To transfer solid-state technology for power transformers

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Kozhikode: The National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NIT-C) on Tuesday inked an agreement with Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Company Limited (KEL), a State government undertaking in Kochi, for transferring its solid-state technology (SST) for power transformers. The Department of Electrical Engineering of NIT-C has developed the technology of high-frequency trans-former-based power electronic system that can replace the conventional low-frequency transformer. It has lesser energy loss and higher power quality with integrated protection schemes that ensure better power system reliability. NIT-C Director Sivaji Chakravorti and KEL
Managing Director Shaji M. Varghese signed the Memorandum of Understanding. A press release said a research team comprising Ashok S., Kumaravel S., and Haritha G. has designed and fabricated laboratory-scale prototypes of SST with IkVA and 3kVA rating and successfully completed testing and analysis. KEL, a multi-product engineering company with 50 plus years of experience and expertise, is planning to fabricate an industrial proto-type of 60kVA capacity to do _ further testing and analysis for product commercialization. The power electronic-based transformers have good scope in solar and wind power application. The NIT-C research team has been focusing on the development of solutions for replacing conventional transformer for power distribution applications with advanced power electronics technology, especially while interfacing renewable energy systems like solar or wind into the distribution grid.