FREEDM Concept: Power Distribution System Modernization with Solid State Electronics and Integrated Renewables

Dr. Iqbal Husain, Ph.D.

Director of NSF FREEDM Systems Center

Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the NC State University

Date:                                   Thursday, April 20, 2017

Time:                                  10:30 PM to 11:30 PM

                                Place:         Room No. EC 2186 Applied Research Center, FIU 10555, West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33174

 

ABSTRACT

This FREEDM concept provides an architecture for a future electric power distribution system that is suitable for plug-and-play of distributed renewable energy and distributed energy storage devices. Motivated by the success of the (information) Internet, the FREEDM concept envisions the “Energy Internet,” a system that enables flexible energy sharing for consumers in a residential distribution system. One of the core technologies for the FREEDM system is the solid-state transformer (SST) which is a power electronic device, but makes use of high frequency transformer for isolated AC-AC power conversion. The regulated low voltage DC/AC bus of SST could be used as an interface to distributed renewable resources and storage devices such as wind, solar, charging stations, and DC micro-grid. The SST is an “Energy Router” proposed to provide a compatible and flexible interface for power flow control, reactive power compensation capability, and potential fault current limitation. In addition to the role of a traditional ac transformer, the SST can also provide a low voltage (LV) DC bus. The bi-directional power flow capability of the SST provides possibilities to feed locally generated power back to the grid. Islanding can also be achieved when the HV side is disconnected from grid. This talk will present the research activities and results aimed at demonstrating the FREEDM concept followed by the power electronic controls for the SST. The experimental paltofrm of the developed DC/AC hybrid microgrid built to demonstrate the SST’s ability to integrate different renewable energy sources and to improve grid quality will also be discussed.

 

SHORT BIO

Dr. Iqbal Husain joined the ECE department at North Carolina State University as the ABB Distinguished Professor after serving as a faculty member at the University of Akron. He was also a visiting Professor at Oregon State University. He received the B.Sc. degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.  Prof. Husain’s research interests are in the areas of control and modeling of electrical drives, design of electric machines, and development of power conditioning circuits, microinverters for distributed power generation, inverter controls for grid synchronization, and modeling and control of electric and hybrid vehicle systems. He has also published the textbook Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: Design Fundamentals.

Prof. Husain is a Fellow of the IEEE, and also, is the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Electrification Magazine. Prof. Husain received the 2006 SAE Vincent Bendix Automotive Electronics Engineering Award, the 2004 College of Engineering Outstanding Researcher Award, the 2000 IEEE Third Millennium Medal, the 1998 IEEE-IAS Outstanding Young Member award, and several IEEE-IAS prize paper awards.

 

CONTACT:

Dr. Iqbal Husain                                                                                                          Tel: (919) 513-5927

Director of NSF FREEDM Systems Center                                                              Email:iqbal_husain@ncsu.edu Professor, NC State University

100-24 Keystone, Campus Box 7911, NC State University

Raleigh, NC 27695-7911

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