Abstract: A multi-three-phase motor drive system includes a power distribution network, a motor drive unit, and a motor network. The power distribution network includes a partitioned direct current (DC) link connected between a positive voltage rail and a negative voltage rail. A connection between the positive voltage rail and a mid-point node defines an upper portion of the partitioned DC link and a connection between negative voltage rail and the mid-point node defines a lower portion of the partitioned DC link. The motor drive unit includes a plurality of inverter units, and the motor network includes a plurality of motor windings which are each connected to a respective inverter unit. A first group of the inverter units is connected in parallel with the upper portion of the portioned DC link, and a second group of the inverter units is connected in parallel with the lower portion of the partitioned DC link.

Abstract: A heat transfer system (310) is disclosed that includes a first electrocaloric module (62) comprising a first electrocaloric material, a first high-side voltage electrode, and a first low-side voltage electrode, arranged to impart an electric field to the electrocaloric material. The system also includes a second electrocaloric module (64) comprising a second electrocaloric material, a second high-side voltage electrode, and a second low-side voltage electrode, arranged to impart an electric field to the electrocaloric material. A bi-directional power transfer circuit (60) is also included arranged to alternately transfer power from the electrodes of the first electrocaloric module (62) to the second electrocaloric module (64), and from the electrodes of the second electrocaloric module (64) to the first electrocaloric module (62).

Abstract: A multi-three-phase motor drive system includes a power distribution network, a motor drive unit, and a motor network. The power distribution network includes a partitioned direct current (DC) link connected between a positive voltage rail and a negative voltage rail. A connection between the positive voltage rail and a mid-point node defines an upper portion of the partitioned DC link and a connection between negative voltage rail and the mid-point node defines a lower portion of the partitioned DC link. The motor drive unit includes a plurality of inverter units, and the motor network includes a plurality of motor windings which are each connected to a respective inverter unit. A first group of the inverter units is connected in parallel with the upper portion of the portioned DC link, and a second group of the inverter units is connected in parallel with the lower portion of the partitioned DC link.

Abstract: A heat transfer system is disclosed that includes an electrocaloric element including an electrocaloric material and electrodes arranged to impart an electric field to the electrocaloric material. A first thermal flow path is disposed between the electrocaloric material and a heat sink. A second thermal flow path is disposed between the electrocaloric material and a heat source. An electric power source is in operative electrical communication with the electrodes. The system also includes an arc suppression circuit in series with the electrocaloric element. The arc suppression circuit includes an interruptible electrical connection configured to interrupt the electrical connection in response to detection of an arc between the electrodes, and a series shunt connection in parallel with the interruptible electrical connection, with the series shunt connection including a series shunt load.

Abstract: A method of controlling a matrix converter system is provided. The method includes receiving an operating condition and consulting a trained Q-data structure for reward values associated with respective switching states of the switching matrix for an operating state that corresponds to the operating condition. The Q-data structure is trained using Q-learning to map a reward value predicted for respective switching states to respective discrete operating states. The method further includes sorting the reward values predicted for the respective switching states mapped to the operating state that corresponds to the operating condition, selecting a subset of the set of the mappings as a function of a result of sorting the reward values associated with the switching states of the operating state, evaluating each switching state included in the subset, and selecting an optimal switching state for the operating condition based on a result of evaluating the switching states of the subset.

Abstract: An energy storage assembly includes an energy storage unit. A supervisor is operable to determine a power reference set point based upon a cost function. A storage unit controller is configured to control the energy storage unit to provide electric energy to at least one load based upon a power reference input that is based upon the power reference set point and at least one dynamically changing power profile from the at least one load.

Abstract: An electrocaloric module includes an electrocaloric element that includes an electrocaloric film, a first electrode on a first surface of the electrocaloric film, and a second electrode on a second surface of the electrocaloric film. A support is attached along an edge portion of the electrocaloric film, leaving a central portion of the electrocaloric film unsupported film. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes a patterned disposition of conductive material on the film surface. The electrocaloric module also includes a first thermal connection configured to connect to a first thermal flow path between the electrocaloric element and a heat sink, a second thermal connection configured to connect to a second thermal flow path between the electrocaloric element and a heat source, and a power connection connected to the first and second electrodes and configured to connect to a power source.

