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The replacement of combustion engines with electric motors represents a great opportunity for power electronics, but also presents certain challenges. The biggest is probably the need for increased efficiency, which is driven by both economic and environmental factors. With regard to the technology incorporated into power electronics devices, a more central role is being played by materials that can provide increased efficiency, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), which are ideal for applications that require fast switching and low consumption. Solar inverters, such as those that incorporate SiC components, and battery chargers that use GaN circuits, are two such examples.

Increased power per cubic centimetre

Another key factor in electrification is power density, as in many applications the amount of space available is limited. Examples include the countless portable devices powered by small batteries; and electric vehicles that cannot incorporate a battery that is very large or very heavy because most of the vehicle’s space is taken up by its cabin. It has been shown that a higher switching frequency when converting electrical energy (whether DC-AC, DC-DC, AC-DC or AC-AC) enables the size of the power system to be reduced, although it also carries the risk of generating significant losses (and therefore heat).

This brings us back to the subject of efficiency, and to the adoption of innovative solutions related to circuit topology and electronic packaging that are able to supply the required amount of energy reliably, safely and for as long as possible. Additionally, these solutions must not generate noise or electromagnetic interference that could affect nearby devices; to which end, they must meet a set of strict regulations that require the installation of EMI/RFI filters where necessary.

A well-known approach to reducing switching losses and distortion is the use of pulse width modulation (PWM), and more specifically an advanced version known as space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM), which helps to improve the efficiency and quality of the wave supplied. This topology is used by Salicru in its EQUINOX series of solar inverters, along with components made from SiC (as mentioned above).

One final aspect that deserves a mention in this general roundup of trends in power electronics is the gradual convergence with the digital environment, and in particular the Internet of Things (IoT). The marked growth in the number of IoT-connected devices has also affected power electronics and it is now possible to communicate with many devices via the cloud, which serves to facilitate and improve the monitoring process. At Salicru, this development – which is particularly important from a safety perspective, when high levels of power, voltage and current are involved – has taken the form of Nimbus solutions, which are incorporated into uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), for example, in order to enable remote management, warn of any incidents, monitor the device’s health status and carry out preventive maintenance.

Power electronics perform a function that goes far beyond the simple provision of DC or AC power. The energy they supply must be reliable, efficient, profitable and safe; in turn, this requires companies in the power electronics sector to apply the most advanced technologies in order to safeguard and increase their competitiveness.