London, United Kingdom – Quantum Power Transformation (QPT), a leading power electronics company specializing in gallium nitride (GaN) innovation, has unveiled its groundbreaking qGaN technology, addressing longstanding issues of overheating and radio frequency interference in GaN applications. This innovation, recently recognized by winning ABB’s 2023 Power Density Startup Challenge for motor drive products, promises to propel the efficiency of drives and motors to new heights.
Electric motors, which consume a substantial 45% of the world’s electricity, remain a cornerstone of power consumption globally. QPT’s qGaN modules, GaN transistors capable of handling high voltage and achieving remarkable switching speeds under 2ns, emerge as a solution to unlock the dormant potential of GaN technology.
Gallium nitride, a semiconductor material with a history dating back to the 1990s, has recently found applications in the solar power market and transistor technology. Despite its potential, the GaN market has faced challenges in maximizing technology applications, primarily due to overheating and electromagnetic interference (EMI).
QPT’s qGaN technology tackles these challenges head-on, offering GaN transistors capable of super high frequencies up to 20MHz. The company’s innovative modules, when combined with additional QPT technology like the WhisperGaN system, provide an up to 80% reduction in power usage at very high frequencies, marking a significant leap forward.
In particular, qGaN technology proves instrumental in redesigning variable frequency drives (VFDs), essential motor controllers that vary the frequency and voltage of the power supply to drive electric motors. Traditionally connected to motors via large copper cables, VFDs have now been drastically downsized by QPT to approximately one-twentieth of their typical size. This reduction allows for the VFD to be placed in close proximity to the motor, paving the way for cable-free designs and finding applications in industrial pumps, robotics, and various automation needs.
The qGaN technology’s recognition in ABB’s Power Density Startup Challenge reaffirms its potential to reshape the landscape of GaN applications and contribute significantly to the efficiency and size reduction of electric motors and variable frequency drives. As QPT continues to innovate in the GaN space, the industry can anticipate a surge in high-voltage applications and enhanced technological capabilities.