PowerAmerica Member Monolith Announces 1200V SiC Diode Samples

Monolith Semiconductor, Texas-based startup and PowerAmerica member, has announced the availability of engineering samples of 1200V, 5A and 10A SiC Schottky diodes in TO-220 packaging. The diodes, which reduce losses by more than 50 percent compared to silicon diodes, are manufactured at X-Fab Texas’ 150mm SiC foundry.

According to the company, the collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and PowerAmerica has been key in achieving this milestone.

“DOE and PowerAmerica have taken the baton and supported XFab to create a center of excellence in SiC manufacturing in the U.S.,” said Monolith CEO Sujit Banerjee.

 Funding from DOE and PowerAmerica enabled XFab, a former silicon foundry, to reconfigure its equipment in order to fabricate silicon carbide power electronic devices.  Today, more than six U.S. companies are using the new capability.

Read Monolith’s full press release.

Building a Manufacturing Ecosystem for Clean Energy

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PowerAmerica Deputy Director John Muth penned a recent blog post featured on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s website for National Manufacturing Day. His essay is titled, “Building a Manufacturing Ecosystem for Clean Energy.” Check out the full post here.

Join Us for PowerAmerica’s Monthly Technical Webinar Series Wednesday, Oct. 5

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Dr. Hui “Helen” Li  of Florida State University will speak about research she is leading to develop a small, lightweight, more efficient SiC photovoltaic inverter during PowerAmerica’s monthly technical webinar series from noon to 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Li’s presentation is titled, “50kW SiC Transformerless PV Inverter.”

Dr. Hui “Helen” Li is a professor with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department in the Florida A&M University/Florida State University College of Engineering. She has also been a key member at the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) at FSU since 2002. Her research interests include DC-DC converters, cascaded multilevel inverters, as well as power electronics applications using wide bandgap devices. She is a recipient of the 2007 NSF Career Award and the 2014 Transaction Prize Paper Award from IEEE Transaction on Power Electronics. Currently she leads a FSU research team to develop a SiC PV converter sponsored by the PowerAmerica Institute.

Abstract: 50kW SiC Transformerless PV Inverter

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Federal Grant Will Help Grow PowerAmerica

The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) has been awarded a two-year, $1 million federal grant to help cultivate the growth of the PowerAmerica Institute.

The grant, awarded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will enable NCMEP to work with PowerAmerica and its expanding network of project partners to grow the wide bandgap semiconductor technology sector, accelerate the production of valuable goods and services and develop industry-led skills strategies.

Embedding a highly-trained engineer within PowerAmerica will be one of the first items of business under the grant. In addition to serving as a valuable technical resource, the engineer will lead outreach and project development nationally to small- and medium-sized manufacturers in market sectors, like renewable energy and innovative transport systems, where WBG semiconductors could have the most impact.

“We are excited to work more closely with PowerAmerica in order to ensure that the development of this new technology includes our nation’s smaller manufacturers.  With this work, we will also learn more about the other Manufacturing USA institutes and how they can benefit our NC manufacturers,” says NCMEP Director Phil Mintz.

By the close of 2018, Mintz says that he expects to see development of many advanced manufacturing projects between PowerAmerica and small to medium-sized enterprises across the U.S.

Read the full news release here.

PowerAmerica Researcher Dr. Iqbal Husain Featured for Work with SiC EV Inverter

Iqbal_HusainIASN.C. State University is highlighting its own PowerAmerica-funded researcher Dr. Iqbal Husain for his work to design a smaller, more efficient electric vehicle inverter using off-the-shelf wide bandgap silicon carbide components. Read the full article here.

A paper on the new inverter, “Design Methodology for a Planarized High Power Density EV/HEV Traction Drive using SiC Power Modules,” will be presented at the IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE), being held Sept. 18-22 in Milwaukee.

PowerAmerica Now Part of Manufacturing USA

The National Network of Manufacturing Innovation – of which PowerAmerica is a part – has a new name and brand: Manufacturing USA.

The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker at the annual International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago on Sept. 12. Read the full press release here.

Manufacturing USA consists of nine public-private institutes dedicated to securing the nation’s future through manufacturing innovation, education, and collaboration.

Watch a video about Manufacturing USA below.

PowerAmerica Issues Call for Projects

PowerAmerica released its annual Call for Projects on Sept. 8. The Institute is seeking to fund TRL>4 projects from both industry and academia for a broad range of power electronics applications, including SiC and GaN device and module production and systems incorporating such devices and modules, as well as education and workforce development.

