The GaN (gallium nitride) and SiC (silicon carbide) High Frequency Equipment Research Laboratory has a mission to support research in the area of advanced design, construction and testing of power electronic converters. The routine work at the Laboratory will focus specifically on resonant converters, which operate in the frequency range of up to several tens of MHz.
Key elements of the laboratory in organisation:
- New material technologies:
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- Applications of wide-energy gap semiconductors such as SiC and GaN, which provide better energy efficiency compared to traditional silicon-based solutions;
- research into these novel materials is helping to improve efficiency of equipment while reducing its size and weight, resulting in lower production and operating costs.
- Industrial applications:
- SiC and GaN are crucial materials for energy engineering development, especially in the context of electric vehicles (BEVs), renewable energy, solar inverters, power supplies and charging systems.
- The use of modern semiconductors facilitates the development of smart energy systems, like intelligent grids and microgrids.
- Research and development:
- The Laboratory will conduct research into microprocessor-based control and monitoring systems, as well as custom processing solutions in the field of power electronics.
- Development of prototypes and innovative equipment that meet the changing market needs.
- Capital expenditure projects and academic standards:
- The retrofitting of the Laboratory includes current teaching standards in response to the needs of both students and industry.
- The rollout of the latest test equipment and benches will facilitate hands-on engineering education.
- Commercial research offer:
- The new Laboratory units will focus on providing commercial testing and research services to domestic and foreign industries, reinforcing cooperation between science and business.
Practical application
The Laboratory will be dedicated to the design and transformation of power electronics technologies, including:
- Inverters and converters: development of new types of inverters and power converters, including fast DC and DTH chargers (aligned with the development of RES technologies).
- Smart technologies: work on intelligent grid systems and microgrids, which will contribute to sustainable energy engineering development.
- Innovative prototypes: creating modern and efficient energy solutions that meet the requirements of today’s market.
The GaN (gallium nitride) and SiC (silicon carbide) High Frequency Equipment Research Laboratory will be pivotal supporting innovation in energy engineering and industry. By investing in state-of-the-art equipment and training for its staff, the Laboratory will secure a reputation for research and technology development, enabling it to respond more effectively to changing market needs.
Adam Biernacki is responsible for this task; he works at the Research Centre for Energy Conversion and Storage and is involved in the design and testing of power electronic converters.
