Past Projects

Module Development and Manufacturing

• Removing Customer Concerns to Support Industry Adoption of MV SiC Power Modules (Wolfspeed, a Cree Company – Fayetteville)
• SiC Device Reliability, Yield, and Control of Enhanced Carrier Lifetime (Naval Research Laboratory)
• Design and Manufacture of Advanced Reliable WBG Power Modules (GE Aviation Systems)
• 100A, 6.5kV Half-Bridge Module (United Silicon Carbide)
• Quantifying Power Device Reliability due to Terrestrial Radiation (CoolCAD)
• Establish an Independent Testing Facility to Perform Reliability Analysis of Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Devices (Texas Tech/Group NIRE)
• Design of a High Performance HV Module (GE Aviation Systems)
• Artificial Intelligence-Based Current Sharing for Parallel Operation of 3.3 kV Silicon-carbide MOSFET Chips in Power Module (Ohio State University)
• Prototyping and Evaluation of High-Speed 10 kV SiC MOSFET Power Modules with High Scalability and System-Integration Solutions (Virginia Tech)
• Surge Energy Robustness of GaN Power Devices and Modules: Application-driven Evaluation and Physics-of-Failure Modeling (Virginia Tech)
• Packaging A Top-cooled 650V/>150A GaN Power Module with Insulated Thermal Pads and Gate- Drive Circuit (University of Tennessee, Knoxville)

Commercialization Applications

• High Voltage Bi-directional On Board Charger with Integrated PCB Winding Magnetic Components (Virginia Tech)
• High Density Bidirectional SiC/GaN based Soft-switched Dc-Dc Charger for All-Electric Transportation Refrigeration Unit (Virginia Tech/CPES)
• High Power Density, High Efficiency, and Wide Range GaN-based Single-Stage LLC Converter (ABB, Virginia Tech)
• 100 kW SiC-Based Generator Rectifier Unit for Variable Frequency Airborne Applications (Virginia Tech, Raytheon, GE Aviation Systems)
• Transformerless Medium Voltage Central PV Inverter (Florida State University, GE Aviation Systems)
• Introduction of WBG devices for Solid-State Circuit Breaking at the Medium Voltage Level (University of North Carolina – Charlotte)
• Modular SiC-based Hybrid Inverter for Energy Storage and PV Integration (University of North Carolina-Charlotte)
• Dual-Inductor Hybrid Converter for Direct 48V to sub-1V PoL DC-DC Module (UC Boulder)
• High Efficiency Multiport Power Conversion for Aerospace Application: Integrated Converter-Generator Design (NC State University)
• Isolated, Soft Switching SEPIC with Active Clamp for 480 V AC to 400 V DC Rectifier for Data Centers (Arizona State University)
• 200 kW 1050 V DC Bus SiC Converters for Heavy-Duty All-Electric Vehicles (John Deere Electronic Solutions, National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
• Commercialization of 1MW SiC Devices Based High Speed Medium Voltage Motor Drive with Redundant Operation (Toshiba, the Ohio State University)
• Shore-to-Ship MV SiC Converter System; Application of Asynchronous Microgrid PCS (NC State University, Wolfspeed)
• High Efficiency Multiport Power Conversion for an All-Electric Transportation Refrigeration Unit (United Technologies Research Center, Virginia Tech, NC State University)
• Multi-functional High-efficiency High-density MV SiC Based Asynchronous Microgrid PCS Module (University of Tennessee-Knoxville)
• 600V GaN Dual Gate Bidirectional Switch (Infineon)
• Compact and Efficient GaN-based Backup or Portable Power for Electronics (Fastwatt, LLC)
• Wide Bandgap based Low-Voltage / High-Current DC/DC Converter for Electrified Transit Buses (Miami University)
• Establishment of WBG Power Electronics Testing Facility for Education and Workforce Training Engaging PowerAmerica Industry Members (NC State University)
• 6.78-MHz, 200-W GaN-Based Class E and EF Inverters for Wireless Power Mats with Enhanced Load and Reactance Range Employing a Nonlinear Shunt Capacitor (NC State University)
• Medium-Voltage SiC-based Compensators for Distribution Systems (EPRI, University of Arkansas)
• SiC Based Power Electronic Driver for Electric Vehicle Traction (University of Akron)

