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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Cybersecurity impact of the growth of data in sports

As the sporting industry continues to increase dependence on new and often massive data sets, they also risk exposing themselves, as well as the leagues, teams, venues, players, and fans, to risks posed by not protecting the confidentiality and integrity of this data. The industry, especially true for professional sports, demands an ever increasing supply of new forms of data to achieve their goals of enticing new fans; enhancing experience; expanding the fan experience from venues and television to the internet and mobile devices; measuring and evaluating the performance and safety of players; and increasing revenue. New methods have emerged to collect data about a variety of aspects of sports ranging from players to fans to teams to venues. Data collected during sporting events is combined with historical data to also help teams analyze and predict performance. To synthesize these predictive analytical and historical memories, sports teams and organizations mix a variety of computer technologies. System integration tends to focus on ensuring the availability of the data and reliability of the technologies but might introduce risks to the confidentiality (privacy) and integrity of the data. Recognizing the potential risks requires review and evaluation. Much of the data is collected for publicly providing information to the fans, so threats to confidentiality pose fewer risks. The greatest risk is violating the privacy of players, such a private performance test, or using technology to gain a competitive advantage.

Jenkins, Stephanie↗
DOE OSTI2023

Visual Style Elements in Human–System Interface Design for Nuclear Power Operations: Does Style Affect Performance and Preference?

As the world increasingly adopts renewable and sustainable energy systems, transitionary solutions include nuclear power, which currently provides 20% of the United States’ electricity and is the largest single source of carbon-free electricity generation. Advanced reactors are a critical component of a carbon-free mixed energy portfolio that require careful design of first-of-a-kind control rooms. The application of Human Factors Engineering (HFE) is essential for scientific and iterative testing of novel human–system interface (HSI) concepts to ensure effective, efficient, and safe plant operations. Microworlds are simulators that use simplified physics models and control systems to distill nuclear power operations into essential functions. HFE scientists used the Rancor Microworld Simulator to obtain preference and performance metrics for novel and traditional static HSI design styles. Participants comprised advanced reactor company employees and nuclear industry consultants. A mixture of quantitative and qualitative data was captured. There was a preference for the basic graphical style that included high contrast and traditional color scheme elements. No single HSI design outperformed the others, and the participants did not perform better using their preferred HSI style. We report this experiment is the first in a series of HFE testing for HSIs in advanced reactor control room development. Clear user preferences emerged for elements within static displays. The cutting-edge neumorphic style was the least preferred. Future directions include tests of dynamic displays. HFE is used in evaluating and designing HSI devices that will improve the efficiency and safety of advanced nuclear power operations.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Solid electrolytes for solid-state and lithium-sulfur batteries

The stringent demands placed on batteries by emerging vehicle technologies such as plug-in and battery electric vehicles suggest that improvements in the safety and performance of electrochemical energy storage devices, as well as concurrent reductions in their cost, are highly desirable. Current strategies for improving performance have largely focused on Li-ion battery chemistries. In this project went beyond the state of the art by pursuing electrolyte chemistries that will enable the use of Li metal anodes and sulfur cathodes, either concurrently in a solid state Li-S battery, or as a means to achieve a Li metal anode which is stable upon cycling. More specifically, our effort advanced strategies to enable Li metal anodes for myriad beyond Li-ion chemistries . LLZO garnet (Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 ) is the first bulk-scale ceramic electrolyte to exhibit the combination of superionic conductivity (1mS/cm at 298K), high shear modulus (61 GPa) to suppress Li dendrite penetration, and apparent electrochemical stability (0-6V vs Li/Li + ), thus enabling Li metal anodes. However, to date there are no reports confirming LLZO can tolerate current densities > 1mA/cm 2 , thus demonstrating relevance to PHEV/EV batteries. Our goal was to investigate the mechanisms that govern the Li-LLZO interfacial stability as a function of current density. We determined that defects in polycrystalline LLZO reduce the critical current density (CCD). Primarily contaminants on the LLZO surface and grain boundaries were the primary defects the limited the CCD. Using our experience with synthesis and processing (Sakamoto and Wolfenstine) and sophisticated materials characterization (Nanda), we precisely controlled atomistic and microstructural defects and correlated their effects on controlling the critical current density. These data fed into multi-scale computation models (Siegel and Monroe) to isolate and quantify the roles that each defect played in controlling the critical current density. Bridging this knowledge gap allowed us to demonstrate that LLZO can withstand > 1mA/cm 2 .

