Nidec Develops first Magnet-less motor drive with a SiC-based Inverter
Nidec Corporation has announced that its Research and Development Centre in Kyoto, Japan, has made the world's first concept model of a drive system using a magnet-less motor with a SiC based inverter.
The Nidec Research and Development Centre's lightweight motor drive system, takes up 32 percent less volume and is 69 percent lighter than a conventional motor drive system, including motor and inverter. It is expected that the characteristics of lower power losses will contribute to reducing power consumption.
The SiC power semiconductors used in the 44kW motor drive, liquid cooled concept model were developed through Nidec's participation in the Kyoto super-cluster program of the Japan Science and Technology Agency. This was supported by a number of universities working with corporations and public research organisations.
A core institution of the Kyoto super-cluster program is the Advanced Scientific Technology & Management Research Institute of Kyoto. The Nidec R&D Centre has made open innovation by joint collaboration with Rohm; with Nichicon; and with Kyoto, Osaka and Ritsumeikan Universities. It has also worked with Yokohama National University in the technology of thermal analysis for motor drive systems, including circuit simulation of the SiC based inverter.
An integrated motor-drive system (in which the inverter is built inside the motor housing) will be developed in 2015.