Education and Workforce Development

• Modular Hybrid SiC and Si based Battery Inverter for Energy Storage Integration (University of North Carolina – Charlotte)
• Power Electronics Teaching Lab Incorporating WBG Switches and Circuits (University of North Carolina – Charlotte)
• Studies of Short-circuit Behavior and Protection Strategies of the Next Generation 1.2 kV SiC Modules and Devices (the Ohio State University, John Deere, Wolfspeed)
• High Bandwidth Flexible SiC Testbed for Education and EV Industry Workforce Training (N.C. State University)
• Development of a Short Course for WBG Power Devices (N.C. State University)
• Short Course Module for HV SiC Device-based MV Power Converters (N.C. State University)
• Development of a Low-Cost Graduate Course with Virtual Fab and Hands-On Circuit Lab Experience (San Jose State University)
• Texas Tech and X-FAB Education Partnership (Texas Tech)

Member Initiated Projects

• Optimal HV SiC Device Characteristics for D-FACTS Rated 5 kV to 25 kV
  Improved SiC MOSFETS (Electric Power Research Institute, University of
  Arkansas, North Carolina State University)
• MV Solid State & Hybrid Breaker Architectures using SiC JFETS Novel Motor
  Drives (SUNY-Albany, Qorvo-United Silicon Carbide)
• Demonstration of 100 kW SiC Inverter with Soft-Switching dv/dt Filter and
  Ultra High Efficiency for Motor Drives (North Carolina State University,
  Microchip)
• Design and Demonstration of Current Sharing Strategy for Paralleling High
  Current Silicon Carbide Modules (University of Arkansas, Microchip)
• Paralleling of GaN Modules for High Power Applications (GE, North
  Carolina State University (NREL)
• Increasing Channel Mobility, Reducing Threshold Instability, and Improving
  Robustness of 650 V SiC Power MOSFETs (Purdue, XFAB)
• Design and Test A 800V/>50kW Three-level Active Neutral Point Clamping
  Motor Drive Inverter using 650V/60A GaN HEMTs for Electric Vehicles
  (University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Mercedes Benz R&D, GaN Systems)
• Multilevel GaN based Traction Drive Inverter (Marquette University, GaN
  Systems)
• A 650V GaN-based Three-Level ANPC Inverter for Electric Vehicle Traction
  (North Carolina State University, Transphorm, GaN Systems)
• Defining the Full Benefits of WBG Technology for the Power Grid (Electric
  Power Research Institute, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Microchip,
  Southern Company, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, North Carolina
  State University, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, Nebraska
  Public Power District)
• Automated Tool to Measure Soft-switching Coss Losses in Wide Bandgap
  Power Devices (Stanford University, onsemi)
• High-Frequency, Soft-Switching Losses of GaN and SiC Devices: Application-
  oriented Evaluation and Physical Mechanism Study (Virginia Tech with
  Lockheed Martin, NexGen Systems)
• Quantifying Power Device Reliability Due to Terrestrial and Other Radiation Sources (CoolCAD Electronics)
• Reliability Analysis of Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Devices (Texas Tech/Group NIRE)
• Short-circuit Behavior and Protection of Next Generation SiC Modules (Ohio State)
• WBG Integrated High Voltage APM/OBCM Converter for Future Use in Autonomous Vehicles (Virginia Tech)
• Packaging a Top-cooled 650V/>150A GaN Power Module with Insulated Thermal Pads and Gate-Drive Circuit (University of Tennessee)
• Prototyping and Evaluation of High-Speed 10 kV SiC MOSFET Power Modules with High Scalability and System-Integration Solution (Virginia Tech/NREL/Wolfspeed)
• Surge Energy Robustness of GaN Power Devices and Modules: Application-driven Evaluation and Physics-of-Failure Modeling (Virginia Tech/Lockheed Martin)
• Silicon Carbide Power Modules for Medium Voltage Applications (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, Microchip, NREL)
• Embedded GaN Power Module for High Frequency 400V/>20A Operation with Double-Sided Cooling and Integrated Gate-Drive Circuit (University of Tennessee-Knoxville, GaN Systems, NREL)
• SiC-based Module Building Block with Integrated Inductor and Gate Driver (Virginia Tech, Infineon, Lockheed Martin)
• Demonstration of Advanced Power Packaging Technology for Near Term Commercialization (N.C. State University, Transphorm, United SiC)