Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) and Silicon Austria Labs have launched their new joint power electronics research laboratory “PERL”. PERL is dedicated to advancing fundamental research in a strategic and innovative topic, i.e., high-frequency switched power converters, to prepare researchers for future industry challenges. The increase in the operating switching frequencies of power electronic converters allows us to build them with higher performance and power densities than traditional silicon-based solutions.
The fundamental research activities of PERL aim to explore the limitations when pushing the switching frequency of power electronic converters and to work on solutions to overcome these limitations. The research work aims to beneficially use the superior properties of wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), by proposing and studying new power conversion topologies (with a strong focus on soft switching ones), optimal usage and design of passive components, novel gate driving solutions, and smart packaging and integration techniques. The main objective is to push the operating frequency of the converters and to explore and understand the associated limitations, also considering the electromagnetic interference in the analysis.
Targeted applications span various industrial fields where low size and weight, as well as very high efficiency, are beneficial, including automotive, data centers, telecom, portable devices, and avionics/space. The PERL Lab is led by Michael Hartmann, Professor and Head of the Electric Drives and Power Electronic Systems Institute (EALS) at TU Graz, and Roberto Petrella, Staff Scientist in Power Electronics at SAL and Professor at the University of Udine in Italy.
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