Power Electronics Thermal Management R&D: NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

Gilberto Moreno, Kevin Bennion

Research output: NRELPresentation

Abstract

This project will develop thermal management strategies to enable efficient and high-temperature wide-bandgap (WBG)-based power electronic systems (e.g., emerging inverter and DC-DC converter designs). The use of WBG-based devices in automotive power electronics will improve efficiency and increase driving range in electric-drive vehicles; however, the implementation of this technology is limited, in part, due to thermal issues. This project will develop system-level thermal models to determine the thermal limitations of current automotive power modules under elevated device temperature conditions. Additionally, novel cooling concepts and material selection will be evaluated to enable high-temperature silicon and WBG devices in power electronics components. WBG devices (silicon carbide [SiC], gallium nitride [GaN]) promise to increase efficiency, but will be driven as hard as possible. This creates challenges for thermal management and reliability.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages31
StatePublished - 2016

Publication series

NamePresented at the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation, 6-10 June 2016, Washington, D.C.

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/PR-5400-66047

Keywords

  • electric drive vehicles
  • power electronics
  • thermal management
  • thermal model
  • wide-bandgap

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