Reducing energy consumption is critical in many part designs. This commercially available silicon carbide (SiC) six-pack power module, CCS050M12CM2, is in an industry standard 45 mm package. As a replacement for a silicon module with equivalent ratings, this module can reduce power losses by 75%, which reduces the size of the heat sink by 70% or increases power density by 50%. The module unlocks the traditional design constraints associated with power density, efficiency and cost, thereby enabling the designer to create high performance, reliable and low cost power conversion systems. When compared to state-of-the-art silicon modules, the 1.2 kV, 50 A modules deliver performance equivalent to silicon modules rated at 150 A.
“The efficient switching of the SiC module allows us to use them with significantly less derating than silicon IGBTs,” stated Dr. Jun Kang, research and applications manager, Yaskawa America, Inc. “This feature enables higher frequency operation, which increases fundamental output frequency and reduces passive component size in the motor drive.”
The SiC power module family also benefits applications such as solar inverters, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and industrial power supplies. Even when designers simply substitute Si modules with SiC in motor drive applications, the performance of the SiC reduces power losses, leading to reduced cooling requirements and, in turn, to a reduction in size, weight, complexity and the overall cost of the power electronics system.
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Filed Under: Design World articles, Energy management + harvesting
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