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Modal Frequency Identification of Vibrational Response Measurements: Simulation/Experiment/Validation

Many critical systems operating in the open seas or in the air employ a variety of subsystems ranging from machinery for propulsion to airfoils for flight or even reactor components as simple as pipes carrying much-need cooling for control purposes. In these subsystems,whether they be aboard a surface ship or submarine or AUV or in-flight aboard a rocket or aircraft—critical components must be monitored in real-time for safety and in some cases survival. Mechanical devices operating in noisy environments create a challenging signal processing problem to estimate their vibrational signatures in real-time. In order to estimate the performance of a particular type of device from noisy vibration data, it is necessary to identify signatures that make it unique. Resonant (modal) frequencies emitted offer a signature characterizing its operation.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2017

CFD Simulation of Bubble Growing Under a Downward Facing Surface

The heat removing of downward facing surface is an important issue in many areas, including nuclear safety, solar storage system and electronic cooling devices. Therefore, the characteristic and heat removal capability of downward facing boiling were investigated by many experiments in recent years. Among these studies, the thickness of bubble is considered as an important parameter. The increasing of bubble thickness will increase the thermal resistance of cooling process and reduce the cooling ability. In order to focus on the dynamics of bubble thickness, Das et al. injected air into sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) solution through a nozzle under the horizontal downward facing surface. The bubble will be formed by the air injection and kept under the horizontal plate. The diameter of nozzle, horizontal plate and SDS solution tank are 2 mm, 20 mm and 30 mm, respectively. The growing processing and the stable thickness of the bubble were recorded in the experiment. Basing on the conditions of Das's experiment, the appropriate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was conducted. The growing process and the stable thickness of bubble under difference contact angle are predicted by CFD in this study.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2015

Extra-light gamma-ray imager for safeguards and homeland security

Gamma-ray imaging is the most important way to identify unknown gamma-ray emitting objects in decommissioning, security, overcoming accidents. Over the past two decades a system for producing of gamma images in these conditions became more or less portable devices. But in recent years these systems have become the hand-held devices. This is very important, especially in emergency situations, and measurements for safety reasons. We describe the first integrated hand-held instrument for emergency and security applications. The device is based on the coded aperture image formation, position sensitive gamma-ray (X-ray) detector Medipix2 (detectors produces by X-ray Imaging Europe) and tablet computer. The development was aimed at creating a very low weight system with high angular resolution. We present some sample gamma-ray images by camera. Main estimated parameters of the system are the following. The field of view video channel ∼ 490 deg. The field of view gamma channel ∼ 300 deg. The sensitivity of the system with a hexagonal mask for the source of Cs-137 (Eg = 662 keV), is in units of dose D ∼ 100 mR. This option is less then order of magnitude worse than for the heavy, non-hand-held systems (e.g., gamma-camera Cartogam, by Canberra.) The angular resolution of the gamma channel for the sources of Cs-137 (Eg = 662 keV) is about 1.20 deg. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

PV backsheets survey protocol: A framework for geo-spatial field surveys for bulk material characterization and reliability analysis applied across 41 PV systems

