Member Projects & Initiatives
Projects currently underway in PowerAmerica’s fifth budget cycle are:
Foundry and Device Development
- Implementation of SiC Block Process Steps to Aid Transition of SiC Technology Developments (NC State University)
- 1.2kV SiC Trench Gate Power MOSFETs with P+ at trench bottom (NC State University)
- Switching and Dynamic Ruggedness Characterization of Gen3 10kV/300Ohm SiC MOSFETs (NC State University)
- Development of SiC-Based Resonant Converter for EV Charger Using 3.3 kV and 700 V SiC MOSFETs (NC State University)
- 3.3 kV SiC Power MOSFET and Diode Commercialization (GeneSiC, NC State University, the Ohio State University)
- SiC Planar DMOSFETs and Power IC’s with Enhanced Short Circuit Withstand Time (Sonrisa)
- Development of a Manufacturable Gn3 10kV/300POhm SiC MOSFET Fabricated on 150mm 4HN-SiC Wafers and Reliability Qualification (Wolfspeed – A Cree Company)
- Productization of 3.3 KV and 700V SiC MOSFETs (Microsemi)
- SiC Production in a High Volume,Low Cost 150 mm Si CMOS Wafer Fab (Microsemi, Microchip)
- 3.3 kV SiC Planar-Gate Power JBSFETs (SiCamore Semi, NC State University)
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 BatteryInverter 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)