Impedance source inverters for electrical power conversion

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Piepenbreier
• Subject Area: Electrical Energy Systems, Power Management, Power Electronics, Electrical Machines and Drives
• Term: from 2012 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 218243194

The first part of the DFG project Impedance-Source Inverters for Electrical Power Conversion (PI 595/6-1) was dealing with the magnetically coupled T-Source Inverter. The great advantage of this inverter is a high boost potential at a low shoot-through duty ratio in comparison to impedance-source inverters without coupled inductors like the Z-Source or Quasi-Z-Source Inverter. This high boost ability is achieved by using a transformer with a suitable turns ratio greater than 1. As one can see in theory the inverter has great potential but as it comes to a practical application the coupling of the transformer determines its quality. The stray inductance of the transformer shortens the shoot-through sections, causes overvoltage problems and increases the power dissipation. Because of this quite a few problems had to be solved which delayed the progress of the project. Due to this points it is necessary to apply for a prolongation of the project.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants