Power Converter for Superconducting Network - Exploring and Designing a Power Converter Operating at Cryogenic Temperature Between 20K and 100K

High-temperature superconductor has great potential for widespread application in energy networks. Superconducting network is particular attractive for electric aircraft because superconductor material offers high current density, low loss, lightweight and small volume. Power converters are essential for superconducting magnetic energy storage and superconducting motor interface. However, traditional power converter at room temperature requires current leads from cryogenic temperature to room temperature, which bring in extra losses for cryogenic cooling system.
This project aims to explore and design power converter operating at cryogenic temperature between 20K and 100K. The conduction losses for semiconductor devices are expected to reduce significantly at cryogenic temperature. This project will focuses on investigating conduction and switching losses of semiconductor devices at cryogenic temperature. Different semiconductor devices and converter topologies will also be evaluated and compared. The testing will be carried out at Bath’s Applied Superconductivity Laboratory and Microgird Laboratory.