Design of a modular insulated DC/DC (3kV or 6kV) converter for PV integration

EuroTube is focusing on the implementation of hyperloop vacuum transport infrastructure, with the first step being the DemoTube test track in Dübendorf, Switzerland and the next one being a 3km test track (AlphaTube) in canton Valais, Switzerland. AlphaTube is planned to be a 3 km long Hyperloop test track built using ½ scale concrete tubes of 2.2m. This will serve as a test and development facility, for "full-scale" technology research, with launch tests of vehicles at target speeds of 900 km/h. The top of the tube will be covered with solar panels. The aim of this master thesis is to propose a design of a DC/DC insulated converter integrated with the PV plant into the 3kV DC bus, taking into account the spatial peculiarities of a 3km long linear PV array. In a real system, voltages higher than 3kV will probably be used, so the proposed topology should be scalable to higher voltages if possible. The result of the thesis will later be integrated into an overall energy flow based model to define the AlphaTube Microgrid.

EuroTube is focusing on the implementation of hyperloop vacuum transport infrastructure, with
the first step being the DemoTube test track in Dübendorf, Switzerland and the next one being
a 3km test track (AlphaTube) in canton Valais, Switzerland. AlphaTube is planned to be a 3 km
long Hyperloop test track built using ½ scale concrete tubes of 2.2m. This will serve as a test
and development facility, for "full-scale" technology research, with launch tests of vehicles at
target speeds of 900 km/h.
The top of the tube will be covered with solar panels. The aim of this master thesis is to
propose a design of a DC/DC insulated converter integrated with the PV plant into the 3kV DC
bus, taking into account the spatial peculiarities of a 3km long linear PV array. In a real system,
voltages higher than 3kV will probably be used, so the proposed topology should be scalable
to higher voltages if possible. The result of the thesis will later be integrated into an overall
energy flow based model to define the AlphaTube Microgrid.

Internal supervisor Prof. Dr. Jürgen Biela, HPE lab, External supervisor Antoine Juge, R&D Electrical Hardware Engineer, EuroTube

Internal supervisor Prof. Dr. Jürgen Biela, HPE lab, External supervisor Antoine Juge, R&D Electrical Hardware Engineer, EuroTube

Literature review, Study of existing topology and technical, limitations from MVDC Integration and galvanic insulated DC/DC usage, PV and converter space distribution, strategy analysis, definition of the optimum converter power level, Design of a DC/DC converter model: Topology and switch technology definition, Coil sizing and design, Capacitor sizing and design, Energy flow and losses calculation, Filter design and harmonics level definition ● Optional : Control algorithm implementation

Literature review, Study of existing topology and technical, limitations from MVDC Integration and
galvanic insulated DC/DC usage, PV and converter space distribution, strategy analysis, definition of the optimum converter power level, Design of a DC/DC converter model: Topology and switch technology
definition, Coil sizing and design,
Capacitor sizing and design, Energy
flow and losses calculation, Filter
design and harmonics level definition
● Optional : Control algorithm
implementation

Electrical engineering student, Knowledge of power electronics, High motivation and interest in the topic, Experience or interest in learning circuit simulation tools

Electrical engineering student, Knowledge of power electronics, High motivation and interest in the topic, Experience or interest in learning circuit simulation tools

Dr. Jürgen Biela

Dr. Jürgen Biela