Power Electronics
We are addressing challenges of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Driven by environmental concerns, established mechanical technologies such as combustion engines are being replaced and enhanced by energy efficient, electrically driven machines. Lightweight, compact, and ultra-efficient power electronic converters are needed for the next generation of electric vehicles.
Ultra-high efficiency is required across all electricity use: from megawatt high-voltage converters in the electricity grid, down to microelectronic environmental sensors with microwatt consumption. Renewable energy capture requires highly reliable converters with health monitoring. We are exploiting the step-change in performance of new GaN and SiC power semiconductor devices, to develop technologies that will benefit applications across a wide range of engineering sectors and scales.
- Advanced Gate DrivingReducing electromagnetic emissions (EMI) of GaN and SiC converters through active gate driving. Increasing efficiency by resonant gate driving and by gate-charge energy recycling.
- GaN Power Electronics and ReliabilityIncreasing efficiency by switching GaN power devices safely at ultra-high slew rates. Improving reliability by sensing junction temperature and device health.
- Ultra-High Efficiency Power ElectronicsThe miniaturisation of power conversion, enabled by the reduction of power loss to below 1%, for example in grid-tie inverters.
- Grid-level Power ElectronicsInvestigating the application of emerging SiC devices in a sector that demands highest reliabilities.
- Sensor-Driven ElectronicsAddressing challenges in battery-life, energy harvesting and wireless power transfer by using sensors as power sources.
- High-Bandwidth MeasurementMaking visible high-frequency features in the current and voltage waveforms of SiC and GaN converters, for example through noise-immune field sensors.
UK Centre for Power Electronics
We are a core partner of the £23M UK Centre for Power Electronics which continues to serve the power electronics, machines and drives (PEMD) community through various events including its annual conference.