Efficiency improvement potential of fast switching 1200 V SiC-DSC-module for automotive traction inverters up to 300 kW

Abstract:
With the emerging electrification of automobiles, demands on the drive systems are growing. In order to make more efficient use of the limited energy in the traction battery and thus increase the range of the vehicle, individual components need to work more efficiently. Such an improvement can be achieved by using new semiconductor materials such as silicon carbide. This technology allows achievement of faster switching speeds, therefore reducing switching losses. This enables a more power dense inverter with high efficiency. This paper introduces a new power core that uses innovative double-sided cooled (DSC) Silicon Carbide (SiC) half-bridge modules and utilizes a specially designed capacitor to implement the highest possible switching speeds.