CeramTec develops ceramic power module for drive inverters with Fraunhofer Institute
CeramTec and the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology (“Integrierte Systeme und Bauelementetechnologie”, IISB) in Erlangen are collaborating to develop innovative cooling solutions for power electronics in e-mobility drive trains. The launch date for the new product is in May.
Since drives in electric vehicles have to deliver the highest electrical power, the challenge is to be able to regulate this power constantly and reliably over long periods in the smallest possible space. The cooling of the power electronics in the drive train plays an important role here. In the area of thermal management, CeramTec is developing ceramic coolers with applied metallization that enable the semiconductor chips to be applied directly to the ceramic cooler (chip-on-heatsink). The focus of the FuCera joint project is the development of a module design that uses ceramic coolers to efficiently dissipate heat from SiC chips and make the best possible use of the chip surface.
High-performance ceramics offer several advantages over conventional materials such as metals and plastics. They are resistant to temperature changes, corrosion and chemicals. In addition, they are characterized by special thermal conductivity and electrical insulation as well as strength and good tribological properties. High-performance ceramic solutions can therefore be used in a wide range of applications in e-mobility.
Ceramic solutions offer particular advantages for heat dissipation in power electronics - for example in thermal management, voltage converters, drive control or brake energy recovery - due to their low thermal resistance and simultaneous electrical insulation. Based on the broad range of ceramic materials and the resulting combinations of customized property profiles, CeramTec can address different requirements in e-mobility and develop customized and innovative concepts together with customers.
"We are pleased to be able to contribute our expertise in the collaboration with the Fraun-hofer Institute and, at the same time, to have a first-class research and development partner at our side to further strengthen and expand our competencies in the eMobility sector," says Richard Boulter, President Industrial of the Industry Division at CeramTec.
Dr. Christoph F. Bayer, Group Manager at the Fraunhofer Institute in Erlangen, Germany: "Innovation is a multi-layered process that requires a view beyond the purely scientific horizon. In CeramTec, we have found a very reliable and experienced partner from industry for our project in order to jointly develop a solution that will advance e-mobility."