innolectric and CBMM test innovative magnetic materials in electromobility
In an international research project between innolectric AG, based in Bochum, Germany, and the Brazilian company CBMM, the cooperation partners are investigating whether nanocrystalline magnetic materials can significantly increase efficiency in electromobility.
As part of the joint research work, the innovative soft magnetic core material with Niobium is being tested in direct application in the innolectric On-Board Charger. To achieve the best possible results, the functional properties, thermal behavior and electromagnetic interference behavior are tested directly in an existing system architecture. In addition, the innolectric research team is adapting the system architecture of the innolectric On-Board Charger to the special properties of the magnetic material in order to be able to present its advantages even more specifically. Felix Burmeister, systems engineer and project manager at innolectric, is optimistic: "Whether on land or water - our customers today already cover a very broad spectrum of different vehicles and fields of application. We want to offer them a product that provides great added value across its many features. We are very pleased to have won a partner with a large network in CBMM, with whom we can take our technology another decisive step forward. We are excited to see what new ways of optimization the new magnetic materials will enable, first in our lab and later in the field!"
Since soft magnetic cores allow significantly higher saturation points of induced magnetic fields, the use of the material can lead to a significant improvement in power density. Particularly high permeability simplifies wiring and allows greater flexibility in the design of cooling systems. At the same time, there is the potential to reduce the weight as well as the size of the On-Board Charger and to achieve higher efficiencies. Bharadwaj Reddy, CBMM-Technical market development specialist, describes the numerous reasons for the beneficial use of the material: “Nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials enable the minimization and highly efficient operation of magnetic components for EV charging applications. This is because nanocrystalline material has very high permeability, low coercivity, low magnetostriction, high Curie temperature up to 570 degrees Celsius and high saturation flux density.”
The collaboration aims to publish a study that compares soft magnetic nanocrystalline and ferrite-based magnets in terms of thermal behavior, size, cost and efficiency. This will provide groundbreaking insights into the effects of using Niobium in terms of volume savings and optimized heat conduction.