Ide3AL - Innovations for dynamic, energy-efficient drives with new types of power electronics in industry and manufacturing

The losses in the drive system are to be reduced by an average of 15% compared to regulated drive systems established on the market. This is to be achieved by drastically reducing internal and additional losses caused by conventional state-of-the-art converters in the drive system by using fast-switching, low-loss silicon carbide power semiconductors in conjunction with integrated filter technology. The reduced power loss not only reduces energy costs, but also the material used for cooling and EMC.

The iFE is researching the control procedures for the new converter. The fast-switching SiC semiconductors and the integrated output filter pose new challenges for control technology. Thermal models are also required to protect the semiconductors and the filter from thermal overload. With the help of a research platform, the new methods are tested and continuously improved. Furthermore, a demonstrator of the new converter will be built in a machine application at the OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts in order to compare and visualize the envisaged energy savings of the new system with a reference application.

Project number 03ET1532B