The development of inverters is time-consuming and cost-intensive. Mersen now offers manufacturers a solution that simplifies the process considerably. The SiC power stack evaluation kit enables simple and easy integration of diverse inverter components
Time is money: this aphorism also applies in the electrical engineering and electronics industry. Many companies strive to optimise their development cycles in order to lower their production costs. However, that is easier said than done, in view of the numerous steps that make up a development process for power electronic components.
To facilitate the work of inverter manufacturers, electronic design engineers and system integrators, Mersen has developed a SiC Power Stack evaluation kit. The comprehensive offer is suitable for use in the production of DC high power charging stations as well as for planning of DC smart- and micro-grids and any industrial applications. The kit allows developers to easily test the various components of their planned inverter and to adapt them for optimal compatibility to the exact requirements of the application. Afterward, Mersen can adapt, tweak, modify and manufacture the customised power stacks on request.
A top-notch set of components to achieve high performances
The standard evaluation kit is designed as a bi-directional DC<->AC 3-phase topology delivering up to 150 kVA. It includes three Microchip 1200V SiC MOSFET half-bridge modules, digital gate drivers, current sensors, a DC link capacitor and a low-L DC link bus bar. Thermal management of the evaluation kit is achieved by means of water cooling.
Regarding the components we use in our custom-designed stacks, Mersen is not limited to a particular brand. The suppliers are selected based on customer preferences and technical requirements.
Decades of expertise at the service of power conversion
Inverter design engineers require cost-optimised power stacks with increased power density (kW/liter) and low conversion losses, as well as a compact design for optimal integration in the application. Mersen has decades of experience in the development of power electronic components for power stacks – such as bus bars, capacitors, heat sinks, and electric fuses. The development of an evaluation kit was therefore the next logical step.
Simultaneous design of multiple components
Mersen has offered the evaluation kit for inverters since 2022. It is designed for uncomplicated and cost-effective development of application-specific power converters. Bus bars, capacitors, gate drivers and SiC power modules can be selected and designed in a single, cost-effective step.
“The simultaneous development of several critical components speeds up the time-to-market process for inverters, considerably,” says Dr. Philippe Roussel, Vice President Power Stack Product Line at Mersen. This is the main advantage of the evaluation kit. Mersen’s engineers support users on request in adapting and optimising the design of their power stack – with respect to the form factor, power, and topology, for example. The key component suppliers can also be involved in the development process, contributing their expertise for optimisation of the inverters.
A total customisation approach
No pre-defined technical bricks. Mersen is agnostic towards your choice of circuit topology (3-level, NPC, bi-directional, DC-DC boost / buck, back-to-back…), semiconductor technology (SiC, GaN, Silicon…) and power modules type (single 3-phase, H-bridge, single-leg, single switch…) and package. Customers can come with their own design, as it is. The specialists from Mersen then offer a high degree of customization to optimise and develop their “custom” power stack.
The experts can study any request for bespoke specifications including customization on dimensions, footprint, geometry, cooling type (air, liquid, heat-pipe…), power range, current rating, switching frequency Fsw, voltage (Modules 1.2kV, 1.7kV, 3.3kV or more), AC filtering, etc…
From simulation and testing to manufacturing of power stacks
Mersen uses state-of-the-art simulation programs to optimise the mechanical, thermal, electrical and electromagnetic properties of power stacks. With these tools, the various multi-physical interactions between all the components can be taken into account in advance. This allows optimal compatibility of the single components of each power stack.
The design process is followed by extensive tests. Mersen’s experts also provide testing support for inverter manufacturers, if needed. The company operates 18 research and development centers around the globe, including two competence centers for design, assembly, and test services in the USA and Europe. Off-load in-circuit (ICT) and on-load tests are conducted here under real conditions.
For more information, visit Mersen
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