SKAI power electronic system matched with motor control software for vehicles


Nuremberg, 28 February 2011 – Semikron further strengthens its presence in and dedication to the electric and hybrid vehicle market by forming a 50/50 joint venture with drivetek, a development specialist for innovative electrical drives and control technology. The joint venture, SKAItek GmbH, will provide innovative motor control software optimized for the newest generation of SKAI 2 IGBT and MOSFET inverter systems for vehicle applications, which were launched by Semikron in May 2010. SKAI 2 with the optimized software presents the optimal drive train solution for vehicle inverter applications in the power range of 10 to 250 kVA and battery voltages from 24V to 900V. The vehicle market benefits from this joint venture with short setup time and reduced development risks.

“The QUASAR software is based on a modern, field-oriented closed-loop control system”, explains Peter Baumann, general manager of SKAItek and managing director at drivetek. It guarantees steady control of the electrical machine up to the strong field weakening range for realisation of efficient and dynamic traction drives and generator solutions. QUASAR receives input from a central controller via CAN bus and converts this precisely into a speed or torque.

The software is tailored to the control of brushless DC, interior and surface mounted permanent magnet synchronous and AC induction machines. As a standard the motor control software also offers a powerful set of additional control functions, e.g. battery deep discharge protection, overvoltage protection for DC energy recovery etc. Customer machine parameterisation and setup is easily done with the additional Q-Control software package. This PC based Windows application allows visualisation and setup of the customer system via CAN interface.

“The SKAI2 product platform is predestined for use in automotive applications owing to the use of pressure contact technology”, states Roland Mühlemann, general manager of SKAItek and business development manager at Semikron. The experience that Semikron has gained in the area of battery powered vehicles over two decades has been integrated in the SKAI product family. User benefit from this long-time experience is the availability of the SKAI platform as a standard solution.

About SEMIKRON:

Semikron is an internationally leading power semiconductor manufacturer. 2011 marks the 60th anniversary of the German-based family enterprise which employs 3600 people worldwide. A global network of 35 companies with production plants in Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, Slovakia, South Africa and USA guarantees fast and competent on-site customer care.

Semikron is a one-stop provider of chips, discrete semiconductors, transistor, diode and thyristor power modules, power assemblies and systems for markets such as industrial drives, wind and solar, hybrid and electric vehicles, the rail industry and power supplies. Globally Semikron technology powers nearly every second windmill. According to a survey carried out by BTM Consult ApS, the total wind power capacity installed until 2009 was 122 Gigawatt. 57 Gigawatt comprises power semiconductors from Semikron.

The dedication to the hybrid and electric vehicle market is evident in the development and production of power semiconductors for this market but also the majority take-over of Compact Dynamics GmbH, a development specialist for innovative control systems, the joint venture with drivetek, a provider for application-specific control technology, and the take-over of VePOINT, developing and producing inverters, DC/DC converters and chargers.

Semikron is the market leader in the field of diode/thyristor semiconductor modules, enjoying a 30% share of the worldwide market. (Source: IMS Research „The global power semiconductor market 2010”)
www.semikron.com.

About drivetek:

drivetek is a leading engineering service provider for application-specific motion and electrical control technology. The company was founded in 2002, is based in Ipsach, Switzerland and offers expertise in complete system design, i.e. development of hardware, software and electrical machines in-house.

Demanding applications in transportation, energy and industry require precisely coordinated electrical control systems. These solutions are realized by drivetek.

Vehicle drive projects based on SKAI power systems and QUASAR motor control software have already been successfully implemented for renowned customers in the vehicle industry. This development forms the basis of the joint venture company SKAItek GmbH.

Press Contact SEMIKRON
Annette Müller
Manager International Communications
SEMIKRON INTERNATIONAL GmbH
Sigmundstr. 200
90431 Nürnberg
Tel: +49-(0) 911-6559-158
Fax: +49-(0) 911-6559-77158
annette.mueller@semikron.com

Press Contact drivetek
Cyrille Kunz-Zimmermann
Keltenstrasse 1
CH-2563 Ipsach
Tel +41 32 332 79 37
Fax +41 32 332 79 31
cyrille.kunz@drivetek.ch

This release was published on openPR.