HIMRATE: High-temperature IGBT- and MOSFET-modules for railway traction and automotive electronics

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 99.0592

Key words (English)

Power devices; reduction of CO2 emissions; hybrid vehicles; railway traction; reliability; simulation;
Environmental Protection; Safety; Transport

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: G3RD-2000-00275

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.3.3 Land transport and marine technologies

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Siemens AG, München (D)

Abstract (English)

The contribution of the Integrated System Laboratory (lIS) to the main project objectives is divided in three areas: characterization of semiconductor devices at high temperatures, reliability modelling of power modules operated in hybrid vehicles, and optimization of the thermal management of power MOSFET and IGBT for traction applications.
The experimental characterization of test devices (resistors, diodes, MOSFETs, and IGBT) performed at the lIS for temperatures up to 400°C has demonstrated that the physical models implemented in the device simulator DESSIS-ISE predicts very accurately the characteristics of the power devices under investigation, thus it can be used for the design of power devices even in the extended temperature range specified in HIMRATE.
The modelling of the lifetime of a hybrid vehicle has been based on a clear definition of the concept of thermal cycle within a standardized mission profile and on the quantification of the impact of the different definitions on the lifetime prediction. A new definition of thermal cycle has been introduced, which enables to use the traditional linear accumulation of the damage approach while delivring lifetimes, which are in the same range to that of a full-featured thermomecanical model. Two numerical thermomechanical models and the related procedures for calibration on experimental data have been developed, which can be easily extended to other thermomechanics-related failure mechanisms affecting power modules.
Static and dynamic thermal simulations have been performed to assist the project partners in the design of a power converter for an Integrated crankshaft Starter-Generator, of an integrated cooling system for a power converter for hybrid traction applications, and finally for optimizing the design of the heat pipe evaporator for railway traction applications.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 99.0592