2
Very High
Temperature (400+°C), High Power
Density Silicon Carbide (SiC) Power—Arkansas
Power Electronics International, Inc., 700
Research Center Boulevard, Fayetteville, AR
72701; 479-443-5759, http://www.apei.net
Dr. Alexander
B. Lostetter, Principal Investigator, aloster@apel.net
Mrs. Sharmila
D. Mounce, Business Official, smounce@apei.net
DOE Grant No.
DE-FG02-05ER84143
Amount: $99,989
In
power electronic conversion systems(PCS), wide band gap devices, such as silicon carbide (SiC), offer the
promise of vastly exceeding the constraining restrictions of silicon by
offering higher blocking voltages, higher operating temperatures, higher
frequency, and lower switching losses compared to other, more conventional
devices. These performance increases all
directly translate to higher efficiencies and reliabilities at smaller sizes,
which ultimately corresponds to significant savings in PCS costs and maintenance. This
project will develop innovative high temperature packaging, control, and
circuit design strategies, in order to achieve these improvements. Phase I will utilize SiC power switch technology in conjunction with high
temperature active and passive control circuitry. The use of SiC also should improve converter
electrical efficiencies and voltage switching capability. Phase I will
culminate in the delivery of a fully functional low power prototype capable of
greater than 400°C junction temperature operation for the power switches. The prototype will utilize control
electronics capable of 300°C operation at the baseplate, will operate at
greater than 94% efficiency, and will illustrate 10× miniaturization over
present state-of-the-art silicon based power converters.
Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: By improving electrical efficiencies through
the use of SiC electronics, and by implementing the technology in a wide range
of power converter applications, billions of dollars in wasted energy could be
saved. The reduced size and volume of
power modules also should lead to applications where reduced weight is a
factor, such as for mass market electric vehicles.