Instrumentation & Testing

Research foci

• GaN or SiC transistor-based converter modules with very high switching frequencies to achieve maximum possible signal dynamics
• Miniaturized converters for dynamic bidirectional power flow
• Highly compact galvanically isolated DC-DC converters with a bandwidth above 100kHz for the power flow control
• Powerful multi-processor system-on-chip control boards for driving high frequent switched power electronics
• Model-based software development (automated workflow for FPGA and processor programming)

Research competencies

• Wide-bandgap power electronics with a focus on the realization of functional prototypes as technology demonstrators
• High bandwidth GaN transistor based high-current amplifiers
• Optimization of filter components as well as high frequency transformers for interleaved buck-boost as well as resonant converters
• Smart gate drivers for extremely high frequent switched GaN transistors
• Power electronics control with shortest cycle times (< 500ns) and time resolutions in the range below 10ps

Applications

Project BECOME:

(Galvanically isolated bidirectional DC-DC converter module)

Development of resonant converters with extremely high-power density for the galvanically isolated connection of digital amplifiers (of test systems) to the grid. The project is primarily dealing with exploring the limits of the switching frequencies that can be realized in relation to the planar transformers used. The high switching frequencies are needed to achieve the desired dynamics in the power flow.

Project ALFREDA:

(Model-based Development of control algorithms on Xilinx Ultrascale MPSOC platforms)

Development of workflows for the implementation of control algorithms on multi-processor system-on-chip control platforms. The goal is to increase system flexibility and to comprehensively improve/support the entire development process.

Project SALSA:

(Simulation based Analysis of SiC-Inverter Applications; in preparation)

Development of different DC-DC as well as DC-AC SiC converter applications with simulation-based analyses for optimizing the switching behavior, power density and efficiency. In the project, the possibility of improving the performance of converters by using the wide bandgap technology shall be demonstrated in selected application examples.