(Landshut) – Scientists at Landshut University want to improve the DCDC converters used in hydrogen cars as part of a project called “Dragen”. Gallium nitride transistors (GaN-HEMT) are used to make the converter particularly light and compact, the researchers explain. The team led by Alexander Kleimaier also hopes to achieve “advantages in terms of production costs and efficiency”. Silver Atena from Landshut, a developer of high-tech solutions in the area of fail-safe systems, is participating in the project from the industry.
Power electronics as a key technology
Power electronics are “usually completely overlooked” in the public debate about modern mobility, says Alexander Kleimaier. This is essential for all topics related to the energy transition, be it electric cars or solar and wind turbines. “We need power electronics to feed energy into the power grid, to charge batteries or to control an electric motor.”
In vehicles with fuel cells, power electronics play a major role in converting electrical energy, for example direct current from the high-voltage electrical system into three-phase current for the electric motor. In addition, the voltage of fuel cells can vary greatly depending on the load.
“Many highly innovative companies have recently emerged in the USA that are increasingly researching further developments in this area,” explains Kleimaier. Power semiconductors are now on the rise and are not based on silicon, as was previously the case, but on silicon carbide or gallium nitride. However, these placed significantly higher demands on the design technology for the power electronic circuits. “In order to be able to use the new power semiconductors in the first place, new, innovative construction technologies are required.”
The project “Dragan – development, construction and testing of 3-level GaN power electronic modules” will run until 2023. The Bavarian research program Mobility Innovative Drives is financing the project with a total of 686.900 euros.
Photos
Experimental setup with low-inductance power modules / © HAW
