CHPPE Holds 2021 Virtual Annual Review

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The Ohio State University's Center for High Performance Power Electronics, or CHPPE, held its Annual Review and Student Poster Competition virtually this year from Jan. 25 to 27. 

As CHPPE Co-Director Jin Wang explains, the event showcases new realms of power electronics research for industry leaders. Their work this year focused on national sustainable energy and mass transit. In previous years, the event has showcased topics, such as the future of hybrid aviation. 

"The focus of this year is high power medium voltage wide bandgap devices and their applications in renewable energy and transportation electrification," Wang said.

He said it is a full-week event with three-days of live presentations and a 5-day video competition. Besides keynotes and regular presentations, there were six tutorials by recent graduates, professors and invited speakers.

The online event saw professionals from Oak Ridge National Laboratory discussing artificial intelligence as it relates to power electronics. Keynote speaker and ECE Professor Anant Argawal discussed the future of silicon-carbide power devices. Industry Keynote Speaker, Stephanie Butler of Texas Instruments, also spoke about wide bandgap power devices. 

Later sessions included keynote discussions from Chiba Akira of the Tokyo Institute of Technology dealing with high-powered bearingless motors and Steven Boyd of the U.S. Department of Energy discussing the government agency's electric battery development program.

The CHPPE review also serves as a platform for undergraduate and graduate research. Power electronics students presented numerous projects related to this year's themes. Because of the virtual showcase component, a bonus this year offered more than two dozen engineering students presenting their research in video form. This means even more people can watch and learn about their research efforts after the event concludes. 

Wang said more than 134 people registered to attend the event this year. He said the Top Three winning student poster session presenters should be announced soon.