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Virginia Tech

Analysis of the Power Conditioning System for a Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage Unit

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) has branched out from its application origins of load leveling, in the early 1970s, to include power quality for utility, industrial, commercial and military applications. It has also shown promise as a power supply for pulsed loads such as electric guns and electromagnetic aircraft launchers (EMAL) as well as for vital loads when power distribution systems are temporarily down. These new applications demand more efficient and compact high performance power electronics. A 250 kW Power Conditioning System (PCS), consisting of a voltage source converter (VSC) and bi-directional two-quadrant DC/DC converter (chopper), was developed at the Center for Power Electronics Systems (CPES) under an ONR funded program. The project was to develop advanced power electronic techniques for SMES Naval applications. This thesis focuses on system analysis and development of a demonstration test plan to illustrate the SMES systems' ability to be multitasked for implementation on naval ships. The demonstration focuses on three applications; power quality, pulsed power and vital loads. An integrated system controller, based on an Altera programmable logic device, was developed to coordinate charge/discharge transitions. The system controller integrated the chopper and VSC controller, configured applicable loads, and dictated sequencing of events during mode transitions. Initial tests with a SMES coil resulted in problems during mode transitions. These problems caused uncontrollable transients and caused protection to trigger and processors to shut down. Accurate models of both the Chopper and VSC were developed and an analysis of these mode transition transients was conducted. Solutions were proposed, simulated and implemented in hardware. Successful operation of the system was achieved and verified with both a low temperature superconductor here at CPES and a high temperature superconductor at The Naval Research Lab.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2000

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Superczynski, Matthew J.
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Boroyevich, Dushan
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Huang, Alex Q.
  • Lee, Fred C.

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-08312000-16220053
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/34860

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Superczynski, Matthew J.. Analysis of the Power Conditioning System for a Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage Unit. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/34860