IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - December 2021 - 40

continued Andrews, " we are under phase1 of development
and electric propulsion technology will target low power aircraft
application. " Beyond 2025, phase2 will see hybrid systems
used in smaller aircrafts with demonstration in larger
applications, " said the keynote speaker. Likewise, beyond
2030, phase3 will enable single aisle aircrafts with hybrid
electric capability to enter service. Finally, as per the chart
in Figure 3, Phase4 will begin after 2035 and is projected to
further advance electrification concepts. Andrews presentation
also provided an overview of new opportunities and
challenges for making hybrid electric systems a reality for
the commercial aviation sector. They include:
■ Aircraft integration
■ High voltage power distribution
■ Integration of gas turbines with electrical components
■ Thermal management
■ Energy storage revolution
■ Certification
Finally, Dr. Irene J. Petrick, senior director of industrial innovation
in the Internet of Things group at Intel, talked about
driving digital transformation. Investigating this transformation,
her talk primarily focused on the interplay of people, processes
and technology. Consequently, Dr. Petrick explored
external factors driving this transformation. In reality, Dr. Petrick's
presentation revealed lessons learned from Intel's fouryear
study of over 500 people at more than 400 companies. It
is well understood that Industry 4.0 harnesses digital tools to
make industrial operations smarter, more efficient, and ultimately
to operate autonomously. Consequently, she noted that
data plays a key role in this transformation with an ability to
drive proactive decisions. To accelerate the digital transformation
journey one needs both a long term vision and a digital
architecture. " It's not just applying digital tools to current
operations. Instead, successful companies have had to rethink
complex interactions between people, processes, organizational
culture and technology, " concluded Dr. Petrick. In her
closing remarks, Dr. Petrick, indicated that the future is here
and that the intelligent factory may be closer than you think.
2025
Phase 1
Electric Propulsion
Emerges in Low-Power
Aircraft Applications
Phase 2
Hybrid Systems Used in
Smaller Applications and
More Demonstrations in
Larger Applications
2030
Phase 3
Single Aisle Applications
With Hybrid-Electric
Capability Enters Service
Virtual Exposition and More
Soon after the plenary session, virtual exposition was officially
launched. The exposition was open for next two days
and about 32 companies demonstrated their cutting-edge
components and systems for a wide range of applications.
While STMicroelectronics was a gold sponsor of the event,
OPAL-RT Technologies participated as a silver sponsor. Other
well-known exposition participants included Infineon Technologies,
Wolfspeed, GeneSiC Semiconductor, Efficient Power
Conversion Corp. (EPC), MathWorks, Plexim, Vicor, Rohde &
Schwarz USA, Inc., Magna-Power Electronics, Payton America,
and Magnetics to name a few. Besides live virtual exposition,
there were exhibitor product sessions where exhibitors
discussed their latest offerings. STMicroelectronics, for example,
took a closer look at evolution of power delivery for cloud
computing. In this session, ST's product marketing manager
Jeff Halbig examined a variety of power delivery topologies,
ranging from ac-dc to point-of-load, that were leveraging ST's
wide product portfolio, including the latest innovations in GaN
transistors and drivers. Aside from discussing integrated MasterGaN
devices for high-efficiency power conversion applications,
Halbig also introduced VIPerPower and VIPerGaN45, an
integrated ac-dc converter with low RDS(on) 650 V power GaN
HEMT. Likewise, OPAL-RT Technologies' field application
engineer Bowen Liang demonstrated hardware-in-the-loop
(HIL) tests for low voltage ride through (LVDT) capability of
solar energy inverters using an FPGA-based real-time simulator.
Another interesting demonstration came from GeneSiC
Semiconductor. The company's application engineer Sumit
Jadav disclosed its next generation 1200 V G3R SiC MOSFET
with RDS(on) ranging from 20 mΩ to 350 mΩ, offering unprecedented
levels of performance, robustness and quality.
Adopting live format similar to the plenary session, several
special sessions provided attendees the opportunity to
participate in panels with experts from industry and academia.
The topics were very timely and important, ranging
from additive manufacturing for electric machines to wide
bandgap (WBG) devices, and future electric grid. Speaking
2035
Phase 4
Further Advanced
Electrification Concepts
FIG 3 Evolution of hybrid propulsion systems in next few decades.
40 IEEE POWER ELECTRONICS MAGAZINE z December 2021
IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - December 2021
