PowerAmerica

Technical Webinar – Megahertz Power Conversion for Lightweight and Power Dense Applications
2025-07-30 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
This event is free and does not require registration. Please feel free to share the link with colleagues and students.
Where: Online via Zoom
When: Wednesday, August 6, from Noon to 1 p.m. (EDT)
Topic: Megahertz Power Conversion for Lightweight and Power Dense Applications
Presenter: Dr. Kristen Booth
Dr. Kristen Booth is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina where she is researching the codesign of power electronics and power systems. She became a Joint Appointee with Savannah River National Laboratory in 2022, and previously, she was a Postdoctoral Researcher at The Ohio State University in the Center for High Performance Power Electronics (CHPPE). As an NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Dr. Booth completed her Ph.D. degree from North Carolina State University in 2019. She graduated from NCSU with an M.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2017 and received a B.S.E. in Engineering Physics in 2015 from Murray State University. Dr. Booth’s research interests include resiliency and reliability of power electronics converters, AI-integrated power electronics, and digital twins for grid modernization and security.
Abstract: Empty weight of a vehicle refers to the total weight of its structure and operating equipment without passengers or payload. For aerospace applications, empty weight, center of gravity, and flight planning are coordinated to determine the feasibility of a flight. By reducing empty weight, the economics of short-duration flights, such as electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, can be improved by replacing existing equipment weight with payload. While power electronics alone cannot improve energy storage weight, reasonable reduction in the islanded microgrid structure is valuable to adding payload as center of gravity can be shifted outside of a narrow tolerable range, causing instability in transitions from hovering to cruise.
A GaN-based, 1-MHz, 5-kW LLC resonant converter has been experimentally verified for eVTOL battery energy storage systems. This initial prototype focuses on the challenges megahertz operation, including radiated EMI from high slew rates while pushing the GaN devices to the edge of safe operating conditions. This seminar addresses these challenges through the design, modeling, and experimental validation of power converters operating at 1 MHz. Key techniques include a method to accurately determine dead time for soft switching based on GaN output charge behavior, the use of a PCB-integrated transformer to reduce volume and improve power density, and a thermal impedance network to estimate internal temperature rise under forced convection. The temperature dependence of GaN is also characterized to improve the conduction loss prediction. This converter weighs less than a pound, has a power density of 40 kW/L, and transfers the largest reported power at 1 MHz to date. The results demonstrate practical design methods to overcome switching, thermal, and integration challenges in higher-frequency and higher-power converters using commercially available components.

I.S.E.S. USA Power 2025
2025-04-14 08:00 - 2025-04-15 17:00
Empowering a Sustainable Future: Innovation, Collaboration and Navigating Challenges in the Power Electronics Industry

Virtual Webinar: GaN FET – based Compact Converters for Pulsed Power Applications
2024-12-04 12:00 - 13:00
Where: Online via Zoom
When: Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm EST
Topic: GaN FET – based Compact Converters for Pulsed Power Applications
Presenter: Dr. Harish Krishnamoorthy
Dr. Harish S. Krishnamoorthy, a Senior IEEE Member and Associate Professor at the University of Houston, holds a B.Tech. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from NIT Tiruchirappalli and a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University. He has extensive industry experience with GE, Schlumberger, Ford, and Google, has published over 110 research papers, and holds two U.S. patents.
An active IEEE conference organizer and Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, he has received numerous awards, including the NSF CAREER Award. His research, supported by projects totaling approximately $10 million, focuses on wide-bandgap semiconductor power systems for renewable energy, electrified transportation, and energy system reliability.
Abstract: The presentation will explore the design of power converters for pulsed power applications, focusing on high-energy, fast-response, and high-density power needs in fields like aerospace, defense, and medical technology. Starting with an overview of major applications, the talk will dive into radar and NMR spectroscopy, examining their unique power conversion demands. A 2-stage converter architecture using GaN HEMTs will be detailed, highlighting the isolated and non-isolated stages tailored for these high-performance applications. Key challenges, such as creating compact (100 W/in³), rapid-response (<1 µs), and high-temperature (>150°C) capable designs, will also be discussed.
Zoom Webinar Link

Virtual Webinar: Meeting the Reliability Challenges of HV Electronic Assemblies
2024-11-06 12:00 - 13:00
Where: Online via Zoom
When: Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm EST
Topic: Meeting the Reliability Challenges of HV Electronic Assemblies
Presenter: Dr. Olaf Schoenfeld
Dr. Olaf Schoenfeld has been a key figure at ZESTRON since 2009, specializing in cleanliness solutions for electronic assemblies, particularly in high-voltage applications for electromobility and charging stations.
With a background in experimental semiconductor physies, Dr. Schoenfeld started his career at Siemens, developing quantum devices for high-brightness LEDs, now used in vehicle lighting. He later contributed to market launches at Infineon Technologies, including high-speed transceivers, communication chips, and high-performance computing memory systems.
Dr. Schoenfeld is a co-owner of several patents and scientific publications, solidifying his legacy as an innovator and industry expert in the automotive and electronies industry.
Zoom Webinar Link
