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Projects


Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/R004366/1
Title Reliability, Condition Monitoring and Health Management Technologies for WBG Power Modules
Status Completed
Energy Categories Energy Efficiency(Transport) 35%;
Not Energy Related 30%;
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electric power conversion) 35%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 30%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 70%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Dr O Alatise
No email address given
School of Engineering
University of Warwick
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 October 2017
End Date 31 December 2021
Duration 51 months
Total Grant Value £1,218,122
Industrial Sectors Electronics; Energy
Region West Midlands
Programme Energy : Energy, Manufacturing : Manufacturing, NC : Engineering, NC : ICT
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr O Alatise , School of Engineering, University of Warwick (99.994%)
  Other Investigator Dr V Pickert , Electrical, Electronic & Computer Eng, Newcastle University (0.001%)
Professor L Ran , School of Engineering, University of Warwick (0.001%)
Professor P.H. Mellor , Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bristol (0.001%)
Dr BH Stark , Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bristol (0.001%)
Professor CM Johnson , Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Nottingham (0.001%)
Dr m s Dahidah , Sch of Engineering, Newcastle University (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , Sevcon Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , Turbo Power Systems Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (0.000%)
Project Contact , Amantys Ltd (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract This project proposes a paradigm shift in the operational management and use of power converters that entails active reliability management. This involves predicting failure and managing the remaining useable life of the power converter. Power electronic converters are indispensable to modern civilisation. They are responsible for electrical power conversion for a range of applications that span the few watts for portable hand-held electronics to several gigawatts for entire electrical power networks. Over the past few decades, the need for industrial decarbonisation has intensified the research into more efficient and reliable power electronic devices, components and converters. This is because power electronic converters are required for integrating renewable energy sources (solar, wind, tidal etc.) into the electrical system. Furthermore, electric transportation, which is seen as critical for reducing green-house emissions, relies very heavily on power electronics. Hybrid and full electric vehicles require power converters to control the traction machine, likewise, electric trains require power converters. Marine propulsion has also adopted the electric paradigm with the gas driven turbine replaced by a converter driven electrical motor. However, as power converters are driven at increasingly higher power densities, several reliability concerns have been recognised. The power converters are comprised of power modules, which in turn are comprised of switching power semiconductor devices in an electrically isolating but thermally conducting package. The reliability of the power semiconductor device and its mechanical interconnects has been intensely investigated by industrial and academic researchers over the last decade. Silicon devices have been the principal technology in power electronics for the last few decades however, silicon carbide and gallium nitride devices have emerged as viable alternatives. These new devices are referred to as wide bandgap devices because they have energy bandgaps larger than that of silicon. The simply means that they can withstand more energy thereby increasing the efficiency of power conversion. The reliability of these WBG semiconductors is increasingly becoming a very important topic since these new devices are gaining increasing market penetration. In applications with high failure costs, for example, automotive traction, aerospace and grid connected converters, the uptake of new technology is slow. By developing technologies that can improve the reliability of these new devices and monitor their health on-line, the uptake of new WBG power modules is very significantly de-risked. This project aims to do just this, by providing a condition monitoring and health management platform for WBG based power electronic modules
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 06/02/19