The development team led by Nikolai Nurlatov, a postgraduate student of the Department of Theoretical Fundamentals of Radio Engineering, Faculty of Radio Engineering and Electronics (REE), NSTU NETI, is working on the creation of an energy-efficient DC voltage regulator with switching capacitors for lightweight electric transport. The project recently became one of 11 winners of the "UMNIK" award with the project called "Razrabotka" (Development). Now the team has 500,000 rubles funding for two years to complete the prototype.
The DC voltage converters based on resonance structures with switching capacitors have a number of energy and functional advantages, such as high efficiency, low weight and compact dimensions, energy-efficient regulation with low power losses, and the possibility of being a modular part in a minimalistic integral-hybrid design. For example, an electric bike with a regulator based on switching capacitors will be lighter, have a longer driving range and have more attractive qualities. In short, we can talk about innovative Russian development.
"A traction electric motor is installed on the bike, such as a motor-wheel, a storage battery, and a DC voltage regulator," Nikolai Nurlatov said. — The regulator is switched on between the storage battery and the electric motor and is designed for smooth acceleration, gear shifting, braking, and motor overload protection. The user can choose how to move the electric bike: to pedal it mechanically or to connect the electric drive. There is also the possibility of regenerative braking. This means that braking returns the electrical energy generated by the engine to the battery."
The project of Nikolai Nurlatov's team belongs to the field of power electronics, which is currently relevant and economically important. Nowadays, electric transport is popular as a personal means of transportation. One of the project's goals is to create competitive electric bikes with an energy-efficient regulator and introduce the finished product to the market. For the science, the project is interesting as an example for research obtaining real energy performance, weight and compact dimensions.
According to Nikolai Nurlatov, it is necessary and possible to involve students majoring in both sciences and humanities in the implementation of the project because of the project's comprehensive approach to solving problems. This will be a good opportunity to gain experience in research, to take part in developments, as well as activities aimed at preparing for the release of the product to the market. Actually, the research with the prospect of commercialization and introducing the product to market is one of the reasons for selecting projects for the program "UMNIK."
"Our project is aimed at import substitution, — the developer explains, — that's why the team is closely engaged in the use of Russian materials and components."
According to the test results on the example of an electric bike, regulators based on resonance structures with switching capacitors can also be used in the power supply of autonomous objects. Today, the development team is conducting simulation modeling, comparative analysis of energy characteristics, weight and compact dimensions. There are practical developments of the regulator in the form of prototype models. The team investigated the operation of transistors in soft switching mode, miniaturization methods, and design features.
According to Nikolai Nurlatov, a prototype of an electric bike will be ready for a demonstration by the end of 2023.