PFI-BIC: Polymer Multilayer Film Capacitor Platform for Advanced Power Electronics

凯斯西储大学的这一创新伙伴关系项目专注于多层聚合物薄膜的共挤出，用于各种潜在应用，如用于食品包装的气体阻隔薄膜、光学薄膜和透镜，以及电子/光电薄膜。最近的一项发现使多层膜在高能量密度和低损耗电容器的介质膜中有了新的应用。该研究平台在多层薄膜电容器方面的潜在应用将包括更小的高效电容器、脉冲功率电子学、混合动力汽车的直流环节电容器、并网逆变器和变流器等。这项研究的更广泛影响包括：首先，该项目将成为将知识和技术转化为市场价值解决方案的大学模式。如果成功，该项目将把俄亥俄州东北部用于美国聚合物介电薄膜生产和电容器的尖端技术具体化，对当地和国家经济产生直接影响。其次，学生和教职员工将学习创新技能，以弥合工业需求和发现研究之间的差距。第三，该项目将通过协作和最大限度地利用资源为团队提供相互激励。在这个项目中，一名工程与管理硕士学生将参与市场分析和产品设计。最后，该项目将通过参与由美国国家科学基金会聚合物系统中心(CLIPS)开发的成功的教育项目聚合物特使项目扩展到K-12教育。项目开始时的合作伙伴是作为主要学术机构的凯斯西储大学、PolymerPlus有限责任公司(俄亥俄州河谷)和轨道研究公司(俄亥俄州克利夫兰)。

This Partnerships for Innovation Project from Case Western Reserve University focuses on co-extrusion of multilayer polymer films for various potential applications such as gas barrier films for food packaging, optical films and lenses, and electronic/optoelectronic films. A recent discovery enables a new application of multilayer films in dielectric films for high energy density and low loss capacitors. Potential applications of this research platform on multilayer film capacitors will include smaller capacitors with high efficiencies, pulsed power electronics, dc-link capacitors for hybrid electric vehicles, grid-tie inverters and converters, and many others. The broader impacts of this research include the following: First, this project will serve as a university model for translating knowledge and technology to market-valued solutions. If successful, the project will have a direct impact on the local and national economy by crystallizing cutting edge technology in Northeast Ohio for U.S. polymer dielectric film production and capacitors. Second, students and faculty will learn innovation skills that bridge the gap between industrial needs and discovery research. Third, this project will provide mutual incentives to the team via collaboration and maximization of resources. In this project, a Master of Engineering and Management student will be involved in market analysis and product design. Finally, this project will outreach to K-12 education by participating in a successful education program developed by the NSF Center for Polymeric System (CLiPS), the Polymer Envoys Program.Partners at the inception of the project are Case Western Reserve University as the lead academic institution, PolymerPlus LLC (Valley View, OH) and Orbital Research, Inc. (Cleveland, OH).