Doctoral Thesis - Development of Advanced Control Systems and Optimization Techniques (f/m/div)

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Your Role
As an industrial doctorate at Infineon, you will pursue a doctoral degree at a University and
gain professional experience simultaneously – an ideal start for your career. Advance your
research with us and profit from our vast network of doctoral candidates and the expertise
of a university. Mentorship is handled by both professors and dedicated Infineon
employees. The research is carried out in cooperation with the University of Granada (Spain) and
under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Diego Pedro Morales Santos.

We are offering a doctoral thesis dealing with the development and optimization of control systems for advanced solar microinverter technologies. The research will focus on exploring and enhancing the performance of solar power microinverters, with a specific emphasis on low-level power electronics, such as DC-DC and DC-AC converters, and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms for improved energy efficiency. The aim is to design and implement novel control algorithms, addressing challenges like environmental variability (e.g., temperature, shading) and dynamic load conditions, while maximizing energy conversion efficiency and system reliability. The project also includes the design, prototyping, and testing of optimized architectures, offering innovative solutions tailored for low-power and residential solar energy systems. The outcomes of this research are expected to significantly improve the efficiency, stability, and cost-effectiveness of microinverters for real-world solar energy applications.

Key responsibilities in your new role

• In-depth investigation of microinverter systems: Conduct a comprehensive study of various solar panel microinverter systems and examine the detailed operation of their low-level power electronics circuits. This includes component-level analysis DC-DC and DC-AC converters and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms to identify areas where performance can be improved for low-power applications
• Development of advanced control algorithms: Research and design novel algorithms aimed at increasing the energy conversion efficiency, stability, and reliability of microinverters. These algorithms will address challenges posed by variations in environmental factors (e.g., temperature, shading, and dirt) and dynamic load conditions. The focus will be on developing lightweight, real-time control strategies suitable for low-power microinverter systems
• Evaluation of feasibility and real-world benefits: Study and evaluate the feasibility of deploying the optimized microinverter systems in real-world solar energy applications. The work will prioritize understanding performance gains in small-scale and residential setups, presenting a comparative analysis of cost, energy output, and system reliability with state-of-the-art solutions
• Design, implementation, and testing of prototypes: Design working prototypes of microinverters based on the proposed optimized power electronics architectures and control systems. Extensive testing will be conducted to benchmark key performance metrics, such as energy efficiency, power output stability, and operational durability under varying load and environmental conditions

The learnings out of the thesis will lead to:

• Improved energy efficiency and reliability of microinverter systems through the development of optimized control algorithms and advanced MPPT techniques
• Innovative design methodologies for low-power microinverters, enabling cost-efficient and scalable solutions for residential solar energy applications
• Benchmarking and performance insights for deploying microinverter prototypes in real-world conditions, contributing to advancements in small-scale renewable energy systems

Your Profile
Qualifications and skills to help you succeed

• Education: Master’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics, or a related field, with a specialization in power electronics, renewable energy systems, embedded systems, or similar areas
• Experience: Ideally hands-on experience in working with power electronics hardware and experimental setups; ideally also experience with real-time embedded systems and digital controllers in power electronic converters
• Skills: Proficiency in programming languages and tools such as Matlab, Python, C/C++, or VHDL/Verilog for modeling, embedded system design, and circuit simulation; ideally, familiarity with simulation tools like Simulink, SPICE, SIMetrix/SIMPLIS and PCB design software
• Interests: Knowledge in control system design and optimization techniques; ideally knowledge of renewable energy standards and guidelines for residential solar panel and microinverter systems
• Way of working: Interdisciplinary teamwork
• Personality: Analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities
• Language Skills: Excellent English skills, both spoken and written; German is a plus

Contact:
Britta Johansson

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Are you in?

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