CAF Power & Automation and IK4-IKerlan have developed an innovative traction system based on a converter designed from silicon carbide semiconductors, a solution that allows a 30% size reduction and a 20% weight reduction, in addition to a 50% increase of power efficiency compared to currently used devices.
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(16/10/2017)
Silicon carbide semiconductors, a material that is emerging in the railway industry, offer a higher switching speed and a greater thermal conductivity, key factors for a better performance of the converters. The application of silicon carbide semiconductors to converters of railway vehicles will lead to an increase in the capacities of trains and energy saving.
Roll 2 Rail
This development has been performed within the framework of the Roll 2 Rail European project, which started in 2015 and is finishing in October. The project is coordinated by the public-private partnership Shift 2 Rail as part of the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Union.
Roll 2 Rail has had a funding of 16 million euros and, in addition to CAF Power & Automation and IK4-IKerlan, about thirty companies, technological centres and leading universities in the European railway industry have participated.
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