IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - September 2017 - 31

planned for long-range electric vehicle
surement technique is important for
(EV) cars. In this context, the integrathese devices-how we measure corOne approach is
tion of renewables and EV-charging
rectly in a circuit as well as the types
hardware-in-the-loop,
operation is also of considerable interof instruments needed.
est and will further reduce emissions.
Piezoelectric systems are an emergwhich moves fast to
Wireless charging pads need to be even
ing discipline, the potential for which
do complicated system
more efficient when combined with
has not yet been realized. While wirepower electronics. In these systems,
less power transfer using resonant
testing-but severe
some harmonic issues still need to be
structures is a way to obtain very high
limitations exist when
addressed. Cost is always an important
power capacity, the limits have yet to
factor; inverter cost targets in 2020 are
be determined.
thousands to tens of
projected to be around US$3.3/kVA.
The steady development of magthousands of units
Integration is the key in adjustablenetics materials means that finding a
speed drives for electric mobility
way to utilize them in the best possineed to be studied.
(motor and power electronics), comble way is an important research goal.
bined with modularity.
Better design techniques for megaAir transportation based on elechertz-frequency magnetics, including
trical systems will move fast. The first mover is autonoisolation, is a vital topic. As for power devices, magnetics
mous systems, but large airplanes have more electrical
offers many opportunities for integration.
systems than ever. In aircraft, significant targets for electrical machines exist: 7-10 kW/kg in the short term and
Other Future 2025 Applications
20-50 kW/kg in the long term. Higher speed is the way to
The Other Future 2025 Applications session was chaired by
make drives and generators more compact, and the design
Dr. Don Tan of Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems,
is a real challenge. In airplane systems, the electrical
with Prof. Miroslav Zeman of the Technical University Delft,
network cables are an important issue due to their large
The Netherlands, as notetaker. The modular multilevel
weight, and superconducting cables could be a disruptive
converter (MMC) is still in its early stages; new ways of
technology for airplanes to significantly lower the weight.
modeling the MMC are appearing, and understanding the
Short-distance airplanes-up to 1,000 km, all electric-
methods is important to improve operation. The MMC will
are a goal that is reachable in approximately 15 years. In
be applied in different power ranges.
such systems, safety is the key issue; lifetime monitoring
Reliability and system engineering are key methods to
of components and systems is important and needs to be
improve the power electronics system. Transient condifurther developed.
tions contribute to reliability metrics, combined with wearWith EV use growing, it is crucial to develop a second life
out during operation. Multitime-scale modeling helps with
for batteries. So how do we make power electronics for that
problem solving and making power electronic products
application? Battery packs for power electronics are commore robust-but it, too, is a difficult problem to solve.
plicated systems; their reliability and protection have to be
Many applications exist for motor drives, with a wide
further addressed. In that sense, further progress in capacispecification range beyond industrial drives, such as in
tor and battery technologies is needed, and this could bring
the deep sea and deep space. In numerous applications,
even more challenges to the power electronics technology.
integrating the motor and power converter is still a challenge to obtain compactness. Drive and control integration
Power Devices and Integration
with multiple drives is also an open question. Better system
The Power Devices and Integration session was chaired by
reliability can be obtained by fault-tolerant control, state
Prof. Eckart Hoene of Fraunhofer-IZM, Germany, with
monitoring, and fault diagnosis.
notetaker Prof. Gerry Hurley of the National University of
Some other emerging topics include wireless power
Ireland, Galway. Wide-bandgap devices are quickly moving
transfer, from small to high power; virtual simulation and
into the market and being explored in many applications.
testing of very-high-power systems; transient analysis of
Gallium nitride (GaN) is the green material for power eleclarge complicated systems; and energy harvesting-how
tronics, but how to use it and compare it as a secondthese technologies can be further improved, including medchoice technology to Si devices is a challenge. Today, GaN
ical power implants, as well as the impact of deep learning
is approximately 100 times beyond its theoretical limits, so
methods on power electronics technology.
continuous improvement will be seen in the future. The
high dV/dt is a serious challenge for GaN applications; soluIoT and Cybersecurity
tions will come integrated with packaging. An optimum
The IoT and Cybersecurity session was chaired by Prof.
switching cell layout can be a solution; however, the ability
Alan Mantooth, with notetaker Prof. Juan Balda, both of
to solve EM issues inside the package from a cost-competithe University of Arkansas. Consumers are the drivers for
tiveness standpoint will continue to be difficult. The meathe energy transition and regulatory changes taking place
September 2017

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - September 2017