Find more information and view the Call for Projects here.

Join Us for PowerAmerica’s Monthly Technical Webinar Series Wednesday, Sept. 7

Dr. Iqbal Husain and Dr. Srdjan Lukic of N.C. State University will speak about their work to design and build an electric vehicle traction drive and a fast charger using commercially available wide bandgap semiconductor devices during PowerAmerica’s monthly technical webinar series from noon to 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 7. Husain will give a technical presentation titled, “100 kW SiC Inverter for EV Traction Drive,” while Lukic’s talk is titled, “WBG Medium Voltage EV Fast Charger.”

 

Iqbal_HusainIASDr. Husain is the director of the FREEDM NSF Engineering Center, the ABB Distinguished Professor in the department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, and the director of the Advanced Transportation Energy Center at N.C. State University in Raleigh. His work has focused extensively on electric and hybrid vehicles. View Dr. Husain’s full biography here.

 

Author_Lukic (1)Dr. Lukic is an associate professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at N.C. State University. His research interests include design and control of power electronic converters and electromagnetic energy conversion with application to wireless power transfer, energy storage systems, and electric automotive systems. View Dr. Lukic’s full biography here.

 

Abstract (Husain): 100 kW SiC Inverter for EV Traction Drive

Abstract (Lukic): WBG Medium Voltage EV Fast Charger

 

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Member Spotlight: USCi

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“PowerAmerica is very well-aligned with USCi’s business model of using SiC Foundry services, with targeted equipment investments, to develop cutting-edge SiC products. We firmly believe this is the most capital efficient, cost-effective and rapidly scalable manufacturing model for SiC products. PowerAmerica has helped USCi and XFAB make this successful at the six-inch level with its financial and overall support.” -USCi

 

Company Background

USCi, located in Monmouth Junction, NJ, manufactures and globally distributes best-in-class SiC Transistors, diodes, and custom silicon carbide devices, including Schottky diodes, SiC JFETs and SiC cascodes.

USCi technology and products enable affordable power efficiency in key markets that drive a new and greener economy. Applications include wind and solar power generation, electrification of transportation such as automobiles and next generation trains, emerging smart grid technologies, higher efficiency power generation and conversion and motor control. 

PowerAmerica Partnership

In partnership with PowerAmerica, USCi is developing and qualifying SiC Schottky diodes 650V-1200V at XFab’s 6-inch SiC foundry by transferring USCi’s high performance 4-inch processes. Additionally, USCi is developing 1200V SiC MOSFETs in the SiC foundry. Production release for both products is planned for early 2017. 

USCi expertise can benefit members in many ways such as:

  • Providing access to class leading Schottky Diodes
  • Partnering in supplying automotive qualified die to module customers
  • Providing access to the lowest resistance switch technologies in the industry
  • Designing custom current and voltage rated power devices up to 10kV

Initiatives in Wide Bandgap Power Electronics:

USCi lead the SiC Foundry business model beginning in 2010 by installing Diode and Transistor Processes at the 100mm node.  USCi’s Transistor and Schottky Diode products utilize state of the art cell technology combined with patent protected thin wafer technology to manufacture the highest performance devices in the industry.  USCi has also developed unique Transistor Technology that can utilize a standard Si IGBT or MOSFET gate drive for drop in and replace ease of use, or may be alternatively dual sourced into SiC MOSFET designs.  

Engage with us:

United Silicon Carbide

www.unitedsic.com

sales@unitedsic.com

732-355-0550

Join Us for PowerAmerica’s Monthly Technical Webinar Series Wednesday, Aug. 17

Dr. Fred C Lee; Virginia Tech

Dr. Fred Lee of Virginia Tech will speak about his work with GaN power technologies during PowerAmerica’s monthly webinar series from noon to 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Aug. 17. He will give two technical presentations: “High-Density High-Efficiency Adapter” and “High Frequency GaN Converters for Distributed Power Systems.”

Dr. Lee, a University Distinguished Professor at VT and the founder and director of the NSF ERC Center for Power Electronics Systems (CPES), is leading a research team that is developing a smaller, more efficient laptop adapter deemed a “game-changing device,” and is additionally working with high frequency GaN converters for distributed power systems. View Dr. Lee’s Full Biography here.

Abstract: High-Density High-Efficiency Adapter 
Abstract: High Frequency GaN Converters for Distributed Power Systems 

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Access Code: 991 923 673