The NSF POETS Inverter Named in R&D 100
Outcome/Accomplishment
One of the most impactful successes of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Center for Power Optimization of Electro-Thermal Systems (NSF POETS) during its 10 years as an NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC), and one that truly demonstrates the power of the ERC innovation ecosystem, is the “POETS Inverter.” NSF POETS is based at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and the University of Arkansas (UA). A combined POETS team of UA-UIUC won an R&D 100 award for developing an aircraft motor drive that achieved a gravimetric power density of 30 kW/kg!
Impact/Benefits
The inverter was based on a SiC drive developed for traction applications within NSF POETS, which led to an ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy) project that eventually became the motor drive for aircraft. Fundamental activities in thermal management, motor drive control, and power module packaging were supported by NSF POETS ERC funds. These activities led to the learning and the collaborations that resulted in team and concept formation for the ARPA-E grant that directly funded the aircraft motor drive work. All ARPA-E team members were university or industry participants in NSF POETS.
Explanation/Background
Due to earlier successes with NSF POETS partners Caterpillar and Wolfspeed, the ARPA-E team was asked to work with another company, Ampaire, on the aircraft motor drive. The team designed, fabricated, extensively tested, and integrated a 200-kW motor drive for a hybrid electric aircraft owned by ARPA-E and operated by Ampaire (see table). The drive utilizes Wolfspeed SiC power modules, advanced capacitor and bussing architectures, and integrated 55o C cooling available on-board for the driven EMRAX 442 motor. The technology was validated through a successful flight demonstration in a hybrid-electric aircraft in 2023, which resulted in the recognition by R&D World as one of its R&D 100, a renowned worldwide science and innovation competition.
Location
Urbana-Champaign, Illinoiswebsite
Start Year
Microelectronics and IT
Quantum, Microelectronics, Sensing, and IT
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Outcome/Accomplishment
One of the most impactful successes of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Center for Power Optimization of Electro-Thermal Systems (NSF POETS) during its 10 years as an NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC), and one that truly demonstrates the power of the ERC innovation ecosystem, is the “POETS Inverter.” NSF POETS is based at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and the University of Arkansas (UA). A combined POETS team of UA-UIUC won an R&D 100 award for developing an aircraft motor drive that achieved a gravimetric power density of 30 kW/kg!
Location
Urbana-Champaign, Illinoiswebsite
Start Year
Microelectronics and IT
Quantum, Microelectronics, Sensing, and IT
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Impact/benefits
The inverter was based on a SiC drive developed for traction applications within NSF POETS, which led to an ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy) project that eventually became the motor drive for aircraft. Fundamental activities in thermal management, motor drive control, and power module packaging were supported by NSF POETS ERC funds. These activities led to the learning and the collaborations that resulted in team and concept formation for the ARPA-E grant that directly funded the aircraft motor drive work. All ARPA-E team members were university or industry participants in NSF POETS.
Explanation/Background
Due to earlier successes with NSF POETS partners Caterpillar and Wolfspeed, the ARPA-E team was asked to work with another company, Ampaire, on the aircraft motor drive. The team designed, fabricated, extensively tested, and integrated a 200-kW motor drive for a hybrid electric aircraft owned by ARPA-E and operated by Ampaire (see table). The drive utilizes Wolfspeed SiC power modules, advanced capacitor and bussing architectures, and integrated 55o C cooling available on-board for the driven EMRAX 442 motor. The technology was validated through a successful flight demonstration in a hybrid-electric aircraft in 2023, which resulted in the recognition by R&D World as one of its R&D 100, a renowned worldwide science and innovation competition.