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Cryogenically cooled 500kW drive inverter
Fraunhofer
Compact and lightweight electric drives are essential for future electric aviation. A suitable solution would be superconducting systems where the electric current flows virtually without resistance and hardly any losses. This enables maximum efficiency in terms of weight and installation space. Many electrical conductors are only superconducting at cryogenic temperatures. This is why all drive components – including complex inverters – must be designed for such conditions.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology (IISB) in Erlangen demonstrated a cryogenic 500kW drive inverter for the first time. It is cooled with liquid nitrogen at 77K, corresponding to -196°C. The cryogenic inverter is the result of a cooperation with Airbus UpNext. As part of its ASCEND program, Airbus is now building a prototype of a fully cryogenic electric aircraft powertrain. This is possible for the first time thanks to the IISB drive converter in the 500kW power class.
Booth: 186