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The Centre of Competence for Distribut-
ed Electric Power Technology (KDEE) was
founded to offer a concentration point
for the development of innovative techni-
cal designs within the university, enabling
the transference of solutions at both de-
vice and system level to the industry. In
terms of topics and personnel it oper-
ates in close connection with the chair of
Electric Power Supply Systems (EVS).
Power electronics-based converters are
the most flexible and dynamic equip-
ments for energy management in the
current and future electrical grid. Their
construction and control requires spe-
cialized knowledge, which will be con-
centrated and pursued on the long term.
Hence, the KDEE will act as a partner for
industrial and public-founded projects
not only on the fundamental research
level but also on industrial-oriented
applications.
Teaching and research activities at the
department EVS are focused not only on
facilities and systems for electrical power
supply but also on the development of
power electronic components and devices
for such systems. These include the de-
velopment of methods to use renewable
energy sources (e. g. solar energy, small-
hydro power, biogas and wind) as well as
power electronic converters for automo-
tive applications. A close cooperation ex-
ists with the former “Institute for
Solar Energy Technology” (ISET e. V.),
today: Fraunhofer IWES (Institute for
Wind Energy and Energy System Tech-
nology), which was founded 1988 by
the former head of the EVS department
Prof. Werner Kleinkauf as well as with
SMA Solar Technology which has been
a spin-off company of EVS/University
of Kassel.
With currently about 30 employees,
EVS and KDEE form a powerful research
group focused on the topic of energy
supply systems at the University of Kassel,
diverse research possibilities and wide-
ranging study contents.
Main research areas:
Power electronic converters allow condi-
tioning of energy with high flexibility and
efficiency. This enables the integration of
different energy sources and storages in
a common energy system.
The main research areas of KDEE are:
•
Power electronic converters for distrib-
uted and renewable energy applications,
especially solar, wind power
•
Automatized characterization of highly
efficient power electronic semiconduc-
tors (Si, SiC, GaN) and also of magnetic
materials (with precision calorimeter
and high power amplifiers)
•
Design of innovative magnetic compo-
nents for highly efficient and compact
power electronics
•
Power electronic solutions (e.g. FACTs)
for the grid integration of renewable
energy sources
•
Power electronics in automotive
applications (e-car, hybrid car, auxiliary
drives)
University of Kassel
Inverter board for direct integration on Pedelec
Highly efficient and compact three-phase fast
battery charger (5kW/L with low-cost standard semi-
conductor devices within ECPE Project)
Multiphase inverter for direct integration in motor
housing operating at 140°C ambient temperature