As widespread adoption of photovoltaic (PV) technologies continues, understanding the lifetime of modules is paramount to the viability of the industry as an environmentally conscious alternative to traditional energy generation. Although power degradation can affect the total energy production of a module over its lifetime, module safety failures necessitate the removal of a module leading to a loss of not only the particular asset, but the earning potential of the device. Therefore, it is critical to ensure that the components that provide essential safety functions for PV module operate for their entire rated lifetime. PV backsheets provide necessary electrical insulation to the completed device and failure of this component is cause for a immediate removal of the module. Degradation of the PV module backsheet has led to module safety failures in large-scale installations, costing millions of dollars in damages and lost potential revenue. The spatio-temporal degradation of fielded PV modules is important to study in order to identify which modules within installations are experiencing the greatest exposure conditions and in turn have the highest chance of failure. This paper describes a comprehensive field survey protocol developed for monitoring PV module backsheet performance using solely non-destructive methods in commercial PV fields. The protocol establishes a field naming convention, sampling method, data handling requirements, and measurement procedures. By ensuring consistent data collection practices, the field survey protocol enables research groups to obtain data of uniform quality on backsheet performance over multiple years and locations. In this study, the developed protocol was implemented at forty-one PV sites. Eight different types of airside layer backsheet materials including poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), acrylic PVDF, poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene-co-vinylidene fluoride) (THV), poly(vinyl fluoride) (PVF), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), fluoroethylene vinyl ether (FEVE), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), and glass were identified using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. The field survey results show that the spatial distribution of degradation indicators are non-uniform within a particular module, individual site, and across site locations. The degradation of PV modules increased in severity for modules mounted at the edge of rows (across a field) and near the junction box (within a module). This study demonstrates the sensitivity of material performance to exposure length across different materials and climates.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Development and validation of a mathematical model of heart rate response to fluid perturbation

Physiological closed-loop controlled (PCLC) medical devices monitor and automatically adjust the patient’s condition by using physiological variables as feedback, ideally with minimal human intervention to achieve the target levels set by a clinician. PCLC devices present a challenge when it comes to evaluating their performance, where conducting large clinical trials can be expensive. Virtual physiological patients simulated by validated mathematical models can be utilized to obtain preclinical evidence of safety and assess the performance of the PCLC medical device during normal and worst-case conditions that are unlikely to happen in a limited clinical trial. A physiological variable that plays a major role during fluid resuscitation is heart rate (HR). For in silico assessment of PCLC medical devices regarding fluid perturbation, there is currently no mathematical model of HR validated in terms of its predictive capability performance. This paper develops and validates a mathematical model of HR response using data collected from sheep subjects undergoing hemorrhage and fluid infusion. The model proved to be accurate in estimating the HR response to fluid perturbation, where averaged between 21 calibration datasets, the fitting performance showed a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 7.41 ± 2.8%. The model was also evaluated in terms of model predictive capability performance via a leave-one-out procedure (21 subjects) and an independent validation dataset (6 subjects). Two different virtual cohort generation tools were used in each validation analysis. The generated envelope of virtual subjects robustly met the defined acceptance criteria, in which 95% of the testing datasets presented simulated HR patterns that were within a deviation of 50% from the observed data. In addition, out of 16000 and 18522 simulated subjects for the leave one-out and independent datasets, the model was able to generate at least one virtual subject that was close to the real subject within an error margin of 9.56 ± 3.15% and 11.1 ± 1.22% NRMSE, respectively. In conclusion, the model can generate valid virtual HR physiological responses to fluid perturbation and be incorporated into future non-clinical simulated testing setups for assessing PCLC devices intended for fluid resuscitation.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

TH-C-18C-01: MRI Safety

Clinical diagnostic medical physicists may be responsible for implementing and maintaining a comprehensive MR safety program. Accrediting bodies including the ACR, IAC, Radsite and The Joint Commission each include aspects of MR Safety into their imaging accreditation programs; MIPPA regulations further raise the significance of non-compliance. In addition, The Joint Commission recently announced New and Revised Diagnostic Imaging Standards for accredited health care organizations which include aspects of MR Safety. Hospitals and clinics look to the physicist to understand guidelines, regulations and accreditation requirements related to MR safety. The clinical medical physicist plays a significant role in a clinical practice by understanding the physical basis for the risks and acting as a facilitator to successfully implement a safety program that provides well-planned siting, allows for the safe scanning of certain implanted devices, and helps radiologists manage specific patient exams. The MRI scanning of specific devices will be discussed including cardiac pacemakers and neurostimulators such as deep brain stimulators. Furthermore for sites involved in MR guided interventional procedures, the MR physicist plays an essential role to establish safe practices. Creating a framework for a safe MRI practice includes the review of actual safety incidents or close calls to determine methods for prevention in the future. Learning Objectives: Understand the requirements and recommendations related to MR safety from accrediting bodies and federal regulations. Understand the Medical Physicist's roles to ensure MR Safety. Identify best practices for dealing with implanted devices, including pacemakers and deep brain stimulators. Review aspects of MR safety involved in an MR guided interventional environment. Understand the important MR safety aspects in actual safety incidents or near misses.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

