Solid-State Transformers: On the Origins and Evolution of Key Concepts
Abstract
During the past two decades, solid-state transformers (SSTs) have evolved quickly and have been considered for replacing conventional low-frequency (LF) transformers in applications such as traction, where weight and volume savings and substantial efficiency improvements can be achieved, or in smart grids because of their controllability. As shown in this article, all main modern SST topologies realize the common key characteristics of these transformers-medium-frequency (MF) isolation stage, connection to medium voltage (MV), and controllability-by employing combinations of a very few key concepts, which have been described or patented as early as the 1960s. But still, key research challenges concerning protection, isolation, and reliability remain.
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The single-cell approach still experiences reliability challenges due to the difficulty of implementing redundancy in a non-modular system.
“The single-cell approach is great; however, still experiencing reliability challenges due to the difficulty of implementing redundancy in a non-modular system [11].”
From State of the Art of Solid-State Transformers: Advanced Topologies, Implementation Issues, Recent Progress and Improvements (2020) · cites this paper as [11]
Cites
Power Electronics Technologies for Railway Vehicles
Taufiq, J. (2007) · 2007 Power Conversion Conference - Nagoya · doi:10.1109/pccon.2007.373146 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
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Applicability of solid-state transformers in today's and future distribution grids
Huber, J. E., & Kolar, J. W. (2019) · IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid · doi:10.1109/tsg.2017.2738610 · Cited by 506 · see citing works
Self-citationHannan, M. A., Ker, P. J., Lipu, M. S. H., Choi, Z. H., Rahman, M. S. A., Muttaqi, K. M., & Blaabjerg, F. (2020) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2020.2967345 · Cited by 339 · see citing works
“[7] J. E. Huber and J. W. Kolar, ‘‘Volume/weight/cost comparison of a 1MVA 10 kV/400V solid-state against a conventional low-frequency distribution transformer,’’ in Proc.”
BackgroundInfluentialRashidi, M., Altin, N. N., Ozdemir, S. S., Bani-Ahmed, A., & Nasiri, A. (2019) · IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications · doi:10.1109/tia.2019.2939741 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Abu-Siada, A., Budiri, J., & Abdou, A. (2018) · Electronics · doi:10.3390/electronics7110298 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
“[8] Introduces the origins and evolution of key concepts of SSTs.”
BackgroundA Leakage-Inductance-Tolerant Commutation Strategy for Isolated AC/AC Converters
Nasir, U., Costabeber, A., Rivera, M., Wheeler, P., & Clare, J. (2019) · IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics · doi:10.1109/jestpe.2018.2861326 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Itoh, J.-I., Aoyagi, K., & Nakanishi, T. (2017) · 2017 IEEE 3rd International Future Energy Electronics Conference and ECCE Asia (IFEEC 2017 - ECCE Asia) · doi:10.1109/ifeec.2017.7992060 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
- Authors
- Huber, J. E., & Kolar, J. W.
- Affiliations
- ETH Zurich (CH)
- Venue
- IEEE Industrial Electronics Magazine
- Published
- 2016-09
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 19-28
- ISSN
- 1932-4529 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2524328699
- Cited by
- 449
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 22 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 51 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 52 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 25
- FWCI
- 18.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- IEEE Industrial Electronics Magazine (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Advanced DC-DC Converters
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Multilevel Inverters and Converters
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Wireless Power Transfer Systems
- Keywords
- solid-state transformer, traction drives, smart grid, medium voltage, controllability, transformer protection, isolation, reliability, low-frequency transformers
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