• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2272-2283
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• 2016

This paper proposes a power conditioning system (PCS) for distributed photovoltaic (PV) applications using an asymmetric cascaded multilevel inverter with a single PV source. One of the main disadvantages of the cascaded multilevel inverters in PV systems is the requirement of multiple isolated DC sources. Using multiple PV strings leads to a compromise in either the voltage balance of individual H-bridge cells or the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) operation due to localized variations in atmospheric conditions. The proposed PCS uses a single PV source with a flyback DC-DC converter to facilitate a reduction of the required DC sources and to maintain the voltage balance during MPPT operation. The flyback converter is used to provide input for low-voltage H-bridge cells which processes only 20% of the total power. This helps to minimize the losses occurring in the proposed PCS. Furthermore, transient analyses and controller design for the proposed PCS in both the stand-alone mode and the grid-connection mode are presented. The feasibility of the proposed PCS and its control scheme have been tested using a 1kW hardware prototype and the obtained results are presented.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.419-424
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• 2010

The 125kW external reforming (ER) type molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) system for developing a commercial prototype has been operated at Boryeong thermal power plant site since the end of 2009. The system consists of 125kW stack with $10,000 cm^2$ effective area, mechanical balance of plant (MBOP) with anode recycle system, and electrical balance of plant (EBOP). The 125kW MCFC stack installed in December, 2009 has been operated from January, 2010 after 20 days pre-treatment. The stack open circuit voltage (OCV) was 214V at initial load operation, which approaches the thermodynamically theoretical voltage. The stack voltage remained stable range from 160V to 180V at the maximum generating power of 120 kW DC. The stack has been operated for 3,270 hours and operated at rated power for 1,200 hours.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.465-477
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• 2023

In proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), proper thermal management of the stack and moisture generation by electrochemical reactions significantly affect fuel cell performance. In this study, the PEMFC dynamic characteristic model was developed through Simcenter AMESim, a development program. In addition, the developed model aims to understand the thermal resin balance of the stack and performance characteristics for input loads. The developed model applies the thermal management model of the stack and the moisture content and permeability model to simulate voltage loss and stack thermal behavior precisely. This study extended the C based AMESet (adaptive modeling environment submodeling tool) to simulate electrochemical reactions inside the stack. Fuel cell model of AMESet was liberalized with AMESim and then integrated with the balance of plant (BOP) model and analyzed. And It is intended to be used in component design through BOP analysis. The resistance loss of the stack and thermal behavior characteristics were predicted, and the impact of stack performance and efficiency was evaluated.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1088-1096
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• 2017

Load variations on a distribution line result in voltage fluctuations at the point of common coupling (PCC). In order to keep the magnitude of the PCC voltage constant at its rated value and obtain zero voltage regulation (ZVR), a D-STATCOM is installed for voltage correction. Moreover, the ZVR mode of a D-STATCOM can also be used to balance the source current during unbalanced loading. For medium voltage and high power applications, a D-STATCOM is realized by the cascaded H-bridge topology. In the ZVR mode, the D-STATCOM may draw unbalanced current and in this process is required to handle different phase powers leading to deviations in the cluster voltages. Zero sequence voltage needs to be injected for ZVR mode, which creates circulating power among the phases of the D-STATCOM. The computed zero sequence voltage and the individual DC capacitor balancing controller help the DC cluster voltage follow the reference voltage. The effectiveness of the control scheme is verified by modeling the system in MATLAB/SIMULINK. The obtained simulations are further validated by the experimental results using a dSPACE DS1106 and five-level D-STATCOM experimental set up.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.301-306
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• 2009

In this study a 3-component rotating balance, which is designed to measure the thrust (Fz) and two moment components (Mx, My) simultaneously for a rotor test jig, is designed and its performance is validated experimentally. The low voltage signal from the strain gages mounted on the balance is amplified with a rotating amplifier, which is then fed through a slip-ring unit into the data acquisition system. In order to validate the accuracy of the calibration matrix obtained from a static calibration test, an additional reaction type balance is used to measure the thrust from a model rotor simultaneously, and shows very good result. Finally, the expanded uncertainty value, which is obtained from ISO method is estimated to be $2.82\times10^{-1}$, and the balance turns out to be reliable.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.344-356
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• 2012

