Co-design Optimization and Predictive Model Control for Power Electronics Converters based on WBG: Robust Control and High Reliability

Wide Band Gap (WBG)- based Power electronics converters are promising technologies to improve the overall performance of drivetrains towards energy-efficient powertrains at a wide operating range in terms of power density and thermal constraints. WBG- based switches can provide a wider operating range compared to conventional Si-based switches, where they can operate at higher switching frequencies, higher operating temperature and at higher breaking voltage. This results in a compact size of passive components and control units. This research will focus on optimizing power electronics converters (i.e. DC/DC converters, V2G converters, chargers, inverters) towards a higher efficiency and cost-effective. The main objective of research is to upgrade the existing co-design tool at MOBI in this regard taking into account the thermal aspects (thermal-in- the- loop) of the PE converters) and control aspects (real-time using ANN and MPC) in the design phase. Moreover, this research will develop a second layer of control adaptivity in Hardware-in-the Loop (HiL) for modular drivetrains. This research will provide thoroughly insight in the reliability aspects of the PE converters and provides a methodology for reliability testing procedure and failure simulation.

Click here to apply