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With ever increasing energy generation diversity and energy storage becoming affordable, distribution networks are becoming more complex than ever before. This complexity can be utilized to benefit the distribution networks as well as end consumers in the form of controlled Microgrids. Microgrids are not simply distributed generation and energy storage systems; solar systems and battery banks, rather a complete design of hardware and software for specific uses and users. All the different elements need to be designed to work together to provide stable, efficient and sustainable power delivery to the end user. An experimental Hybrid-Microgrid testing facility is presented in this paper that implements highefficiency distribution architectures combining both AC and DC networks. This testing facility provides a research testbed for investigating different aspects of Microgrid systems, employing a total of 15.5 kW of reconfigurable Solar PV and 80 kWh of lithium energy storage on a 145 kVA commercial building load located at Griffith University. Implementation results along with control system simulation results are presented in this paper for distributed renewable generation, Static Synchronous Compensators, advanced control methodologies and forecasting methods for energy management purposes.

In this letter, an improved structure of High Frequency (HF) magnetic integrated planar transformer is proposed and the prototype transformer is demonstrated. In comparison to conventional planar integrated magnetics; the improved structure has a better ability on leakage inductance adjustment. Also; instead of using expensive Printed Circuit Board (PCB) windings on the primary side, multi-strand Litz wires are used for the design. The transformer is fabricated with two common EE shape magnetic cores along with magnetic insertions placed between the primary and secondary windings (outside the main core). To analyze the proposed transformer, the numerical 3-D Finite Element Method (FEM) technique is employed to investigate the eddy current losses and the adjustment of the leakage inductance.

Designing a high frequency (HF) power transformer is a complicated task due to its multiple interrelation design procedures, large number of variables and other relevant factors. Traditional transformer design relies on manual paper work and personal experience, which requires engineering design man-hours and long delivery cycles. In this paper, a developed transformer computer design environment is addressed. It helps engineers to automatically model, simulate and optimize transformer design using an artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm and the finite element method (FEM), and delivers a reliable design result. By utilizing the proposed platform, an 8kW coaxial transformer is successfully designed, tested and manufactured. Index Terms-artificial neural network, finite element method, high frequency transformer, transformer design platform.

This paper introduces a High Frequency Coaxial Transformer (HFCT) with a power efficiency of >99.5% and an operational frequency between 100-300 kHz. The power rating of the HFCT can be easily scaled from 2.5 to 20 kW by adapting its simple symmetrical structure. The introduced HFCT is suitable for use with converters in Electric Vehicle (EV) on-board charging systems. It easily fulfills the design requirements of being lightweight , compact, and having a high power density and achieved a volume reduction of 75% in comparison with commercial products. Furthermore, the electromagnetic interferences are increasing with the increased operating frequency, and an inserted copper Faraday shield is used to deal with this issue (an 80.6% reduction of intra-winding capacitance was achieved). A shielding analysis, with a focus on the insertion losses, is undertaken by utilizing Finite Element Method (FEM) based numerical techniques.