respective primary or secondary sides. This ensures that the high electric field due to primary-to-secondary potential gradient is substantially placed across the insulating sheet dielectric and avoided in the air gaps or voids in the transformer, thus reducing undesirable partial discharge effects. The two core sections on the primary and secondary side are also electrically referenced or tied to the potentials of their adjacent windings, thus reducing high electric fields and partial discharge in the space between the core sections and the windings.

Abstract: A system and method to generate high voltage pulses for testing of electrical insulation is presented. The system is comprised of multiple bridges in series that are connected across the insulation through an output inductor. The switching of the bridges are timed to allow a resonant half-cycle of current through the output inductor and the effective capacitance of the insulation which results in a transition of the voltage across the insulation from one level to another. The sequence of switching of the bridges is swapped intermittently such that the dc links of the bridges are substantially kept balanced. In one embodiment, only the dc link of the first bridge is supplied from an external source, while the other bridges are fed via the chain of series bridges from the first bridge through the switching operation of the circuit.

Abstract: This present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) techniques for use in insulation systems at least partially encapsulating a semiconductor device, a conductive component and a substrate, such as insulation systems of semiconductor devices, busbars, or the like. Insulation systems formed using EPD processes may be designed to have a dielectric constant that decreases in a direction away from a substrate of the insulation system. This may improve insulation technologies since depositing coatings with sequentially arranged dielectric constants may improve resistance of the insulation system to high temperature, high electric fields, or the like.

Abstract: A modular power conversion system is provided which includes a plurality of building blocks comprised of transformers and power conversion bridges, and a high frequency AC link that transfers power and provides galvanic isolation between the building blocks. The high frequency link includes an insulating tube separating an AC link conductor and the building blocks. The insulating tube is further provided with conductive or semiconductive layers on its inner and outer surfaces for referencing them to the electric potentials of the adjacent conductors and windings, thereby placing the high electric fields substantially directly across the tube and reducing electric fields and partial discharge or corona in the adjoining space or media. The building blocks may be arranged in multiple stacks for DC or AC interface, preferably with neutral or lower voltage connections at the outer edges of the stacks and higher voltage terminals at the centers of the stack.

Abstract: This present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) techniques for use in insulation systems at least partially encapsulating a semiconductor device, a conductive component and a substrate, such as insulation systems of semiconductor devices, busbars, or the like. Insulation systems formed using EPD processes may be designed to have a dielectric constant that decreases in a direction away from a substrate of the insulation system. This may improve insulation technologies since depositing coatings with sequentially arranged dielectric constants may improve resistance of the insulation system to high temperature, high electric fields, or the like.

Abstract: An electrical system includes a power electronics system and a bus bar coupled to the power electronic system. The power electronics system includes a switching device configured to selectively connect and disconnect. The bus bar includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. The first conductive layer is disposed directly adjacent a first insulation layer, wherein the first conductive layer is configured to conduct a first polarity of electrical power to, from, or both the power electronics system. The second conductive layer is disposed directly adjacent the first insulation layer, and is configured to conduct a second polarity of electrical power opposite the first polarity to, from, or both the power electronics system. The first conductive layer comprises a first thickness half a second thickness of the second conductive layer.

Abstract: An electrical system includes a power electronics system and a bus bar coupled to the power electronic system. The power electronics system includes a switching device configured to selectively connect and disconnect. The bus bar includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. The first conductive layer is disposed directly adjacent a first insulation layer, wherein the first conductive layer is configured to conduct a first polarity of electrical power to, from, or both the power electronics system. The second conductive layer is disposed directly adjacent the first insulation layer, and is configured to conduct a second polarity of electrical power opposite the first polarity to, from, or both the power electronics system. The first conductive layer comprises a first thickness half a second thickness of the second conductive layer.

Abstract: Power converters for use in wind turbine systems are included. For instance, a wind turbine system can include a full power generator having a stator and a rotor. The generator is configured to provide a low voltage alternating current power on a stator bus of the wind turbine system. The wind turbine system includes a power converter configured to convert the low voltage alternating current power provided on the stator bus to a medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power suitable for provision to the electrical grid. The power converter includes a plurality of conversion modules, each conversion module comprising a plurality of bridge circuits. Each bridge circuit includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices coupled in series. Each conversion module is configured to provide a single phase of the medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power on a line bus of the wind turbine system.

Abstract: A hybrid power generation system is presented. The system includes a first power generation subsystem including a prime mover driving a generator including a rotor and a stator, one or more first conversion units coupled to at least one of the rotor and the stator, a first direct current (DC) link, and one or more second conversion units coupled to a corresponding one or more first conversion units via the first DC link. The system includes one or more second power generation subsystems coupled to the first power generation subsystem and one or more power conversion subunits including one or more first bridge circuits coupled to a corresponding one or more second bridge circuits via one or more transformers, where at least one of the one or more second power generation subsystems and the first power generation subsystem includes the one or more power conversion subunits.

Abstract: Power converters for use in wind turbine systems are included. For instance, a wind turbine system can include a wind driven doubly fed induction generator having a stator and a rotor. The stator is configured to provide a medium voltage alternating current power on a stator bus of the wind turbine system. The wind turbine system includes a power converter configured to convert a low voltage alternating current power provided by the rotor to a medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power suitable for provision to an electrical grid. The power converter includes a plurality conversion modules. Each conversion module includes a plurality of bridge circuits. Each bridge circuit includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices coupled in series. Each conversion module is configured to provide a single phase of the medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power on a line bus of the wind turbine system.

Abstract: Power converters for use in energy systems are included. For instance, an energy system can include an input power source configured to provide a low voltage direct current power. The energy system can include a power converter configured to convert the low voltage direct current power provided by the input power source to a medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power suitable for provision to an alternating current power system. The power converter can include a plurality conversion modules. Each conversion module includes a plurality of bridge circuits. Each bridge circuit includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices coupled in series. Each conversion module is configured to provide a single phase of the medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power on a line bus of the energy system.

Abstract: A power module includes an input bus, a switching device, and an output bus. The input bus includes a first coating of a high permeability magnetic conductive material and is configured to receive input direct current (DC) electrical power from an electrical power source. The switching device is electrically coupled to the first input bus, and is configured to selectively connect and disconnect to facilitate converting the input DC electrical power into output alternating current (AC) electrical power. The output bus includes a second coating of the high permeability magnetic conductive material, and is electrically coupled to the first switching device. The output bus is configured to supply the output AC electrical power to an electrical load.

Abstract: A transformer includes a ceramic housing, a primary winding disposed within the housing, a secondary winding disposed outside the winding, and a core extending through a first aperture in the housing. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion. Each of the first and second portions include a planar structure having a first housing aperture, and a plurality of sidewalls extending perpendicular to the planar structure along a plurality of edges of the planar structure. The first and second portions interface with one another when the ceramic housing is assembled such that the sidewalls of the first and second portions overlap with one another.