Research

The following is an overview of the individual research projects for each Doctoral Candidate:

DC	Host Institution	Short project description
1	TU/e, Delta, Shell	Hardware design and optimization of RDC in battery buffered fast-charging stations Design and implementation of the reduced dissipation convertor (RDC) to enable cost-reduction of EV fast-charging under different scenarios. Expected results are: 1) Optimal hardware design solution with high efficiency, power density and reliability, 2) electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter to meet the EMC standard for the EV and local buffering battery, 3) demonstration of RDC for reduced grid take-off and operability for a number of standardized charging scenarios.
2	TU/e, Delta	Control and protection methodologies of RDC in battery buffered fast-charging stations Control and protection of the battery buffered fast-charging station with RDC. Expected results are: 1) System level power control of battery buffered fast-charging station with RDC, 2) design of protection circuit and fault handling control to ensure the safe operation of battery buffered fast-charging station under different fault conditions, 3) smart battery management system to ensure the safe charging and discharging of local buffering battery and long life-time.
3	TU/e, Delta	Medium voltage solid-state transformer for direct MV grid connection of fast-charging stations Development of a cost-effective solid-state transformer for direct MV coupling of fast-charging stations. Expected results are: 1) Novel cost-effective medium voltage solid-state transformer with considerable modularity, scalability, and high efficiency for electric vehicle fast charger applications, 2) new optimization algorithm to fully explore the design space of MV power electronics converters and the identification of optimal design options, 3) lab prototype of MV solid-state transformer to demonstrate the feasibility and cost reduction of the proposed topology and design methodology.
4	TU/e, Heliox, Kema Labs	Multi-port fast-charging stations with cost-effective galvanic isolations Development of cost-effective power conversion topologies for multi-outlet EV fast-charging equipment. Expected results are: : 1) Research and development of multi-output topology for flexible use in EV charging applications, 2) baseline design of galvanic isolation among multi-outlet charging according to. IEC61851-23, 3) active isolation monitoring techniques and control strategies to ensure the safety of multiple output charging.
5	UMinho, Efacec	Optimal design of innovative cooling systems for the EV charging infrastructure Design and application of new technologies and materials for high efficiency cooling system applied to modular power electronic converters for EV charging infrastructure and definition of strategies of how to transfer the generated heat and reuse it for other applications in a sustainable approach. Expected results are: Definition of a cooling system architecture, combining the use of new materials and the application of new technologies specially oriented for power electronic converters, considering the process of how to efficiently transfer and reutilize the generated heat for other purposes (building heating, energy generation, etc.) in a rational perspective.
6	UMinho, Efacec	Advanced power electronics technologies for high-current power conversion Application of new semiconductor technologies and conversion topologies targeting the design of DC/DC conversion stage modules with a higher-power rating (>90 kW). Expected results are: Reduced number of power modules for a 400 kW charger (target of 4-5 modules) for designing advanced high-current DC fast chargers with improved power density and efficiency, by using new technologies in the power electronics design, and a cost reduction.
7	AAU, Infineon	Universal fast charger with wide output voltage range Development of a universal EV fast charger with a more cost-efficient solution without relay matrix. Expected results are: Wide output voltage range with optimized efficiency of the EV fast charger module under various charging conditions.
8	AAU, Infineon	Development of grid support functionalities for fast charging stations with local buffering batteries Modeling and controller design of EV charger modules based on novel topologies and modulation schemes to ensure stable high-efficient wide-voltage-range operations under various grid conditions without relay matrix. Expected results are: Methodologies of controller design of EV fast chargers to guarantee optimal performance under various operating conditions.
9	UIBK, SAL, Infineon	Multi-charging mode DC-DC converter for maximizing EV battery lifetime in fast charging Optimization of DC-DC converter to avoid accelerated battery degradation during fast charging. Expected results are: Optimal design and development of a DC-DC converter for EV fast charging with innovative low-cost magnetic solutions.