Compact ultra-efficient low-cost silicon carbide inverter technology for electric vehicles

基于化合物半导体的破坏性功率器件技术，如碳化硅(SIC)，由于其能够在比硅器件高得多的温度、功率密度、电压和开关频率下工作，从而显著降低逆变器成本和重量，并提高可靠性和效率，因此在各种应用中变得越来越有吸引力。Camvertec开发了一种紧凑型低成本碳化硅牵引逆变器技术，将超高速驱动电路与具有独特热管理的超高效集成逆变器拓扑相结合，消除了对第二个冷却回路的需要，即使用发动机冷却剂进行电力电子冷却。该技术设计紧凑、重量轻，使逆变器的成本具有主流硅基牵引逆变器的竞争力。本项目旨在通过设计、制造和测试适用于电动汽车动力总成的可信尺寸的50kW逆变器来证明该技术的可行性。

Disruptive power device technologies based on compound semiconductors such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) have become increasingly attractive for various applications because of their ability to operate at substantially higher temperature, power density, voltage and switching frequency than those of silicon devices, leading to significant inverter cost and weight reductions and reliability and efficiency improvements.Camvertec have developed a compact low-cost SiC traction inverter technology incorporating an ultra-fast drive circuit combined with an ultra-efficient integrated inverter topology with a unique thermal management that eliminates the need for a second cooling loop i.e. it uses engine coolant for power electronics cooling. The technology has compact and lightweight design and has enabled the inverter cost to be competitive to mainstream silicon-based traction inverters.This project aims to prove the feasibility of the technology by design, build and testing of a credible-sized 50 kW inverter for EV powertrain applications.