Objective
Power electronics are embedded in major sectors of industry, and find a wide application in metallurgy, power grids, refineries and electric propulsion in general. An important raise in transportation domain is foreseen, thanks to the rising demand cost effective, environmentally friendly and efficient transportation networks. Reducing volume and cost, and at the same time improving the efficiency are constant requirements in Power Electronics. "Integrated Power Modules" (IPMs) can meet these requirements. However, the currently available technologies impose significant limitations on the achievable power range (1200V-100A) and efficiency. Nowadays IPMs are mainly sourced from Japan. They are based on classical DCB ceramic technology. A breakthrough in technology is required to respond to the market demand for more efficient IPMs that operate at increased power levels. The objective of this project is to realise that breakthrough in IPM characteristics. The skills of semiconductor makers, system builders, technology suppliers and final users are united within the consortium. The breakthrough this project can establish will be demonstrated via a high power inverter (4kV - 3MVA), that operates at 25x the currently achievable power level.
Innovative aspects of this project are: - IGBT transistor device improvements, through new connection techniques (reliability increase >2 times) and higher blocking voltage (increase from 1,7 to 4,5 kV); - The implementation of new substrate materials with superior thermal characteristics (AIN > 170W/m/K, CVD diamond >1000 W/m/K, as opposed to alumina > 25 W/m/K), and enhanced dielectric strength. These technologies will increase the power to volume ratio by a factor of five, and reduce the weight of the system by at least 20%. Thus a 40% cost reduction of IPMs can be achieved; - IPM design standardisation, and high voltage operation (4 kV operating voltage) by serial connection of IGBT semiconductors. These aspects will be addressed in three separate tasks. A fourth task involves the construction of the high power inverter demonstrator, and the fifth tasks is the project management. After completion of the project about three years will be required to commercialise the developed technologies. The high power IPMs will be a powerful response to the Japanese domination of the market. The environmental impacts can be enormous: high-speed trains using the new IPM technology will consume 3% less electrical power. Fast, efficient and comfortable high-speed train networks can put the explosive growth of highly polluting air and road transportation to a halt. The return on investment of this project can be as high as 1 to 40, creating employment for 2,000 people through the EC. The partnership, involving 8 partners from 5 different countries, is composed of 4 technology developers, 2 research laboratories and 2 final users. The wide spectrum of skills and technologies involved cannot be addressed at national level, hence a pan-European effort is absolutely required. BE97-5077
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivity
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power transmission
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementemployment
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringmetallurgy
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
75116 PARIS
France