A Digitally Controlled Power Converter for an Electrostatic Precipitator

Abstract

Electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) are devices used in industry to eliminate polluting particles in gases. In order to supply them, an interface must be included between the three-phase main line and the required high DC voltage of tens of kilovolts. This paper describes an 80-kW power supply for such an application. Its structure is based on the series parallel resonant converter with a capacitor as output filter (PRC-LCC), which can adequately cope with the parasitic elements of the step-up transformer involved. The physical implementation of the prototype includes the use of silicon carbide—SiC—semiconductors, which provide better switching capabilities than their traditional silicon—Si—counterparts. As a result, a new control strategy results as a better alternative in which the resonant current is maintained in phase with the first harmonic of the inverter voltage. Although this operation mode imposes hard switching in one of the inverter legs, it minimizes the reactive energy that circulates through the resonant tank, the resonant current amplitude itself and the switching losses. Overall efficiency of the converter benefits from this. These ideas are supported mathematically using the steady state and dynamic models of the topology. They are confirmed with experimental measurements that include waveforms, Bode plots and thermal behavior. The experimental setup delivers 80 kW with an estimated efficiency of 98%.

Keywords

• electrostatic precipitator
• silicon carbide
• digital control