L Lab Corporation (Hong Kong) Limited (Sponsor)
SPES Electronic Limited (contract service) (Sponsor)
This project aims at establishing a technical power system platform, namely Smart Power Hub (SPH), with a new Silicon Carbide (SiC) module designed by ASTRI for smart city application. It includes concept research, platform development and prototype’s performance evaluation of the Smart Power Hub with the SiC power module. Traditionally, the power converters are mainly developed by using the Silicon based devices. For example, in the traditional AC to DC converters, the AC power can only be converted to DC power, and the reversed energy flow from DC to AC cannot be realized within the same circuit. With the rapid growing demand of battery powered system, bi-directional or multi-directional operation is needed to support both charging and discharging modes for the battery powered systems. The SiC module with advanced topologies and a new algorithm bring the opportunity to break through the limitation so that it can realize the smart charging of power system. ASTRI will build up the SPH platform with SiC module to achieve the smart multi-directional operation with one specific circuit which is implemented by a novel control algorithm. The SPH can support the DC battery energy being charged from AC grid (either single-phase or three-phase) or solar panel, and vice versa the DC battery energy can be discharged to support standalone loads or power grid. The proposed SPH as a technology platform project can be widely used for a new Renewable Power Storage System (RPSS), which could intelligently integrate storage battery, power grid, solar panel together with smart home appliances. Thus, it makes energy interconnected and distributed altogether to promote Hong Kong’s green energy saving. Moreover, due to the flexible N+1 redundancy design, the advanced SPH can support higher power conversion, which can be integrated into 5G telecom network for an innovative autonomous mobile fast charge station etc.