The Center for Power Electronics Systems (CPES) is a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center (NSF ERC) established in 1998. CPES is a consortium of five universities -- Virginia Tech, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, North Carolina A&T State University and University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez -- and over 80 industry partners. The Center's vision is to enable dramatic improvements in the performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of energy processing systems by developing an integrated systems approach via Integrated Power Electronics Modules (IPEMs), a set of building blocks with integrated functionality, standardized interfaces, suitability for mass production, and application versatility. The Center's expertise lies in power conversion, systems integration and drives. Our primary products are students, technical publications and innovative technologies.
The CPES research program is structured in three thrust planes -- Fundamental Knowledge, Enabling Technology, and Engineered Systems. Research under Fundamental Knowledge includes: Advanced Power Semiconductors (APS) led by Paul Chow at RPI, Integratable Materials (IM) led by Guo-Quan Lu at VT, High-Density Integration (HDI) led by Daan van Wyk at VT, Thermal-Mechanical Integration (TMI) led by Elaine Scott at VT, and Control and Sensor Integration (CSI) led by Bob Lorenz at UW. Research under Enabling Technology is focused on Electro-Magneto-Thermo-Mechanical Integration Technology (EMTMIT), led by Tom Jahns at UW, with emphasis on cross-discipline, cross-campus collaboration on the conceptual design and physical realization of standard-cell IPEMs, the integration of IPEMs with motors, led by Tom Lipo at UW, and the integration with microprocessors, led by Fred Lee at VT. Research under Engineered Systems is focused on IPEM-based Power Conversion Systems (IPEM-PCS), led by Dushan Boroyevich at VT.