Dynex KTP case study - University of Nottingham

Non-destructive testing
A KTP case study
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships aim to help businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity
through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK Knowledge Base.
Company name: Dynex Semiconductor
Limited
Location: Lincoln
Employees: >250
Project length: 2 years
University school: Faculty of Engineering
(Electrical and Electronic)
An insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT)
Challenge
The University says
Dynex needed to accelerate the development of
IGBT – a type of semiconductor used in electric
vehicles, smart grids, and renewable power
generation. Testing is currently destructive,
which is costly and time consuming, and does
not give detailed feedback on individual failures.
“The academic team has a long-term, ongoing
and fruitful collaboration with Dynex covering
many aspects of their business including
module design, reliability evaluation, power
conversion and applications development. Over
the past years we have gained considerable
experience in the implementation of power
converter control, non-destructive testing and
characterisation of IGBTs so we are well
positioned to transfer this knowledge to Dynex.
Response
Making use of University research into nondestructive testing of IGBTs, as well as
expertise in IGBT device physics and packaging,
a KTP has been set up to apply these new
techniques on an industrial scale, to recognise
“failures” without destroying the products.
Results
The intended non-destructive testing methods
should reduce scrap in production and increase
the life of products and packaging. The test
data should also help Dynex to improve product
quality, and to design products for new, more
challenging markets.
Pat Wheeler, Professor of Power Electronic
Systems
The company says
“The partnership with the University has been
invaluable in enabling us to use new
technologies to evolve our testing methods.
Non-destructive testing will mean our products
are produced quicker and to a higher standard,
and should result in a significant improvement
to the bottom line.”
Steve Jones, IGBT Module Technology R&D
Manager
Get in touch: For more information about how KTP can help your business,
please contact Paul Yeomans on 0115 846 8479 or [email protected]

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