Impact of Silicon Carbide Devices on the Powertrain Systems in Electric Vehicles

Ding, Xiaofeng; Cheng, Jiawei; Chen, Feida

doi:10.3390/en10040533

Cited by 20 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The second stage for the control development began with the search of the switching frequency for each converter. For doing the search, a random frequency (fs) was assigned, and with this frequency, three conditions for the analysis were established by (8):…”

Section: Proposed Methods Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent research has shown the advantages and disadvantages of the SiC devices. These elements possess better characteristics than silicon devices, such as low switching losses, higher switching frequencies, and higher temperature operation ranges [4][5][6][7][8]. Accordingly, the SiC devices allow for the design of power converters with high-power densities and high efficiencies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Simple Method for Reducing THD and Improving the Efficiency in CSI Topology Based on SiC Power Devices

et al. 2018

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Silicon carbide (SiC)-based switching devices provide significant performance improvements in many aspects, including lower power dissipation, higher operating temperatures, and faster switching; compared with conventional Si devices, all these features contribute to these devices generating interest in applications for electric traction systems. The topology that is frequently used in these systems is the voltage source inverter (VSI), but the use of SiC devices in the current source inverter topology (CSI), which is considered as an emerging topology, generates interest. This paper presents a method for improving total harmonic distortion (THD) in the currents of output and efficiency in SiC current source inverter for future application in an electric traction system. The method that is proposed consists of improving the coupling of a bidirectional converter topology, voltage current (V-I) and CSI. The V-I converter serves as a current regulator for the CSI, and allows for the recovery of energy. The method involves an effective selection of the switching frequencies and phase angles for the carrier signals that are present in each converter topology. With this method, it is expected to have a reduction of the total harmonic distortion, THD in the output currents. In addition, a comparative analysis between converters with all-SiC technology and converters with hybrid technology is realized, to verify the impact of the SiC devices in the power converters efficiency.

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Section: Proposed Methods Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Simple Method for Reducing THD and Improving the Efficiency in CSI Topology Based on SiC Power Devices

et al. 2018

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“…Analyzing storage system innovations, the supercapacitor significantly increased their performance in terms of energy density [19,20], so that their use become possible with a proper sizing; indeed many studies focused on the combined use of supercapacitors and batteries as storage system in hybrid vehicle applications [21][22][23][24][25]. In addition to that, the availability of low-loss power electronics devices, such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) [26,27], allows to design high efficiency power converter. Storage systems and power converters efficiency highly influence series architecture fuel consumption.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supercapacitor Storage Sizing Analysis for a Series Hybrid Vehicle

et al. 2019

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The increasing interest in Hybrid Electric Vehicles led to the study of new powertrain structures. In particular, it was demonstrated in the technical literature how series architecture can be more efficient, compared to parallel one, if supercapacitors are used as storage system. Since supercapacitors are characterized by high efficiency and high power density, but have low specific energy, storage sizing is a critical point with this technology. In this study, a detailed analysis on the effect of supercapacitor storage sizing on series architecture was carried out. In particular, in series architecture, supercapacitor storage sizing influences both engine number of starts and the energy that can be stored during regenerative braking. The first aspect affects the comfort, whereas the second aspect directly influences powertrain efficiency. Vehicle model and Energy Management System were studied and simulations were carried out for different storage energy, in order to define the optimal sizing.

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“…Consequently, motor drives supplied by a SiC based voltage source inverter (VSI) can provide lower losses, higher efficiency, and a smaller size when compared with their silicon (Si) counterparts [1,2]. All these features contribute to these devices generating interest in applications for electric traction systems, where a long life time is important, and by reducing the losses in such applications, the life time can be extended [3,4]. high switching speed, i.e., high overvoltages.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analytical and Simulation Fair Comparison of Three Level Si IGBT Based NPC Topologies and Two Level SiC MOSFET Based Topology for High Speed Drives

et al. 2019

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Wide bandgap (WBG) power devices such as silicon carbide (SiC) can viably supply high speed electrical drives, due to their capability to increase efficiency and reduce the size of the power converters. On the other hand, high frequency operation of the SiC devices emphasizes the effect of parasitics, which generates reflected wave transient overvoltage on motor terminals, reducing the life time and the reliability of electric drives. In this paper, a SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) based two level (2L) inverter is systematically studied and compared to the performance of Si insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) based three level (3L) neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter topologies, for high speed AC motor loads, in terms of efficiency, overvoltages, heat sink design, and cost. A fair comparison was introduced for the first time, having the same output voltage capabilities, output current total harmonic distortion (THD), and overvoltages for the three systems. The analysis indicated the convenience of using the SiC MOSFET based 2L inverter for lower output power. In the case of the maximum output power, the heat sink volume was found to be 20% higher for the 2L SiC based inverter when compared to 3L NPC topologies. Simulations were carried out by realistic dynamic models of power switch modules obtained from the manufacturer's experimental tests and verified both in the LTspice and PLECS simulation packages.Even though the modern switching devices offer many benefits, they still experience many problems mainly connected to the fast switching such as high dv/dt-rates, also in combination with impedance mismatch (machine against cabling and surge), high di/dt, crosstalk [5], etc. Moreover, the fast switching leads to transient overvoltage which increases the strain for the machine's insulation and accelerated aging [4,6]. This, together with the fact that often, the power cable between the inverter and the motor is long, leads to significant voltage overshoot due to reflected wave phenomenon. All of these problems resulting from the high dv/dt spikes could degrade the reliability and efficiency of motor drive systems [7][8][9]. In some cases, motor transient peak voltages can be even up to 3-4-times the DC bus voltage [10]. Moreover, besides the effects of the overvoltages on a whole winding, also the stress on the inter-turn insulation of the motor windings must be considered, especially as the rise time becomes shorter. This can result in relevant voltage drops across one turn, going beyond the inter-turn insulation design limit considered under sinusoidal operation [6,7].Currently, insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) based two level (2L) VSI, and three level (3L) neutral point clamped (NPC) and T-type neutral point clamped (T-NPC) inverters are commercially available and widely used by industry. However, in some cases, the application of 2L inverters is limited due to several drawbacks. They are usually connected with increased losses (in the case of higher fundamental freq...

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Impact of Silicon Carbide Devices on the Powertrain Systems in Electric Vehicles

Cited by 20 publications

References 32 publications

A Simple Method for Reducing THD and Improving the Efficiency in CSI Topology Based on SiC Power Devices

A Simple Method for Reducing THD and Improving the Efficiency in CSI Topology Based on SiC Power Devices

Supercapacitor Storage Sizing Analysis for a Series Hybrid Vehicle

Analytical and Simulation Fair Comparison of Three Level Si IGBT Based NPC Topologies and Two Level SiC MOSFET Based Topology for High Speed Drives

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