Abstract: A matrix converter system operating in current control mode is provided. The matrix converter includes a switching matrix coupled between a low voltage side and a high voltage side, wherein the matrix converter is coupled at its low voltage side to a generator for receiving an input power including an input current and transforming the input power into an output power at its high voltage side, wherein a load is coupled to the high voltage side. The control system includes a load observer and a model predictive controller (MPC). The load observer is configured to estimate a load current that flows to the load from the high voltage side of the matrix converter as a function of a switching state of the switching matrix, an output voltage output at the high voltage side of the matrix converter, and the input current.

Abstract: A heat transfer system (310) is disclosed that includes a first electrocaloric module (62) comprising a first electrocaloric material, a first high-side voltage electrode, and a first low-side voltage electrode, arranged to impart an electric field to the electrocaloric material. The system also includes a second electrocaloric module (64) comprising a second electrocaloric material, a second high-side voltage electrode, and a second low-side voltage electrode, arranged to impart an electric field to the electrocaloric material. A bi-directional power transfer circuit (60) is also included arranged to alternately transfer power from the electrodes of the first electrocaloric module (62) to the second electrocaloric module (64), and from the electrodes of the second electrocaloric module (64) to the first electrocaloric module (62).

Abstract: A method of controlling a matrix converter system is provided. The method includes receiving an operating condition and consulting a trained Q-data structure for reward values associated with respective switching states of the switching matrix for an operating state that corresponds to the operating condition. The Q-data structure is trained using Q-learning to map a reward value predicted for respective switching states to respective discrete operating states. The method further includes sorting the reward values predicted for the respective switching states mapped to the operating state that corresponds to the operating condition, selecting a subset of the set of the mappings as a function of a result of sorting the reward values associated with the switching states of the operating state, evaluating each switching state included in the subset, and selecting an optimal switching state for the operating condition based on a result of evaluating the switching states of the subset.

Abstract: A heat transfer system is disclosed that includes an electrocaloric element including an electrocaloric material and electrodes arranged to impart an electric field to the electrocaloric material. A first thermal flow path is disposed between the electrocaloric material and a heat sink. A second thermal flow path is disposed between the electrocaloric material and a heat source. An electric power source is in operative electrical communication with the electrodes. The system also includes an arc suppression circuit in series with the electrocaloric element. The arc suppression circuit includes an interruptible electrical connection configured to interrupt the electrical connection in response to detection of an arc between the electrodes, and a series shunt connection in parallel with the interruptible electrical connection, with the series shunt connection including a series shunt load.

Abstract: A ropeless elevator system 10 includes a lane 13, 15, 17. One or more cars 20 are arranged in the lane. At least one linear motor 38, 40 is arranged along one of the lane and the one or more cars, and a magnet 50, 60 is arranged along the other of the lane and the one or more cars. The at least one magnet is responsive to the at least one linear motor. A linear motor controller 70 is operatively connected to the at least one linear motor, and a lane controller 80 is operatively connected to the linear motor controller. A back electro-motive force (EMF) module 84 is operatively connected to at least one of the linear motor controller and the lane controller. The lane controller being configured and disposed to control stopping one of the one or more cars based on a back EMF signal from the at least one linear motor determined by the EMF module.

Abstract: A refrigerant system includes a first, substantially outdoor, two phase heat transfer fluid vapor compression circulation loop including a compressor, a heat exchanger condenser, an expansion device, and the heat absorption side of a heat exchanger evaporator condenser, connected by conduit in a closed loop and having disposed therein a first heat transfer fluid having a critical temperature of greater than or equal to 31.2° C. The system also includes a second, at least partially indoor, two phase heat transfer fluid circulation loop that transfers heat to the first loop through the heat exchanger evaporator condenser. The second loop includes the heat rejection side of the heat exchanger evaporator condenser, a liquid pump, and a heat exchanger evaporator, connected by conduit in a closed loop and having disposed therein a second heat transfer fluid that has an ASHRAE Class A toxicity rating and an ASHRAE Class 1 or 2L flammability rating.

