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

改进的电源管理和分配对于下一代空间太阳能发电（SSP）系统的无线电力传输（WPT）至关重要。一种用于WPT的高效c波段整流天线（整流天线）阵列已经在德克萨斯A&amp大学被证明工作在5.61 GHz，效率为78%。整流天线阵列结合了高效率的射频到直流二极管转换与宽带，高增益和圆极化阵列，以产生直流功率，无论阵列的方向。在这个项目中，我们建议通过研究使用碳化硅（SiC）器件的合适的DC到DC和DC到AC转换器来进一步扩展这项工作。碳化硅（SiC）是功率开关器件和二极管的理想材料。本提案的主要目的是研究各种新的转换器拓扑结构，可以直接与整流天线阵列接口。该项目由两部分组成。第一部分将重点介绍一个实验装置，以演示适合整流天线型直流电源的转换器拓扑结构。本文将研究一种由整流天线供电的100V， 200W， 500kHz SiC功率转换器的实验性能，并对其进行深入评估。该项目的第二部分将进行一项贸易研究，调查用于更高功率、更高电压WPT系统的整流天线功率转换器架构。将考虑与功率转换器接口的整流天线阵列作为构建块，并将研究构建块的几种串联/并联组合以提高电压和电流能力。

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.