Efficient Ultrafast high power current commutation switches

In a power system with the ability to integrate geographically spread diverse renewable energy sources, there is a need for an efficient control of the power flow and effective power transmission. Power electronics can provide this controllability, at the expense of conductive losses in the used components. These losses can be reduced substantially by use of controllable mechanical switches in parallel with a semiconductor. This project aims at an improvement and detail understanding of such switches.

The two major activities towards the project are:
1) Motion control studies (Fast, efficient and controlled Actuation and deceleration)
2) Understanding and design of the electrical contact system and arcing chamber for such ultrafast current commutation switches

Project responsible