CURENT Seminar: Overview of HVDC & Its Converter Technologies

Date: March 28, 2014

Time: 12:20 p.m. (ET)

Location: 124 Min H. Kao Building, 1520 Middle Drive, Knoxville, TN

Title: Overview of HVDC and Its Converter Technologies

Presenter: Dr. Fred Wang, Condra Chair of Excellence, Thrust Leader, University of Tennessee

Abstract: This seminar gives an overview of the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission and associated power electronics converter technologies.

Compared with HVAC, HVDC can have higher power transfer capability and better controllability. For emerging applications such as offshore wind, HVDC can be more cost effective. On the other hand, HVDC possesses some unique features and challenges, including protection and the need for power electronics converters.

In this talk, the basic HVDC operating principles will be explained. The HVDC system organization and cost structure will be introduced. The benefits and challenges of HVDC will be discussed. The HVDC technology evolution and the state-of-art of HVDC power electronics converters will be presented. The talk will also give an overview of the research activities in CURENT on HVDC.

Biography: Dr. Wang is the Technical Director for CURENT, holds the Condra Chair of Excellence in Power Electronics, and is a Professor in Electrical Engineering at the University of Tennessee. He also has a joint appointment with Oak Ridge National Lab. Dr. Wang is a recognized leader in power electronics, has authored and coauthored over 200 refereed publications, holds 7 US patents, and is a Fellow of IEEE.

Dr. Wang received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University in 1982. In 1985 and 1990, he received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, respectively, in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California. He worked as a research scientist at USC’s electric power lab from 1990 to 1992.

Currently, he is conducting research on design, modeling, control, and integration of advanced power electronics converters; motor drives; power electronics application to transportation, renewable, and utility power systems.