Opportunities for Increasing the Operability of Heavy Vehicle Transmissions by Using Thermodynamically Stable Power Semiconductor Devices

In an electric transmission, the engine mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy in the generator, and then again converted into mechanical energy in the traction motors. This requires multiple energy conversion: thermal energy of fuel—mechanical energy of fuel—mechanical energy of ICE—electrical energy of a generator—mechanical energy of a transmission—electrical energy of a traction motor—mechanical energy of a propeller (wheel). For the conversion of electrical energy, power semiconductor devices (PSD) are widely used. These simple devices have high efficiency and are simple in design; however, they have a significant drawback. One type of failure is the breakdown of a semiconductor structure along a chamfer, as a result of which plasma can form on the chamfer of the semiconductor structure at large values of the blocking reverse voltage. This plasma, having melted the PSD case, comes out and damages the nearest devices, which leads to the need for more expensive repairs.