Thursday 23 January 2025 at 4:00 PM CET, 10:00 AM EST

By Rajendra Singh, Satish Naik Banavath, Xiaoqing Song, Tanel Jalakas

Register now using the link below:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5859074705691237470


Abstract:

The solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) is celebrated for its ultra-fast fault tripping speed and arc-free current interruption, making it highly desirable for applications such as battery energy storage systems, renewable energy systems, and DC microgrids. Wide bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor devices, like SiC and GaN power devices, enhance the appeal of SSCBs due to their superior performance, including low conduction resistance and high blocking voltage capability.

This webinar will be led by Prof. Rajendra Singh from Clemson University, and a team of young researchers, including Satish Naik Banavath from IIT Dharwad, India, Xiaoqing Song from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and Tanel Jalakas from Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia. The team has extensive expertise and industrial experience in the field.

The webinar will explore the potential opportunities of DC systems and SSCB technology, along with possible applications where SSCBs could thrive. Emerging standards governing SSCBs will also be briefly outlined. Additionally, the webinar will address barriers limiting the widespread adoption of SSCBs and highlight the technological challenges, despite the seemingly simple and easy-to-design SSCB topologies.

Presenters’ bio:

Rajendra Singh is Houser Banks Distinguished professor in the Holcombe Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Automotive Engineering at Clemson University (CU). He left India in 1973 and during the energy crisis of 1973 decided to do Ph.D. dissertation in the area of silicon solar cells. With proven success in operations, project/program leadership, R&D, product/process commercialization, and start-ups, Dr. Singh is a leading technologist with the focused goal of mitigation of climate related challenges by providing green sustainable electric power. He is fellow of IEEE, SPIE, ASM and AAAS. He has received a number of national and international awards. In 2014, he was honored by US President Barack Obama as a White House “Champion of Change for Solar Deployment” for his leadership in advancing solar energy with photovoltaics technology. In 2019, he received Hind Rattan Award presented by Bibek Debroy, chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Satish Naik Banavath a Senior Member of IEEE, holds a Master of Engineering (2012) and Ph.D. (2018) degrees in electrical engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Before Joining Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dharwad as Assistant Professor in 2019, he worked with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), and Mahindra Electric in Bengaluru. He leads a research group developing power electronic systems for applications such as electric vehicle chargers, grid-tied inverters, and dc systems for next-generation transportation. His contributions have been recognized through prestigious awards, including the IEEE PES Chapter Outstanding Engineer Award (Bangalore Chapter, 2021) and the IEEE IES S&YP Fellowship 2023. He was a visiting professor at the University of Houston, Tallinn University of Technology, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in 2022 and 2024.

Xiaoqing Song is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees with Beijing Institute of Technology, China, in 2009 and 2012, respectively, and Ph.D. degree with North Carolina State University in 2017, all in electrical engineering. Before joining UA, he was working with ABB U.S. Corporate Research Center as a principal research scientist and led multi-discipline research and R&D projects in the field of solid state and hybrid circuit breakers, and DC distribution system protection. Dr. Song’s current research interests include wide bandgap power semiconductor devices, power electronics packaging and solid-state switch based power system protection.

Tanel Jalakas finished PhD studies in electrical engineering at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) in 2010. He is currently a senior researcher at TalTech Department of Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics. His main research interest is in the design of power electronic converters for renewable energy sources.