A High-Current 1.7 kV SiC Module Enabling High Efficiency, High Power Density Renewable Energy Applications

Abstract:
In this work, a Wolfspeed 1.7 kV high-current, all-silicon carbide (SiC) half-bridge power module in the 100 mm × 140 mm package is introduced. The new module package, having 6 kV rms voltage isolation, features high performance, fast switching, high-current density, and scalability ease in a low inductance package. The 1.7 kV module presented in this work can advance the development of the next-generation, high-power converter for renewable energy such as wind, central solar, and railway inverter applications. As the SiC power device and module markets expand from the first large-volume application, i.e., emobility, to the next, i.e., energy and industrial applications, the module performance characterization under relevant operating conditions is especially important for emerging medium voltage (MV) SiC multichip power modules (MCPMs). Extensive static and dynamic characterization tests are carried out in this work to demonstrate the compelling electrothermal performance of the new 1.7 kV module. These characterization results are used to evaluate the module in a high-power inverter for a renewable energy application case study. Additionally, a prototype of the inverter has been developed and presented in the paper.