Silicon carbide potential for railway traction applications. Efficiency, loadability, life cycle energy analysis, and cost assessment comparison to si-based inverter topologies
Loading...
Author (Corporation)
Publication date
2026
Type of student thesis
Course of study
Type
01A - Journal article
Editors
Editor (Corporation)
Supervisor
Parent work
Electronics
Special issue
DOI of the original publication
Link
Related research data
Series
Series number
Volume
15
Issue / Number
9
Pages / Duration
1854
Patent number
Publisher / Publishing institution
MDPI
Place of publication / Event location
Edition
Version
Programming language
Assignee
Practice partner / Client
Abstract
Silicon carbide (SiC) power devices are emerging as an alternative for electrical transportation systems to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, increase power density, and enable long-term cost savings throughout the product life cycle. Thus, a fair comparison with state-of-the-art Silicon (Si) technology is required to justify the productization of SiC devices. This work performs a systematic investigation of both technologies at the device and system levels for distinct power module voltage classes (3.3 and 6.5 kV) and circuit topologies. Initially, experimental characterization of state-of-the-art power modules is performed, followed by energy efficiency characterizations at the power converter level. Then, an electrothermal simulation model was built and validated based on experimental results. Accurate system simulations of commercial two- and three-level traction topologies were developed, focusing on efficiency over the entire load range, loadability, potential energy savings under realistic train drive cycles, and a financial comparison of inverter prices per kW. SiC exhibits lower loadability degradation at high switching frequencies (>500 Hz) than Si technology. Energy-saving potentials of 40–70% in the traction inverter with a guaranteed return on investment during the converter’s lifetime are achieved by substituting Si with SiC inverters. In addition, massive energy savings of up to 200 MWh per inverter lifetime can effectively reduce the carbon footprint of railway systems (up to ~76 t CO2-eq saved during the inverter lifetime). This paper provides essential information for distinct stakeholders to support the decision-making process and design considerations for future railway power conversion technologies.
Keywords
Subject (DDC)
Event
Exhibition start date
Exhibition end date
Conference start date
Conference end date
Date of the last check
ISBN
ISSN
2079-9292
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
Publication status
Published
Review
peer-reviewed
Open access category
Gold
License
Citation
Spejo, L. B., Briner, T., Soeiro, T. B., Minamisawa, R. A., & Minamisawa, R. (2026). Silicon carbide potential for railway traction applications. Efficiency, loadability, life cycle energy analysis, and cost assessment comparison to si-based inverter topologies. Electronics, 15(9), 1854. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15091854