JIETSSP: Investigation of Silicon Carbide (SiC) Power Electronic Converters for Wireless Microwave Power Transmission

改进的功率管理和分配对于下一代空间太阳能（SSP）系统的无线功率传输（WPT）至关重要。一个高效的C波段整流天线（整流天线）阵列的WPT已被证明工作在5.61 GHz的78%的效率在得克萨斯州AM。整流天线阵列将高效率的RF到DC二极管转换与宽带、高增益和圆极化阵列相结合，以产生DC功率，而不管阵列的取向如何。在这个项目中，我们建议进一步扩展这项工作，研究合适的DC到DC和DC到AC转换器采用碳化硅（SiC）器件。碳化硅（SiC）是功率开关器件和二极管的理想材料。这项建议的主要目的是调查各种新的转换器拓扑结构，它可以直接与整流天线阵列接口。该项目包括两个部分。第一部分将集中在一个实验装置，以证明适合整流天线型直流电源的转换器拓扑结构。一个实验性的100 V，200 W，500 kHz，SiC功率转换供电的整流天线将研究其性能，然后进行深入的评估。本项目的第二部分将进行一项贸易研究，以调查整流天线功率转换器架构的更高的功率，更高的电压WPT系统。一个整流天线阵列接口的功率转换器将被视为一个积木和几个串联/并联组合的积木将被研究，以增加电压和电流的能力。

Improved power management and distribution is essential for wireless power transmission (WPT) for next generation Space Solar Power (SSP) systems. A highly efficient C-band rectifying antenna (rectenna) array for WPT has been demonstrated to operate at 5.61 GHz at 78% efficiency at Texas A&M. The rectenna array combines high efficiency RF to DC diode conversion with a wideband, high gain and circularly polarized array to produce DC power regardless of array's orientation. In this project we propose to further extend this work by investigating suitable DC to DC and DC to AC Converters employing Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices. Silicon Carbide (SiC) is a nearly ideal material for power switching devices and diodes. The primary objective of this proposal is to investigate a variety of new converter topologies, which can be directly interfaced with rectifying antenna array. The project consists of two parts. The first part will focus on an experimental setup to demonstrate suitable converter topologies for rectenna type DC power source. An experimental 100V, 200W, 500kHz, SiC power conversion powered by a rectenna will be studied for its performance followed by an in-depth evaluation. The second part of this project will perform a trade study to investigate rectenna power converter architectures for higher power, higher voltage WPT systems. A rectenna array interfaced to a power converter will be considered as a building block and several series / parallel combinations of the building blocks will be studied for increased voltage and current capability.