Modular power electronics topology to leverage the modularity of C-gen electrical generator

C-GEN machines are novel Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines (PMSM), which are built around a highly modular design. The C-GEN can be easily scaled in power, dismantled in parts for maintenance, and even carry on operation with defective modules. Such high degree of modularity on the machine side has yet to be matched with modular power electronic conversion and control on the electrical side. In this paper, the modular power electronics topology is integrated with the C-GEN machine, which aims to improve the performance of the generation system via optimising the modulation index and reducing the power loss in converters and limit the dv/dt on the coils, especially at partial load operation. According to the mechanical structure and electrical specification of a 16kW C-GEN machine, simulation models which include the C-GEN machine model and modular power electronics model have been built. A novel circuit named ‘electric gear’ is proposed to transmit the converters' connection between parallel and series quickly. The simulation results indicate that this modular power electronics topology can maintain the modulation index more than 0.5 in a wide rotational speed range of the machine and reduce the power loss in converters by up to 70%.