Application of series technology for IGBT’s brings higher efficiency.

Cambridge, UK [WorldofRenewables.com]

Sponsors

Sponsors

Sponsors

Dramatically simplified medium voltage design for high power wind turbines is being developed by a cleantech spin-out company from the University of Cambridge.

Amantys Limited, based on research originating from Dr Patrick Palmer of the University’s Department of Engineering and recently funded by the IP Group plc, has developed technology that will simplify the design of medium voltage power systems using insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs).

The first application of the technology is for medium voltage inverters in high power wind turbines. “Large wind turbines require medium voltage power systems to deliver the power efficiently,” said Bryn Parry, Managing Director of Amantys “Our technology significantly simplifies the design of these systems through close control of the IGBTs in the system.”

Amantys’ technology allows power transistors to be configured in a series topology, which makes it easier to construct systems to switch medium and high voltages. This allows the designer to continue to use existing design topologies to build medium voltage inverters with higher efficiency and without the need to move to more complicated systems.

Amantys was recently accepted onto the Carbon Trust Entrepreneur Fast Track, which aims to provide strategic and business development consultancy to accelerate growth of promising early stage low carbon companies.

Dave Raval, Head of Entrepreneur Fast Track at the Carbon Trust, said: “The Carbon Trust has received a very strong response to our new Entrepreneurs Fast Track, with hundreds of companies contacting us in the first few weeks alone. We aim to provide a step-change in the commercial prospects of Britain’s very best low carbon start-ups and Amantys is a good example of the innovative technologies we are looking to support.”

Dr Robert Fender of Cambridge Enterprise Ltd, the University’s commercialisation office, said: “The technology developed at Cambridge is being applied to real world problems. The commercialisation of intellectual property from academic research is crucial to the growth of the cleantech industry.”

Amantys will be visiting the Husum Wind Energy Fair to promote the technology to potential customers. Prototype products will be available in 2011, and will act as a platform for future product development.