Optimal Design of Medium-Frequency Transformers

The high blocking voltages of the latest wide-bandgap semiconductors have enabled power electronic converter systems to operate within the medium voltage range. A core component of these systems is the medium-frequency transformer (MFT), which provides the necessary galvanic isolation. To insulate the medium voltage side from the low voltage side, a significant fraction of the MFT’s overall volume is consumed by the insulation. Therefore, designing an optimal MFT also necessitates optimising its insulation system. This is where your work will be crucial. In this project, you will implement an optimisation routine in MATLAB that integrates state-ofthe- art insulation models, which are currently developed at HPE. Your optimisation results will uncover previously unutilised potential in MFT design by addressing limitations caused by the absence of insulation modelling. As a master’s thesis student, you will also have the opportunity to build and experimentally test the optimised transformer, bringing your design from theory to practical validation.

The high blocking voltages of the latest wide-bandgap semiconductors have
enabled power electronic converter systems to operate within the medium
voltage range. A core component of these systems is the medium-frequency
transformer (MFT), which provides the necessary galvanic isolation. To
insulate the medium voltage side from the low voltage side, a significant
fraction of the MFT’s overall volume is consumed by the insulation.
Therefore, designing an optimal MFT also necessitates optimising its
insulation system.
This is where your work will be crucial. In this project, you will
implement an optimisation routine in MATLAB that integrates state-ofthe-
art insulation models, which are currently developed at HPE. Your
optimisation results will uncover previously unutilised potential in MFT
design by addressing limitations caused by the absence of insulation
modelling. As a master’s thesis student, you will also have the opportunity
to build and experimentally test the optimised transformer, bringing your
design from theory to practical validation.

Bastian Korthauer, ETL G12, korthauer@hpe.ee.ethz.ch

Bastian Korthauer, ETL G12, korthauer@hpe.ee.ethz.ch

50% Coding 15% Hardware Design 5% Implementation 15% Testing 15% Theory

50% Coding
15% Hardware Design
5% Implementation
15% Testing
15% Theory

Interest in power electronics, Interest in high voltage engineering,Interest in code optimisation Working language: English/German

Interest in power electronics, Interest in high voltage engineering,Interest in code optimisation
Working language: English/German

Dr. Jürgen Biela

Dr. Jürgen Biela