Wide-Band-Gap Devices Enabled High Efficiency and High Power-Density Motor-Drives

Dear Colleagues,

Electric motor drives (EMDs) are a pivotal element of our society, comprising well over half of the total electrical energy usage worldwide in a range of domains (e.g., industry, transportation, renewable energy). They are rapidly gaining importance in numerous growing and upcoming industries and applications (e.g., aerospace, solid state transformers, medium-voltage applications).

Semiconductor power devices are key elements of motor-drive system design, determining the efficiency and volumetric/gravimetric density of the power converters and the machines. The evolutionary trends of EMDs are demanding higher motor voltages and higher fundamental electrical frequencies, pushing established silicon technology to its limits. In the semiconductor arena, disruptive progress was made with the introduction of wide-bandgap (WBG) devices, particularly silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs and gallium nitride (GaN) HEMTs. However, their deployment as a straightforward drop-in replacement of Si in established applications has hitherto only demonstrated incremental progress capability and has generated both enthusiasm for the benefits and concerns for the challenges of exploiting in practice their full theoretical potential.

Recently, new and revisited circuit topologies have been proposed, which utilize the high switching speed and frequency capability, high operational temperature and integration-level opportunities offered by WBG semiconductor technologies. This Special Issue aims to collect state-of-the-art R&D results relating to WBG-based motor-drive design, demonstrating significant progress in this area. The focus is not only on the power converters, but also on machine design. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

• Multi-level inverters;
• Y-Inverter;
• Current-Source Inverters;
• Integrated Motor Drives;
• Innovative machine concepts;
• High-frequency control solutions (software and hardware);
• High-boost ratios DC-DC converters;
• High-reliability applications;
• Reliability challenges and solutions;
• Long cable effects at high switching frequencies;
• Winding insulation and bearing degradation;
• Multi-domain physical design and design automation.

Prof. Dr. Alberto Castellazzi
Prof. Dr. Xibo Yuan
Guest Editors

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