All-SiC Inverter for Pumps and Fans

We propose to develop a Silicon Carbide Inverter that can drive typical fan, pump or other motors of Future Combat System Vehicles. It will use recently developed SiC switches as well as SiC diodes. Under this project we will (i) develop the designconfiguration of the SiC Inverter, (ii) procure SiC devices needed by the All-SiC Inverter, (iii) package the SiC devices to form a H-bridge, (iii) develop a heat sink that can remove heat from packaged SiC devices (iv) develop inverter-on-Printed CircuitBoard and (v) fabricate and test the performance of the SiC Inverter when driving a permanent magnet motor. We also plan to demonstrate SiC inverter driving the cooling fan of prototypical army hybrid vehicle. Performance tests will be conducted toquantify the benefits of the Silicon Carbide Inverter over Silicon inverter. Potential benefits include high temperature operation, smaller radiator, or higher efficiency. The key benefits of the All-SiC Inverter will be identified. Quantification anddemonstration of key benefits will pave way for insertion of SiC Inverters in Future Combat System vehicles. SiC Inverters can operate better in harsh military environment than current Si inverters. They can also potentially reduce the size of the radiatoror allow higher ambient temperature operation. Applications include Future Combat Systems, army hybrid vehicles, aerospace motors, air conditioning systems, ship propulsion motors and pulse power systems.