Power Electronics for Automotive Electric Drivetrains – Design and Optimization

Abstract:
Inverters of electric drivetrains have high requirements which need to be considered during development: Efficiency, power density and economic goals have to be met at output powers beyond 250kW. In order to achieve optimum design, simulations are required that represent the complex relationships of the semiconductors, the cooling, the power module technology and the modulation. In addition, the entire drive system, consisting of battery, inverter and electric machine, must be considered and simulated in order to achieve the maximum possible overall efficiency. The necessary methodology and simulations are presented in this paper.