Inverter technology for high-speed drives like electric turbochargers

Abstract:
The increasing interest in high-speed motors is being triggered by new applications such as turbo-compressors, electric-chargers and high-speed traction drives. In all cases, high power density is achieved by increasing the motor-speed. Adapted inverters for these applications in the high-voltage range need to provide higher switching-frequencies com-pared to state-of-the-art systems to reduce torque-ripple and losses in the machine. The recent developments in the field of wide-band-gap semiconductors, like SiC or GaN, are able to incorporate the apparently contradictory properties – high breakdown-voltages and reduced static and dynamic losses. This paper focuses on the characterization of these devices and their potential in terms of efficiency, power-density and switching frequency when used in drive-inverters.