SatCon Technology Corporation

About: SatCon Technology Corporation is a company organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Magnetic bearing & Rotor (electric). The organization has 136 authors who have published 121 publications receiving 3559 citations.

High-precision magnetic levitation stage for photolithography

Abstract: In this paper, we present a high-precision magnetic levitation (maglev) stage for photolithography in semiconductor manufacturing. This stage is the world’s first maglev stage that provides fine six-degree-of-freedom motion controls and realizes large (50 mm × 50 mm) planar motions with only a single magnetically levitated moving part. The key element of this stage is a linear motor capable of providing forces in both suspension and translation without contact. The advantage of such a stage is that the mechanical design is far simpler than competing conventional approaches and, thus, promises faster dynamic response and higher mechanical reliability. The stage operates with a positioning noise as low as 5 nm rms in x and y , and acceleration capabilities in excess of 1 g (10 m/s 2 ). We demonstrate the utility of this stage for next-generation photolithography or in other high-precision motion control applications.

Integrated control system and method for controlling mode, synchronization, power factor, and utility outage ride-through for micropower generation systems

Abstract: An integrated system for comprehensive control of an electric power generation system utilizes state machine control having particularly defined control states and permitted control state transitions. In this way, accurate, dependable and safe control of the electric power generation system is provided. Several of these control states may be utilized in conjunction with a utility outage ride-through technique that compensates for a utility outage by predictably controlling the system to bring the system off-line and to bring the system back on-line when the utility returns. Furthermore, a line synchronization technique synchronizes the generated power with the power on the grid when coming back on-line. The line synchronization technique limits the rate of synchronization to permit undesired transient voltages. The line synchronization technique operates in either a stand-alone mode wherein the line frequency is synthesized or in a connected mode which sensed the grid frequency and synchronizes the generated power to this senses grid frequency. The system also includes power factor control via the line synchronization technique or via an alternative power factor control technique. The result is an integrated system providing a high degree of control for an electric power generation system.

Mitigation of Solar Irradiance Intermittency in Photovoltaic Power Systems With Integrated Electric-Vehicle Charging Functionality

Abstract: Mitigation of the variability in output power of renewable generators such as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is a growing concern as these generators reach higher penetrations on electric grids. Furthermore, increased penetration of electric vehicle (EV) loads presents a challenge for distribution feeders. This paper presents a system where a bidirectional, highly efficient, dc-dc EV charger is placed between the high-voltage dc bus of a PV inverter and the EV battery. The system partially alleviates feeder overloading by providing fast charging for the EV battery from the PV system. In addition, the charger is capable of diverting fast changes in PV power output to the battery, thereby reducing the rate of change of inverter output power to a level below the ramp rate of existing grid resources. The paper addresses sizing of the charger and energy storage based on the PV system rating, the desired maximum ramp rate, and site solar irradiation characteristics, including geographic dispersion of PV arrays. Analysis suggests that small amounts of energy storage can accomplish large reductions in output power ramp rate. Experimental results are shown for a 10 kW, 98% efficient dc-dc charger based on bidirectional four-phase zero-voltage-switching converter.

Photovoltaic DC/DC micro-converter

Abstract: A photo-voltaic (PV) power generating system and a control system for PV array string-level control and PV modules serially-connected into strings of PV modules. The system includes plural parallel strings of serially-connected power-generating photovoltaic modules that form a PV array, DC/DC micro-converters that are coupled to a DC voltage buss and to the output of a corresponding photovoltaic module or to the output of a string of photovoltaic modules; a gating or central inverter; and a control system. The control system is structured and arranged to control and manage each string of photovoltaic modules, to ensure that power delivered by the photovoltaic power generating system is not affected by photovoltaic modules or strings of photovoltaic modules that are not operating at maximum power transfer efficiency.

A saturating lumped-parameter model for an interior PM synchronous machine

Abstract: This paper presents a lumped-parameter magnetic model for an interior permanent-magnet synchronous machine. The model accounts for the effects of saturation through a nonlinear reluctance-element network used to estimate the q-axis inductance. The magnetic model is used to calculate inductance and torque in the presence of saturation. Furthermore, these calculations are compared to those from finite-element analysis with good agreement.