Energy Storage Capacitor Cell with Semiconductor Switches

Abstract

The capacitor cell of the large energy storage intended for operation into the arc load is considered. The 64 kJ capacitor cell made on the basis of the 400tF, 18kV capacitor of the AVX company (TPC, France) makes it possible to generate current pulses with an amplitude up to 60 kA. The cell discharge circuit is arranged as a pulse forming network composed of a semiconductor switch made as a connected-inseries Reversal Switched Dynistor (RSD), a crowbar diode switch and a replaceable toroidal inductor of 25 [tH, 40 [tH or 80 [tH inductance. An assembly of powerful protecting diodes is connected in series with the RSD switch to prevent the passing of the reverse current through the RSD switch. All components of the cell (the semiconductor switches, the ballast and the grounding resistors, the replaceable inductor, the elements of the control system, etc.) are assembled on the top cover of the capacitor. The description of the RSD trigger circuit is presented. The generation of output current pulses is considered for synchronous triggering of the cells and non-simultaneous triggering in the programmable discharge mode. The protection elements of the semiconductor switches are considered. The results of the cell testing are presented.

0.5MJ 18KV module of capacitive energy storage

“…The capacitor cell is characterized by that the whole high-voltage equipment necessary for cell operation is assembled on the top surface of the capacitor case. The capacitor cell and its operation are described in detail in [6]. Operation of the capacitor cell during transient processes in the programmable discharge mode and equipment ensuring the semi-conducting switch workability are presented in [8].…”

“…The design and operation of the LV Trigger Unit is described in detail in [6]. The charger comprises a rectifier with a filter capacitor (DC chain), high-frequency bridge current inverter built on IGBT, current-limiting inductor, highfrequency step-up transformer on ferrite magnet core and a high-voltage rectifier.…”

“…The capacitor bank in these systems is made of many capacitor cells, each having, apart from capacitors and discharge switch, the elements of switch control and protection, ballast and protective resistors, inductor, control apparatus and diagnostics sensors [6]. The compact arrangement of capacitor bank components in a small volume raises the problem of ensuring the workability of these components under simultaneous action of electrical, thermal, magnetic and force fields.…”