In recent years, multilevel technology has become an effective and practical solution in the field of moderate and high voltage applications. This paper discusses an APF with a three-level NPC inverter. Obviously, the application of such converter to APFs is hindered by the problem of the voltage unbalance of DC capacitors, which leads to system instability. This paper comprehensively analyzes the theoretical limitations of the neutral-point voltage balancing problem for tracking different harmonic currents utilizing current switching functions from the space vector PWM (SVPWM) point of view. The fluctuation of the neutral point caused by the load currents of certain order harmonic frequency is reported and quantified. Furthermore, this paper presents a close-loop digital control algorithm of the DC voltage for this APF. A PI controller regulates the DC voltage in the outer-loop controller. In the current-loop controller, this paper proposes a simple neutral-point voltage control method. The neutral-point voltage imbalance is restrained by selecting small vectors that will move the neutral-point voltage in the direction opposite the direction of the unbalance. The experiment results illustrate that the performance of the proposed approach is satisfactory.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1303-1314
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• 2018

To match the dynamic lower voltage of a fuel cell stack and the required constant higher voltage (400V) of a DC bus, an H-type structural Boost three-level DC-DC converter with a wide voltage-gain range (HS-BTL) is presented in this paper. When compared with the traditional flying-capacitor Boost three-level DC-DC converter, the proposed converter can obtain a higher voltage-gain and does not require a complicate control for the flying-capacitor voltage balance. Moreover, the proposed converter, which can draw a continuous and low-rippled current from an input source, has the advantages of a wide voltage-gain range and low voltage stress for power semiconductors. The operating principle, parameters design and a comparison with other converters are presented and analyzed. Experimental results are also given to verify the aforementioned characteristics and theoretical analysis. The proposed converter is suitable for application of fuel cell systems.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1986-1995
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• 2018

In this paper, a novel neutral-point voltage balancing scheme for NPC three-level inverters using carrier-based sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) method is developed. The new modulation approach, based on the obtained expressions of zero sequence voltage in all six sectors, can significantly suppress the low-frequency voltage oscillation in the neutral point at high modulation index and achieve a fast voltage-balancing dynamic performance. The implementation of the proposed method is very simple. Another attractive feature is that the scheme can stably control any voltage difference between the two dc-link capacitors within a certain range without using any extra hardware. Furthermore, the presented scheme is also applicable to the single-phase NPC three-level inverter. It can maintain the neutral-point voltage balance at full modulation index and improve the voltage-balancing dynamic performance of the single-phase NPC three-level inverter. The performance of the proposed strategy and its benefits over other previous techniques are verified experimentally.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.05d
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• pp.38-42
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• 2003

The use of VPI impregnated mica tape as high voltage insulation for large rotating electric machines requires a careful balance of processes and materials to obtain the desired electrical, mechanical and thermal characteristics. The stator insulation systems such as epoxy bonded high voltage mica tape have been produced for many years. One such system employing an epoxy and anhydride impregnating resin developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries, Co. (hereafter, HHI), to satisfy customer requests for an epoxy bonded insulation system. HHI applies the following electrical and thermal evaluations such as dielectric breakdown, voltage endurance, dissipation factor vs. temperature, isothermal weight loss, and so on. A detailed laboratory evaluation can describe specific physical limitations for an insulation system and permit development of long-term operation guidelines that permit full utilization of the proposed system. HHI has found these evaluations very helpful in qualifying insulation system for the repair of both large motors and generators.

• 한국연소학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.83-88
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• 2004

High voltage AC electric field has been applied to turbulent propane jets to investigate the effect of electric field on liftoff characteristics. Liftoff velocity and liftoff height have been measured by varying the applied voltage and frequency. Liftoff velocities were delayed and liftoff heights were reduced by applying AC, not by DC. The electric effect became disappeared with further increasing jet velocities, which shows that the effect can be explained by the balance between inertia force and electric force. The flame stabilization effect was intensified as either applied voltage or frequency increased. Plasma streamers were generated between the flame and the jet under high voltage conditions. Liftoff velocity in the absence of plasma can be well correlated by the function of voltage and frequency.