Thursday 21 October 2021 at 3:00 PM CET (9:00 AM EST)

By Davide Barater (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy)

Register now using the link below:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6592100391810880267


Abstract:

The fast-switching speed, higher switching frequency of wide-bandgap (SiC, GaN) power devices have provided the opportunities in achieving high-density, higher-efficiency, higher-frequency and highly integrated power electronics. The energy sector is one of the main areas which can take advantage from these devices to achieve more effective solutions to source, manage and dispatch the energy produced from renewables sources. Efficient and reliable power electronics is expected to change radically the structure of the future energy distribution grid, passing from a centralized structure, with big energy plants delivering electricity to industrial sites and residential compounds at kilometres of distance, to a distributed structure, where the energy is produced from low, medium capacity renewable sources and consumed mainly locally.
Nevertheless, the high switching speed of wide-bandgap devices produces also some drawbacks due to inherently sharp voltage (dv/dt) and current (di/dt) gradients. In turn, this could result in an excessive electric stress on the insulation system of wounded magnetic components (electrical machines, high frequency transformers, etc), along with electro-magnetic interference, thus reducing the overall reliability and lifetime. In particular, for electrical machines, if the voltage between the stator windings’ turns exceeds partial discharge (PD) inception voltage, PDs occur on the surface of dielectric insulation causing progressive erosion until complete breakdown.
In this webinar, the impact of high-frequency switching on magnetics will be investigated in terms of high-frequency modelling, high-speed measurement, insulation partial discharge and reliability analysis together with proposed mitigation solutions and experimental validation. The webinar is suitable for both industrial and academic audience and will provide insight of the opportunities, challenges and solutions of the adoption of wide-bandgap power electronics in comparison to existing Si based systems.

Presenter’s bio:

Davide Barater (M’14 – SM’21) received the master’s degree in Electronic Engineering in 2009 and the Ph.D. degree in Information Technology in 2014 from the University of Parma Italy. He was an honorary scholar at the University of Nottingham, U.K., during 2012, and a visiting researcher at the University of Kiel, DE in 2015.
He is currently Associate Professor at Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy. His research area is focused on wide-bandgap devices applications to renewable energy and transportation system.

He is the Coordinator of two European Project:

  • RAISE, to evaluate the impact of the high voltage gradients, introduced by the fast commutations of new wide bandgap power devices (SiC, GaN), on the life time of electrical motor insulation systems. https://www.raise.unimore.it
  • AUTO-MEA that aims to develop electrical motors and drives for next generation of electrical mobility. In particular, novel solutions for windings structures and cooling systems for improved power density, efficiency and increased frequency operation. https://www.automea.unimore.it

He is Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications and author or co-author of more than 80 international papers.