Design and Modelling of Filter Inductors for DC/AC Converters
Quinn, Raymond (2022)
2022
Master's Programme in Electrical Engineering
Informaatioteknologian ja viestinnän tiedekunta - Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2022-12-08
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202211288677
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202211288677
Tiivistelmä
DC/AC converters are power electronic devices which convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity. They are known as inverters and are commonly used to connect renewable energy resources to the electricity grid, or to drive motors in electric transportation applications amongst many other uses. In the race to combat global climate change and reduce carbon emissions, the prevalence of renewable energy resources and electric transportation is set to increase, and with it, the need for energy efficient, low cost, and compact power electronic converters as an enabling technology.
Inverter output needs to be conditioned using passive components as filters since it contains high levels of unwanted harmonic content which leads to undesirable effects in power systems and electrical machines. Strict industry standards dictate the level of filtering required. Passive components remain a stumbling block in improving the size, cost, and efficiency of inverter systems. It is for this reason that the development of fast and accurate design and modelling tools for passive components is needed in order to easily study and optimise their performance.
In this thesis, a way of rapidly designing, modelling, and constructing filter inductors for DC/AC inverters is investigated. A design tool is developed to provide multiple design possibilities by varying geometric parameters. The designs are then analysed using a MATLAB Simulink inductor model which provides accurate information about the losses in the designed inductors. Of the hundreds of inductors designed, a few are selected to be constructed in an effort to validate the design tool and simulation model. The construction process highlighted challenges in prototyping inductors with non-standard geometries. Recommendations are given on how to improve the design tool, simulation model and construction process going forward.
Inverter output needs to be conditioned using passive components as filters since it contains high levels of unwanted harmonic content which leads to undesirable effects in power systems and electrical machines. Strict industry standards dictate the level of filtering required. Passive components remain a stumbling block in improving the size, cost, and efficiency of inverter systems. It is for this reason that the development of fast and accurate design and modelling tools for passive components is needed in order to easily study and optimise their performance.
In this thesis, a way of rapidly designing, modelling, and constructing filter inductors for DC/AC inverters is investigated. A design tool is developed to provide multiple design possibilities by varying geometric parameters. The designs are then analysed using a MATLAB Simulink inductor model which provides accurate information about the losses in the designed inductors. Of the hundreds of inductors designed, a few are selected to be constructed in an effort to validate the design tool and simulation model. The construction process highlighted challenges in prototyping inductors with non-standard geometries. Recommendations are given on how to improve the design tool, simulation model and construction process going forward.