Modular power electronic converters

Contracting authority is publishing direct award notice for 'Modular power electronic converters'.

BACKGROUND INFO To advance research in energy and electrification, Tampere University is in the process of expanding its laboratory infrastructure with funding from the Research Council of Finland. As part of the interdisciplinary project “Digital electrification infrastructure”, power electronic modules that serve as building blocks for various power converter configurations are required, benefiting both research and educational purposes NEED This procurement focuses on the purchase of power electronic modules for the laboratory of power electronic systems of Tampere University. The objective is to have a set of modular building blocks (along with the necessary peripherals) that can be flexibly (in a “plug-and-play” manner) combined to realize a wide range of power converter topologies. This modular approach eliminates the need to purchase separate, dedicated converters for each application. By utilizing configurable half-bridge, full-bridge, or neutral-point clamped (NPC) phase-leg modules, various converter configurations can be implemented. These include, but are not limited to, two-level converters, three-level NPC converters, dual-active bridge converters and other isolated dc-dc topologies, cascaded H-bridge converters, and modular multilevel converters. Such modularity and scalability make the laboratory highly versatile, enabling experimental validation and testing across diverse power electronics applications. These include variable-speed drive systems, STATCOMs, grid-connected converters with filters, EV charging systems, and renewable energy integration (e.g., photovoltaics and wind turbines). Overall, this modular system enhances the laboratory’s capability to support advanced research and development through its flexibility, reusability, and adaptability. MARKET ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION FOR DIRECT AWARD Providing such modular building blocks is central to this procurement, as they must support a wide variety of power converter configurations and applications in both research and education. Imperix clearly meets these requirements due to its proven, high-quality power converter modules, which offer unmatched modularity and flexibility, which make them a unique provider of such solutions in the field. These modules allow for the rapid prototyping and implementation of multiple converter topologies without the need to purchase separate, dedicated hardware for each configuration. As a result, this hardware and software environment can support advanced control development and software testing, which are core to the research and teaching activities of the Power Electronics Systems Group at Tampere University. No other supplier offers this combination of modularity, integration readiness, and research-focused toolchains. Moreover, Imperix modules are fully compatible with the existing platforms and infrastructure in our laboratory, thanks to their integrated or easily attachable peripherals (e.g., current and voltage sensors, passive filters, and standardized interfaces). This ensures seamless integration and immediate usability, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming adaptation work. Finally, Imperix systems are adopted in several academic institutions in Europe and oversees. This facilitates collaboration, interoperability, and knowledge exchange with our research partners. Choosing Imperix thus not only ensures technical compatibility and performance, but also aligns with the broader academic ecosystem we are part of. For these reasons, Imperix is the only supplier capable of fulfilling the specific technical, research, and educational needs of this procurement.