The strain capacitor: A novel energy storage device

A novel electromechanical energy storage device is reported that has the potential to have high energy densities. It can efficiently store both mechanical strain energy and electrical energy in the form of an electric field between the electrodes of a strain-mismatched bilayer capacitor. When the charged device is discharged, both the electrical and mechanical energy are extracted in an electrical form. The charge-voltage profile of the device is suitable for energy storage applications since a larger portion of the stored energy can be extracted at higher voltage levels compared to a normal capacitor. Its unique features include the potential for long lifetime, safety, portability, wide operating temperature range, and environment friendliness. The device can be designed to operate over varied operating voltage ranges by selecting appropriate materials and by changing the dimensions of the device. In this paper a finite element model of the device is developed to verify and demonstrate the potential of the device as an energy storage element. This device has the potential to replace conventional energy storage devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Demonstrating compliance with moderator content limits in uranium dioxide powder upon leaving a furnace environment

A challenge was posed to the criticality safety consultant to consider whether instrumentation identified by Plant Management in an existing facility could be claimed as appropriate safety measures to ensure compliance with moderator content limits in uranium dioxide (UO{sub 2}) powder. During processing of low enriched UO{sub 2}, trays of powder are heated in a steam and hydrogen environment in order to reduce fluoride levels. Whilst in the furnace environment criticality safety is ensured by the geometry of the furnace trays used to convey the powder; however, upon leaving the furnace the UO{sub 2} is bulked to a 210 litre drum subject to limited moderation control. Under fault conditions there is a potential that the powder may become wetted due to an imbalance in furnace gas flows resulting in steam condensing in the cooling section of the furnace. Therefore, the safety case methodology followed suggests that two independent and diverse safety measures are provided to terminate the progression of the fault(s) to criticality. The existing criticality safety case credits an infra-red moisture meter as one of two safety measures; however, the calibration procedure required to ensure this device remains suitable is a considerable challenge from a plant operability perspective. As an initial review failed to identify any suitable like-for-like replacement, the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) Nuclear Safety Section were requested by the customer to consider the existing criticality safety case and investigate whether any existing instrumentation could be used as an alternative method of detecting conditions in which excess moisture could be present within the furnace trays. A number of solutions were proposed and the benefits and challenges around each are discussed in this paper, concluding with the approach adopted by the project. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Architecture of the personnel protection systems for Spallation Neutron Source Second Target Station

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is implementing a major upgrade to the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) facility, encompassing the addition of the Second Target Station (STS). Preliminary design reviews have been conducted on several STS Personnel Protection Systems (PPS). The reviews focused primarily on the integration with the existing SNS PPS, the new proton transport tunnel, and the target areas. Development of the PPS is ongoing, to ensure a coherent safety system with the mission of protecting users and workers from prompt radiation hazards while providing high beam availability to operations. The STS PPS element in the Integrated Control System (ICS) is a facility-wide system composed of multiple safety subsystems, including the Ring to Second Target (RTST) beam transport tunnel, Target, Bunker and Instruments. Personnel working in all these geographic areas are protected by modular reliable PPS solutions. The safety system enforces access controls, radiation monitoring, beam destination control, and application of critical device inhibit upon detection of abnormal condition. It uses well-documented processes, Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) safety, pulsed test, and redundancy to achieve the desired Safety Integrity Level (SIL). This paper gives an architectural overview of the STS PPS and a detailed safety plan for the SNS facility, addressing safety solutions and human factors.

