High-efficiency SiC AC chopper for LV networks

A proposal to increase the existing residential LV grid voltage from 230 V has been made in order to increase existing network capacity. A power-electronic AC-AC converter is then used to provide 230 V at each property. Several constraints such as temperature rise at the converter location lead to a converter design requiring very high efficiency. In this presentation, results from a recent feasibility study in terms of LV network capacity increase are presented, along with the design and testing of a SiC-based 1-kW AC/AC prototype module, which forms the basis of a much larger 15-kW multi-module converter.