A High-efficiency and High-power-density DC/DC Converter Using SiC MOSFETs For Future Autonomous and Connected Vehicles
Application
This project is to apply SiC MOSFETs to a 400V/12V 6kW DCDC converter used in luxury electric vehicles or connected and autonomous vehicles. The DC/DC needs accommodate wide input range of 250V~500VDC, wide output range of 6~16VDC and large power of up to 6kW. In addition, the proposed converter has the bidirectional feature, which allows the LV battery to power the HV battery for emergency usage.
Research
Mockup of converter design
The UTK team will simulate and compare different topologies & concepts. After that the UTK team will lay out the circuit, code the control algorithm in TI DSP then do the high-power test. Given SiC devices have much higher switching frequency than Si, using SiC at the high-voltage side can potentially reduce the size of the transformer and input/output filter. For the low-voltage side undertaking high current, Si devices are adopted to reduce the cost and maintain competitively low conduction loss. The targeted system efficiency is ~97% and the power density is ~3kW/L, much higher than the presently existing 0.6~1kW/L and 92% efficiency, respectively.
How WBG Can Help
The project anticipates to provide EV companies a compact, light, efficient and super high-power DC/DC converter. With SiC MOSFETs shrinking the size of magnetics, the same-sized enclosure can power up to 6kW in contrast to 2.5kW by the conventional Si solutions, thereby promoting not only luxury EVs but also future connected and autonomous vehicles, where atrocious amount of sensors and radars are being used.
Personnel Involved
Students
- Liyan Zhu