Michaelides, Tommy [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000190499869)↗
DOE OSTI2018

MR Imaging of Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (CIEDs): Implementing a Program and Optimizing CMR

Purpose of review: How to implement a program for MRI in patients with conditional and non-conditional (“legacy”) CIED. How to optimize safety and image quality in CMR? What the radiologists need to know: device programming, pre- and post-MRI CIED parameters. Recent findings: New Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines have opened MRI to many patients with nonconditional devices. Newer pulse sequences for cardiac MRI (CMR) in device patients, including modified cine, late gadolinium enhancement and T1 mapping sequences, have resulted in improved image quality in device patients. We present several cases of CMR in device patients, including imaging of leadless pacemakers subcutaneous ICDs. Imaging pitfalls/artifacts in CMR interpretation are also presented. Summary: An organized institutional workflow with an established protocol involving proper patient screening, device programming, scan monitoring, and pre- and post-ICD interrogation minimizes risk in patients with conditional and non-conditional CIEDs. Although rare, significant changes in lead performance, power-on/reset, inappropriate pacing or ICD discharges and battery voltage depletion should be documented. High-quality scans with accurate scar characterization in CIED patients require the use of wideband sequences. CMS has recently acknowledged MRI as a reasonable test necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of beneficiaries with implanted CIEDs, improving the financial prospects and encouraging future developments.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2017

High Pressure Hydrogen Pressure Relief Devices: Accelerated Life Testing and Application Best Practices

Pressure relief devices (PRDs ) are used to protect high pressure systems from burst failure caused by overpressurization. Codes and standards require the use of PRDs for the safe design of many pressurized systems. These systems require high reliability due to the risks associated with a burst failure. Hydrogen service can increase the risk of PRD failure due to material property degradation caused by hydrogen attack. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has conducted an accelerated life test on a conventional spring loaded PRD. Based on previous failures in the field, the nozzles specific to these PRDs are of particular interest. A nozzle in a PRD is a small part that directs the flow of fluid toward the sealing surface to maintain the open state of the valve once the spring force is overcome. The nozzle in this specific PRD is subjected to the full tensile force of the fluid pressure. These nozzles are made from 440C material, which is a type of hardened steel that is commonly chosen for high pressure applications because of its high strength properties. In a hydrogen environment, however, 440C is considered a worst case material since hydrogen attack results in a loss of almost all ductility and thus 440C is prone to fatigue and material failure. Accordingly, 440C is not recommended for hydrogen service. Conducting an accelerated life test on a PRD with 440C material provides information on necessary and sufficient conditions required to produce crack initiation and failure. The accelerated life test also provides information on other PRD failure modes that are somewhat statistically random in nature.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Current Role of the Total Artificial Heart in the Management of Advanced Heart Failure

The total artificial heart (TAH) is a form of mechanical circulatory support that involves resection of the native ventricles followed by placement of a device that can restore total pulmonary and systemic flow. Given the increasing burden of congestive heart failure and cardiovascular disease, the number of people in need of cardiac replacement therapy will continue to grow. Despite aggressive efforts to expand the donor pool, the number of heart transplants in the United States (US) has plateaued at less than 3000 per year. In addition, there is increasing recognition of the long-term complications of current generation left ventricular assist devices such as progressive aortic insufficiency, complications related to blood trauma, and both early and delayed right ventricular failure. These factors may serve to expand the role of the TAH in the treatment of patients with end-stage heart failure particularly if new generation devices are developed that are durable, have an improved safety profile, and are totally implantable. Purpose of Review: To review the role and current evidence of the use of the TAH in the management of advanced heart failure and discuss development of recent TAHs that may have an impact on the field in the near future. Recent Findings: Many patients that receive a heart transplant are bridged with a mechanical support device, most commonly a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). However, there is a small subset of patients with profound biventricular (BV) failure or structural abnormalities that preclude LVAD placement, who will require support with a biventricular assist device (BiVAD) or TAH. There are numerous studies showing the efficacy of the TAH in bridging to transplantation. Also, recent studies have shown equal rates of bridging to transplantation between patients receiving a TAH compared to a BiVAD. However, BiVAD support has a higher incidence of stroke in addition to complications related to the native heart such as arrhythmias and valve dysfunction. Currently, there are multiple new generation artificial hearts in both preclinical development and in clinical trials for both bridge to transplant and destination therapy. Summary: TAH have been shown to be effective for circulatory support in select patients with end-stage heart failure. Current LVADs are associated with significant long-term complications related to retention of the native heart and pump design. Many of these complications may be addressed by the increased use of cardiac replacement therapy, i.e., total artificial hearts. Multiple generations of both pulsatile and advanced design continuous flow TAH are under development which have the potential to expand the role of TAHs.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Vapor generation methods for explosives detection research

