STATE OF THE ART, MODELING AND

SIMULATION OF AN ADVANCED
POWER ELECTRONICS TRANSFORMER
DATE OF CONFERENCE: 9-11 SEPT. 2012
DOI: 10.1109/NAPS.2012.6336431
PUBLISHER: IEEE
UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ELECTRICAL
TRANSFORMER
• ) The voltage and the output waveform is a direct representation of the input voltage
(operating at the same frequency for example)
• ii) It is not controllable by itself
• iii) The distorted current in the secondary of a transformer will influence the input
current and vice versa
• iv) The power factor is directly proportional to the characteristics of the loads to be
connected
• v) May contribute to network harmonics due to saturation of its core
• vi) It has inrush current.
GENERAL CONCEPT OF THE ELECTRONIC
TRANSFORMER
A power electronic transformer (PET), or solid state transformer (SST), is a
relatively new structure built with electronic switches and high-frequency
inductive elements. The system can be implemented with two-stage static
converters coupled with a high frequency AC transformer, operating
synchronously by using PWM.
THE THREE-SECTION TOPOLOGY OF A MEDIUM
VOLTAGE
EFFICIENCY

As the current flowing through a PET passes through a number of filters and
semiconductor devices, it cannot be as efficient as a line frequency transformer
operating at full load. Otherwise the electronic transformer has the ability to
increase the efficiency of the network where it connects, through the exchange
of active power, reactive and harmonic mitigation in the network.
RELIABILITY

Traditional transformers operating at line frequency are generally considered

highly reliable systems, since most of these have the ability to operate at the
very stiff weather environments without the need of periodic maintenance.
Given the complex nature of electronic transformer, initially this may not be as
reliable as a traditional transformer, but like all systems, the reliability will
increase as the technology matures.
MAIN ADVANTAGES OVER CONVENTIONAL
POWER DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMERS
• i) Reduction in weight and volume
• ii) It can help to protect sensitive loads
• iii) It might not pollute the distribution grid
• iv) The events in the input the output are decoupled and independently
controlled
• v) It can be built with stackable modules