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École polytechnique fÉdÉrale de Lausanne EPFL
Research Interests
The Power Electronics Laboratory (PEL)
research interests are in the broad area of
the electrical energy generation, conver-
sion and storage. In particular, we are in-
terested into high power electronics tech-
nologies for medium voltage applications,
those operating with voltages in kV range,
currents in kA range and powers in MW
range. We believe that power electronics
is one of the key-enabling technologies
for the future energy systems, as it offers
unprecedented flexibility for the integration
and control of various electrical sources,
storage elements or loads into the grid.
This is equally valid for the present-day
AC grids as well as for emerging concepts
of DC grids, or inevitable mix of both in
the near future.
To achieve controllable, reliable and ef-
ficient electrical energy conversion by
means of advanced power electronic
converters, we optimally use, but also
influence and drive forward, advance-
ments in different areas. These multidis-
ciplinary considera-
tions include: power
semiconductors
(e.g. Si, SiC, GaN),
passive components
(e.g. magnetics), in-
sulation materials,
mathematical mod-
eling, simulations
and optimization of power electronic sys-
tems, advanced control methods and tools
(e.g. RT-HIL simulators), etc.
Facilities
To effectively support research activities,
both low voltage and medium voltage
experimental research facilities are available
as integral part of the Power Electronics
Laboratory. These include different low
and medium voltage variable AC and DC
sources, AC grid emulator, high power
loads, electrical energy storage elements,
medium voltage electric machines, partial
discharge test setup, cooling units and
several test bays with protective cages.
Collaborations
Our research activities are supported
through various funding schemes from
the public sector (e.g. SNSF, CTI, SFOE) as
well as from industrial partners who seek
research support in the field of power
electronics.
Keywords
•
Electrical energy generation,
conversion, storage
•
Medium voltage applications
•
High power electronic converters
•
Modelling, simulation, design,
optimization, control
•
Power semiconductors, advanced
magnetics
•
High performance variable speed
drives
MMC sub-module
Cabinet thermal simulations