The generation of calibrated vapor samples of explosives compounds remains a challenge due to the low vapor pressures of the explosives, adsorption of explosives on container and tubing walls, and the requirement to manage (typically) multiple temperature zones as the vapor is generated, diluted, and delivered. Methods that have been described to generate vapors can be classified as continuous or pulsed flow vapor generators. Vapor sources for continuous flow generators are typically explosives compounds supported on a solid support, or compounds contained in a permeation or diffusion device. Sources are held at elevated isothermal temperatures. Similar sources can be used for pulsed vapor generators; however, pulsed systems may also use injection of solutions onto heated surfaces with generation of both solvent and explosives vapors, transient peaks from a gas chromatograph, or vapors generated by s programmed thermal desorption. This article reviews vapor generator approaches with emphasis on the method of generating the vapors and on practical aspects of vapor dilution and handling. In addition, a gas chromatographic system with two ovens that is configurable with up to four heating ropes is proposed that could serve as a single integrated platform for explosives vapor generation and device testing. Issues related to standards, calibration, and safety are also discussed.

2,4-DNT↗
DOE OSTI2014

Diagnostics for machine protection of DEMO

DEMO aims to (i) integrate, demonstrate and validate all relevant technology necessary to convert fusion energy to electrical energy and (ii) that the machine and its operations are economically and environmentally acceptable. To maintain the efficiency and availability of the machine, there are several physics and combined physics/technology issues as well as the engineering issues. Machine Protection (also known as Protection of Investment) addresses both the risks to plant (to avoid costly repair or replacement) and the risks to normal operating time (to avoid loss of productivity and the return on investment). The plasma-related Machine Protection issues involve measurement and control of plasma stability, plasma purity, and plasma-wall interactions. Machine Protection aims to avoid hitting catastrophic limits by using early warning alarm systems, and controlled termination or avoidance, involving coordinated actions of the magnets, gas and auxiliary heating or current-drive systems. This article outlines the key processes, some of which are used in present-day tokamaks and some of which are new specifically for DEMO (e.g. First wall and divertor power handling) and reveals the need to research and develop new science and technology for Machine Protections in DEMO's high radiation and thermal fields. This work was funded by the RCUK Energy Programme under grant EP/I501045 and the European Communities under the contract of Association between EURATOM and CCFE and conducted partly under EFDA PPPT (WP13-DAS04). The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Design Considerations for High-Voltage Insulated Gate Drive Power Supply for 10-kV SiC MOSFET Applied in Medium-Voltage Converter

High-performance gate drive power supply (GDPS) plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and safety of the gate driver for power semiconductor devices. This article focuses on the design of a high-voltage-insulated GDPS for the 10-kV silicon carbide MOSFET in medium-voltage (MV) application. Design considerations, including insulation scheme, high-voltage-insulated transformer design, and load voltage regulation scheme, are proposed. In addition, the performance of the secondary-side-regulated (SSR) GDPS and that of the primary-side-regulated (PSR) GDPS are compared for several aspects, including interwinding capacitance, load voltage regulation rate, conversion efficiency, and hardware complexity. Finally, an SSR GDPS and a PSR GDPS, with an insulation voltage of 20 kV, are built in the lab. Furthermore, the test results demonstrate that the PSR GDPS is more preferable because of lower interwinding capacitance, lower load voltage regulation rate, higher conversion efficiency, and simpler control circuit.

42 ENGINEERING↗