Virtual Prototyping Process For Assessment of Medium Voltage Grid-Connected Solid State Transformer Implementations

This paper presents a unique Virtual Prototyping Process (VPP) that allows for metaheuristic optimization of the building block based Power Electronic Converter systems. The VPP allows for exploration of a range of design space variables, including voltage levels, power semiconductor device technology and thermal management approach against competing objectives such as power density, efficiency and specific cost given electrical and environmental constraints. A unique feature of proposed VPP is compilation of lower voltage building blocks into a much higher voltage rated system and inclusion of allocations for insulation systems, thermal management, accessibility, busing/interconnections and frame/structure/chassis. This approach enables understanding of these practical considerations on power density. This paper presents a use case of a Medium Voltage ac (MVac) to Low Voltage dc (LVdc) solid state transformer.