High-current circuit board for future-oriented multilevel inverter prototype completed

Scientific investigations can start

In the Electromobility and Learning Systems (ELS) research group at the Institute of Innovative Mobility (IIMo), a circuit board prototype with the novel PECIN switch structure has been completed as part of a complete test bench.

The setup of the multilevel inverter test bench is used to evaluate different switch structures, system concepts, such as optimal step height, and actuation methods. Among other things, the various multilevel inverters are to be compared in terms of their system efficiency with that of a conventional three-phase two-point inverter.

The circuit diagram and layout of the board were developed entirely in-house. The board is a modular board, which allows 15 prismatic lithium-ion cells to be connected in parallel or series, depending on the current and voltage requirements. This results in voltages of about 60 V per module board. A serial interconnection of several module boards allows a higher system voltage.

One of the next steps is to commission the hardware to subsequently validate SPICE, Simulink and FEM models at the board level. After completion of the remaining components of the test bench, different operating strategies and modulation types will be investigated in order to be able to give a statement regarding optimal system design.