Project description
A new era of compact, lightweight and highly efficient power processors
In the pursuit of a carbon-neutral future and electrified transport, a critical challenge looms: the demand for efficient, compact power electronics. Yet, the miniaturisation of energy conversion systems faces hurdles from power device limitations and size restrictions on passive components. In this context, the ERC-funded ENRICH project is poised to revolutionise this landscape. By co-designing novel multilevel converter topologies with gallium nitride, ENRICH pioneers a solid-state selector switch, propelling the vision of a monolithic power processor, unleashing unprecedented power densities and overcoming integration obstacles. In the realms of power electronics, materials science and control theory, ENRICH marks a transformative stride towards sustainable energy solutions.
Objective
As the world undergoes an unprecedented transformation towards de-carbonized energy generation and electrification of the transportation sector, there is an increasing need for efficient, compact and lightweight power electronics. However, miniaturization of contemporary energy conversion systems is hindered by the performance limitations of the power devices and the size and weight restrictions of the passive components. The ENRICH project proposes a fundamental reconsideration of the entire electric power conversion chain, by co-design novel multilevel converter topologies with new semiconductor structures, based on wide band gap materials, mainly Gallium Nitride (GaN).
The envisioned system is inspired from the high-power equivalent of a digital-to-analogue converter, directly controlled by a single reference signal (pseudo-analogue control). This is the first attempt to demonstrate the concept of a solid-state selector switch, which is free from magnetic components and allows all switching elements to be connected in parallel with a common source reference, avoiding the burden of multiple voltage-isolation zones.
This radical approach paves the way for true monolithic integration of the entire multilevel inverter on a single chip, in the form of a power processor. The proposed parallel architecture addresses all current integration challenges, such as the crosstalk and back-gating effects, and overcomes the limitations regarding the maximum number of levels. The GaN power processor has huge potential to reach record power densities that are beyond what is currently possible.
The ambitious research spans across the fields of Power Electronics, Material Science and Control Theory, and aims to bring numerous benefits with important technological and socioeconomic impact in the automotive, aerospace and renewable energy generation sectors.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics topology
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry post-transition metals
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
265 04 RIO PATRAS
Greece
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.