Insulation Coordination of Solid State Devices Connected Directly to the Electric Power Distribution Syste

With the penetration of distributed renewable energy and the development of semiconductor technology, power electronic devices could be utilized to interface renewable energy generation and the distribution power grid. However, when directly connected to the power grid, the semiconductors inside the power electronic devices could be vulnerable to the power system transient, especially to lightning strikes.;The work of this research focuses on the insulation coordination of power electronic devices connected directly to the power distribution system. The Solid State Transformer (SST) in Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) system could be a good example for grid connected power electronic devices. Simulations were conducted in Power Systems Computer Aided Design (PSCAD) software. A simulation done to the FREEDM SST showed primary results which were then compare to simulation done to the grid-connected operating Voltage Source Converter (VSC) to get more objective results.;Based on the simulation results, voltage surges caused by lightning strikes could result in damage on the grid-connected electronic devices. Placing Metal Oxide Surge Arresers (MOSA, also known as Metal Oxide Surge Varistor, MOV) at the front filter could provide effective protection for those devices from power transient. Part of this research work was published as a conference paper and was presented at CIGRE US National Conference: Grid of the Future Symposium [1] and North American Power Symposium [2].