System integration in automotive power systems

System integration is becoming ever more important in the design and implementation of power electronics. In this paper, system integration is considered and a definition is presented. Based on the definition, the interdependence of the electrical, the thermal and the spatial design of a system are considered and identified. These interdependencies provide the means to manipulate a system design so that all the specifications (electrical, thermal and spatial) can be satisfied simultaneously by the system. Two case studies, both automotive in nature are presented to illustrate the system integration concept. The first is an integrated system module implementing a high power density 14 V/42 V DC/DC converter and the second is an integrated drive for hybrid vehicles, both implemented with high temperature cooling. Practical results are presented