Competence Center for Power Electronics, Development of an advanced, modular frequency converter for traction control

摘要

A significant part of the primary energy consumption is used for the generation, conversion, distribution and utilisation of electrical energy. Power Electronics has the potential to save energy along the whole supply chain from its generation up to the end user. For instance, the dominating proportion of this electrical energy is applied for motor drive applications. Here, the intelligent use of Power Electronics is estimated to save electrical energy up to 20-30%. Power Electronics is a cross-sectional task. Beginning with semiconductor power devices and ending at complete power systems, many technological and economical challenges have to be considered and to be solved. Beside the costs reliability, lifetime, power density and efficiency are the main topics to characterise the performance of electronic components and systems. Within the Center of Competence for Power Electronics, a project was initiated with the objective to develop a power converter for industrial application which is optimized with respect to the topics mentioned above. For this purpose a complementary team of industry, universities and institutes located in Schleswig- Holstein was established covering the entire value added chain from semiconductor devices up to power electronic systems. The project members were: Vishay Itzehoe for semiconductor production, Danfoss Silicon Power for assembly technologies, Jungheinrich and ESW, Wedel as users of electric motor traction. These partners were supported by the following institutes: Fraunhofer ISIT, Itzehoe, universities of Applied Sciences Westcoast and Kiel (FHW, FHK) and Christian-Albrechts-University (CAU), Kiel.