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In this project, the Peregrine team determined the impact on the cost of energy (COE) generated by a large (1.5 MW) wind turbine from the use of SiC power semiconductors in the power converter that enables variable speed operation. SiC devices have been under development for over 20 years because, as a wide band gap material, they offer many dramatic improvements. Compared to standard power semiconductors, such as the popular silicon IGBT, SiC devices have lower losses, higher switching frequencies, higher operating temperature, higher voltage and higher thermal conductivity. In this project, Peregrine characterizated SiC power semiconductors to be used in a variable speed wind turbine, and evaluated the readiness of SiC technology for this application. The team concluded that COE would be improved substantially, particularly if a medium voltage converter were used. This project was sponsored by the US Department of Energy, acting through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). High Thrust Linear Actuators for Navy Carriers
This project used a planetary screw actuator mechanism with a switched reluctance (SR) motor and a SiC-based converter. The required thrust was 70,000 pounds and the system was modularized in order to enable a few module designs to be used over a wide range of applications. A near term application is to raise and lower the jet blast deflector on the main flight deck of an aircraft carrier but the long term objective is to replace all high thrust hydraulic linear actuators on Navy ships. This is one of the highest thrust applications required on any naval ship. A major university and supplier of SR motors were on the Peregrine team. The project was sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. SiC-Based Converters for Army Mobile Power
Power electronics converters can improve the mobility of generator sets using reciprocating engines by permitting them to operate with variable speed. By decoupling them from the load with a converter, the engine can be operated at higher speeds, giving higher power output. They can also run at less than full speed when providing less than full power, giving significantly higher fuel efficiency. Both of these factors can be exploited to reduce size and increase mobility. In addition, the converter can produce many forms of power, enabling a single genset to supply power to a wide variety of loads and reducing the genset inventory significantly. In this project, Peregrine developed an advanced converter using SiC power semiconductors. It is much smaller than existing converters that use standard silicon power semiconductors. It may be the most efficient inverter ever built for the given conditions. The converter can also be used in many other energy systems such as those with fuel cells and photovoltaic cells. The project was sponsored by the U.S. Army.
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Peregrine carried out a contract to develop a SiC-based converter rated at over one MW for use in alternative power generation systems, such as those using utility-scale wind turbines, fuel cells and photovoltaic cells. By exploiting the higher efficiency, higher voltage and higher temperature capability of SiC devices, the converter is expected to be much smaller and eventually less expensive than a converter using standard silicon devices.
This project was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy acting through Sandia National Laboratory.
Wave Power Generation Systems
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The generation of power by harnessing the energy in ocean waves is only at the beginning of its development. It has many of the advantages of wind generation, including low impact on the environment and the absence of the combustion of fossil fuel. About two-thirds of the world's population lives within 200 miles of a coast line.
Peregrine was awarded a contract by U.S. Department of Energy to develop and evaluate specific wave power systems. The project is being carried out in collaboration with Oregon State University (OSU), which has an active, ongoing program for the development of wave generation systems. Peregrine and OSU are focusing primarily on a generating buoy that converts the heaving motion of waves into electrical power.
OSU is ideally situated to develop wave power systems since it has a nationally recognized power lab and a wave test facility used frequently by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Navy, plus several seaworthy work vessels. The Oregon coast has one of the best wave power resources in North America. Leadership in wave energy research at OSU is provided by Dr. Annette von Jouanne and Dr. Ted Brekken.
Bi-Directional Converter for Navy Ships
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Navy ships of the future will rely much more heavily on electrical power (advanced motors and power electronics), rather than steam, hydraulics and mechanical systems. This high frequency, bi-directional converter will enable the rapid reconfiguration of the sources, loads and storage systems on-board a ship in the event of damage. It relies on SiC devices and nano-crystalline magnetics material to achieve high efficiency and small size.
This project is funded by the Office of Naval Research.
Advanced High Temperature Packaging for SiC
and other Wide Band Gap Power Semiconductors
SiC power semiconductors have superior properties, including higher voltage, lower losses, faster switching speeds, higher temperature, higher thermal conductivity, and greater ruggedness. But today the packaging technologies for power semiconductors are inadequate to fully exploit these properties. For example, power converters could be reduced substantially in size if the devices could operate at highly elevated temperature.
Two of the common failure mechanisms for power semiconductors are the de-limination of substrates within the package and the lift-off of bond wires, both driven by thermal cycling, which will be made significantly worse with SiC due to wider temperature variations. Peregrine has carried out significant workin the area and is now developing proprietary designs and processes for this application. The resulting power device package should enable a dramatic reduction in size of converters. Due to its proprietary nature and certain non-disclosure agreements, this work will not be described here. More information might be provided through discussions directly with Peregrine representatives.
This work is being funded by both governmental agencies and Peregrine's own internal funds.
Variable Speed Helicopter Rotor
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To date, variable speed rotor systems have not been successfully implemented in helicopters. NASA is currently funding the development by Peregrine of a unique, patented system that achieves small size and weight by blending advanced mechanisms, motors and SiC-based power electronics.
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