Abstract: A matrix converter system operating in current control mode is provided. The matrix converter includes a switching matrix coupled between a low voltage side and a high voltage side, wherein the matrix converter is coupled at its low voltage side to a generator for receiving an input power including an input current and transforming the input power into an output power at its high voltage side, wherein a load is coupled to the high voltage side. The control system includes a load observer and a model predictive controller (MPC). The load observer is configured to estimate a load current that flows to the load from the high voltage side of the matrix converter as a function of a switching state of the switching matrix, an output voltage output at the high voltage side of the matrix converter, and the input current.

Abstract: An electrocaloric module includes an electrocaloric element that includes an electrocaloric film, a first electrode on a first surface of the electrocaloric film, and a second electrode on a second surface of the electrocaloric film. A support is attached along an edge portion of the electrocaloric film, leaving a central portion of the electrocaloric film unsupported film. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes a patterned disposition of conductive material on the film surface. The electrocaloric module also includes a first thermal connection configured to connect to a first thermal flow path between the electrocaloric element and a heat sink, a second thermal connection configured to connect to a second thermal flow path between the electrocaloric element and a heat source, and a power connection connected to the first and second electrodes and configured to connect to a power source.

Abstract: A power converter gate driver arrangement for providing a power output and a switching output for switching, in use, one or more switching devices, wherein the switching devices are controlled from a digital core via isolated point-to-point RF drivers. The gate driver uses UHF band technology to transmit both signal and power through a low capacitance single resonator by signal and power modulation. Power is transmitted in a continuous manner.

Abstract: A matrix converter system having a current control mode operation is provided. The system includes a matrix converter having a switching matrix. The matrix converter is coupled at its low-voltage side to a generator and at its output load side to a load. A controller having a pulse width modulation (PWM) control circuit is configured to control the matrix converter via its switching matrix to increase energy within the internal inductances of the generator when the switching matrix causes a short circuit. A feed forward calculator is configured to calculate a feed forward output phase angle. The feed forward output phase angle is an estimation of an angle between an output current vector and an output voltage vector that represent feedback signals of current and voltage output by the matrix converter.

Abstract: A matrix converter system having a current control mode operation is provided. The matrix converter system includes a matrix converter that includes a plurality of switches. A unity current reference vector having an amplitude of one is determined that defines an angle and frequency of an output current vector as a function of a reference phase angle, which is a function of the output current vector and an output voltage vector representing feedback signals of a multiphase signal output to a load. The unity current reference vector is used to control the matrix converter, to cause the output current vector to be aligned with the unity current reference vector. A unity voltage reference vector having an amplitude of one is provided that defines a reference angle and frequency as a function of a zero phase angle. The output voltage vector and the unity voltage reference vector are aligned to determine the reference phase angle as an angle between the aligned output voltage vector and the output current vector.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a model predictive control for power electronics. The model predictive control includes a plurality of switching matrices defining potential states of a plurality of power converter switches of a multi-level power converter and a control. The control is configured to select a current switching matrix from the switching matrices that models the multi-level power converter in a current state. The control determines a targeted switching matrix from the switching matrices that best aligns with a targeted state based on alignment with a multi-objective function and changes with respect to the current state. The control adjusts a switch state of the power converter switches based on the targeted switching matrix. The control sets the current switching matrix to the targeted switching matrix and monitoring for changes with respect to the multi-objective function and the current state.

Abstract: A power electronics arrangement may comprise a power supply, a controller configured to receive a power from the power supply and generate an output signal, a waveguide, a receiver, filter, and converter (RFC) configured to receive the output signal via the waveguide, the RFC configured to generate a switching signal from the output signal, and a power switching device (PSD) configured to receive the switching signal from the RFC, wherein the controller transmits the output signal to the RFC through the waveguide via a transponder, the waveguide is coupled between the transponder and the RFC, and the PSD is galvanically isolated from the power supply.