We propose to develop an ambient temperature high frequency power electronic inverter implemented with wide band GAP devices, which provides inherent scalability across a wide range of operating power…

This is a $327,326.20 Cooperative Agreement awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the University of Illinois to develop a high-power, high-efficiency power electronic inverter using wide bandgap semiconductor devices. The goal is to create a 1 megawatt inverter with a power density of 19 kilowatts per kilogram and 99% efficiency. The project will leverage innovations in circuit architecture, passive components, and wide bandgap materials like gallium nitride and silicon carbide to reduce size and improve efficiency. There is no set-aside designation for this contract. The University of Illinois has a history of serving as both a prime contractor and subcontractor on federal research and development projects for agencies like the Department of Defense and Department of Energy.

We propose to develop an ambient temperature high frequency power electronic inverter implemented with wide band GAP devices, which provides inherent scalability across a wide range of operating power and voltage ranges, with an ultimate target power of 1 MW a power density goal of 19 KW KG and an efficiency of 99 percent. Innovations in circuit architecture passive component energy utilization and the use of high bandgap devices GAN and or SIC lead to a reduction in converter size as well as improvements in conversion efficiency. Through the use of a flying capacitor multi level inverter topology device voltage stresses can be kept low enabling high operating voltages while utilizing transistors rated for a much lower voltage. Such transistors can switch at significantly higher frequency and operate at an elevated temperature. Modularity in control and operation, as well as in architecture supports reliability enhancements even with high voltage ratios through partial redundancy. We propose to build on our expertise in high power density inverters and will utilize the following techniques to meet nasas goals: - integrated GAN power modules with greatly reduced parasitic inductance through a newly developed high density layout technique optimized for multi level inverters with carefully managed switch transitions to ensure minimum voltage ringing during device turn-on/turnoff. - multiple phase shifted inverter legs to increase current rating while simultaneously reducing terminal ripple currents and hence differential mode EMI through interleaving. Additionally, we will study the reliability improvements offered by such an architecture. - analytical studies of optimal topologies from a reliability viewpoint using markov chains supported by high performance hardware in the loop testing to evaluate fault detection and isolation. - a highly modular digital control architecture that enables scalability and fast local protection of each phase leg through fault detection and isolation models operating on DSP cores - investigation of system integration challenges for next generation low-iron power dense electric machine. Through careful risk mitigation unit testing and a truly scalable architecture we seek to meet the aggressive performance objectives as verified by rigorous tests during realistic test conditions. Moreover, our proposed research has the added benefit of developing fundamental techniques with broad applicability across the field of power electronics beyond the aircraft application considered here.