Testing of a lightweight SiC power module for avionic applications

Functional and performance tests of a three-phase, two-level power module based on CREE 1.2-kV SiC MOSFETs for avionic applications are presented. SiC devices have superior properties over conventional Si devices at high-voltage operations and these properties make SiC devices attractive for the avionic industry in order to reduce the size of power-electronic converters while maintaining high efficiency. This presentation starts with a brief explanation of a thermomechanical design approach for a SiC power module. The thermomechanical design is followed by the test setup and experimental results for different load and switching frequency conditions. The module is tested up to 540 V DC link voltage, 6 kW output power with 100 kHz switching frequency. Experimental results show that the module can be successfully operated with high efficiency at high switching frequencies.