Novel Power Electronic Systems Enabled by Wide Band-Gap Semiconductors

Novel Power Electronic Systems Enabled by Wide Band-Gap Semiconductors
September 13, 2016
Washington, D.C. 

ARPA-E hosted a workshop entitled “Novel Power Electronic Systems Enabled by Wide Band-Gap Semiconductors” on September 13, 2016 in the Washington, D.C. area. The workshop convened leading experts in power electronics, power systems, circuit design, wide bandgap materials, semiconductor devices, packaging and module design, and end use applications to identify innovative research paths forward for the development of disruptive advanced circuit topologies that lead to higher efficiency, more reliable, reduced size and weight, and lower cost devices and/or system architectures.  Participants lended their expertise to help ARPA-E determine appropriate and compelling experiments and metrics that promote innovation and sufficient evaluation of advanced circuit topologies.

Request for Information: Novel Power Electronic Systems Enabled by Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors (Responses due 10/17/16)

ARPA-E is interested in advanced circuit topologies that enable higher efficiency, more reliable, smaller form factor and weight, and lower cost devices and system architectures across a range of applications including, but not limited to: 

Power Supplies
 Lighting and LED drivers 
 Solar Inverters / Power Conditioners
 Data Centers and Information Technology
 High-Performance Computing Centers
 Electric Motor Driven Systems
 Automotive (Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicles)
 Wind-Electric Systems
 Utility Applications and UPS
 High/Medium Voltage Transmission/Distribution
 Rail and Ship Propulsion
 Grid Efficiency

Areas of interest and targeted outcomes include: 

 Identification of appropriate evaluation methods and metrics across application areas of interest
 Identification of any other/new application areas that could be significantly improved through advanced circuit topologies and that would have a significant energy impact.
 Identification of the technical challenges that need to be overcome through advanced circuit design for wide bandgap devices.

Time

Event

07:30 - 08:00 AM

Registration & Coffee (breakfast on your own)

08:00 - 08:10 AM

Welcome and Introduction to ARPA-E
Eric Rohlfing , ARPA-E

08:10 - 08:30 AM

Vision for Novel Power Electronic Systems Enabled by Wide Band-Gap Semiconductors
Isik C. Kizilyalli, ARPA-E

08:30 - 08:50 AM

Guest speaker 1 -  Power Electronics Roadmap, Converter Metrics, Performance Limitations, Challenges, and Game-changers
Guest Speaker: Prof. Robert Erickson, University of Colorado, Boulder

08:50 - 09:10 AM

Guest speaker 2  – Advanced Topologies Incorporating WBG Materials will Achieve All of ARPA-E’s Strategic Mission: 216W/in3 2kW DC-AC inverter
Guest Speaker: Prof. Robert Pilawa-Podgurski, University of Illinois, Urbana

09:10 - 09:30 AM

Guest speaker 3 – Innovation and Grand Challenge for Solar Micro-inverters
Guest Speaker: Dr. Jason Neely, Sandia National Labs, Albuquerque, NM

09:30 - 09:40 AM

Breakout 1 Overview
Isik Kizilyalli, ARPA-E

09:40 - 10:00 AM

Break/Networking

10:00 - 12:00 PM

Breakout Session 1: Identifying the Need for Novel Power Electronics Circuits, Modules, and Semiconductors and Relevant/Common Figures of Merit

12:00 - 01:00 PM

Lunch

01:00 - 01:20 PM

Guest speaker 4 – WBG Devices in Electrical Motor Drives
Guest Speaker: Dr. Vlado Blasko, United Technologies Research Center

01:20 - 01:40 PM

Guest speaker 5 – Challenges in Power Electronics for Solid State Lighting
Guest Speaker: Dr. Michael Krames, Arkesso LLC

01:40 - 02:00 PM

Guest speaker 6 - Emerging System Applications and Technological Trends in Power Electronics
Guest Speaker: Dr. Don Tan, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems

02:00 - 02:20 PM

Guest speaker 7 - SiC Modules and Packaging Considerations for WBG
Guest Speaker: Dr. Ty McNutt, Wolfspeed (a Cree Company)

02:20 - 02:40 PM

Guest speaker 8 - GaN HEMTS to Significantly Reduce Energy Consumption
Guest Speaker: Dr. Mike Briere, ACOO

02:40 - 02:50 PM

Breakout 2 Overview
Isik C. Kizilyalli, ARPA-E

02:50 - 03:10 PM

Break/Networking

03:10 - 05:10 PM

Breakout Session 2: Grand Challenge and Metrics in Select Application Areas in Power Electronics and Adoption Barriers/Technical Challenges

5:10 - 5:30 PM

Workshop Wrap-up
Isik C. Kizilyalli, ARPA-E