Power Electronics

Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration

© Stephan Flad

Power electronics is be all and end all in developing intelligent and flexible power supplies and controls for the many different applications that use electricity. Switch-ing power supplies, electric drives in road and rail vehicles, and large industrial drives have to function as efficiently as possible to conserve our natural resources. Using power electronics, energy from renewable sources can be processed into a form suitable for the existing electrical grid.
Fraunhofer IZM develops these innovative and reliable power electronic systems. Thanks to our extensive knowledge and experience, we can assist our clients throughout the product-development process. We have the skills and know-how required at every stage of the development chain, from system design, to packag-ing, thermal management, electromagnetic compatibility, through to reliability and damage analysis. Well-equipped laboratories are also available for functional testing.

Applications

  • Electric Drive Technology

    Electric drives can be found in many different applications. They are now essential components in industrial equipment (e.g. conveyer belts and venti-lation systems), in transportation such as bicycles, cars and trains and in household appliances like washing machines and fridges.

  • Power Generation, Conversion and Storage

    Oil, gas and coal reserves are limited and also exacerbate CO2 emissions. Although nuclear energy is relatively free of CO2, the storage of radioactive waste is problematic and assorted accidents in nuclear power plants has seen public acceptance begin to decrease.

  • Smart Grid

    In the not too distant future, the existing power network will need to be re-volutionized due the increased use of renewable energies. When and how much energy is generated will no longer be able to be predicted precisely, which is why demand and supply will have to be continually matched.