SiC Power Converter

This SBIR Phase II program is aimed at developing SiC based power converter technology up to 30kW and 50 kHz suitable for compact high power density and high temperature advanced gun system (AGS) and other DOD systems as well as commercial applications. In Phase II, efforts will be concentrated on (i) fabricating large area SiC power switches and rectifiers, (ii) mapping and characterizing the large area SiC devices over a wide temperature range, (iii) design, packaging and characterizing SiC power modules suitable for ¡Ý 200 oC operations, and (iv) design and development of SiC based 30kW power converter and fully characterizing the power converter over a wide temperature range and loading conditions. SiC power modules will be developed based on normally-off SiC power switches developed in house. A novel die mounting approach will be utilized to address the CTE mismatch related reliability concerns. A comparative study of sota Si based and SiC based 30 kW converters will be carried out to quantify the advantages of SiC converters. Successful development of this world record high-power, high-frequency and high-temperature converter in Phase II will enable the scaling up of the converter power in privately funded Phase III for higher power AGS and other DOD and civilian applications.