New research project at the Department of LE: Project Beyond1kV

The sub-project "Power electronics-related circuit technology" within the Beyond1kV project is to consider the interface between 800 V and 1,500 V with a view to the semiconductor switches available on the market, but also new ones from the project partner Infineon Technologies AG, and to examine suitable circuit topologies for use in traction drives in coordination with other consortium partners. Potentials and challenges in the range up to 1,500 V system voltage including the identification of conceptual risks in development, production and use shall be worked out and investigated.

The University of Kassel is to make decisive contributions in a comparison of different topologies and, on the basis of its many years of experience in the field of photovoltaic inverters (also in the range up to 1,500 V system voltage), contribute corresponding know-how and create a transfer service for use in traction inverter topologies.

In addition to topological issues and detailed considerations of the semiconductor switches, investigations of the potential of active gate driver circuits with regard to the required elimination of filters to the electrical machine, to minimize overvoltages during the switching process, as well as design of the driver circuits are to be investigated. The proposed solutions will be developed and tested in adapted driver circuits for semiconductor modules. Tests will also be carried out on semiconductor function samples in the context of double measurements.

In addition, functional and cycle stability tests on power modules are to be carried out in consultation with the consortium partners to accompany the development of procedures for predictive maintenance and condition monitoring. Among other things, the results should support the determination of temperature-sensitive parameters (TSP) and enable solutions for condition determination.

Project partners are ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Daimler Truck AG, Infineon Technologies AG, Fraunhofer IISB and Leibnitz University Hannover.

The project has a duration of three years with a funding amount of 360.214,95 €.