Introduction to Silicon Carbide (SiC)
What Is Silicon Carbide?
Class Description
Microchip Technology's "Introduction to Silicon Carbide" class addresses the growing demand for energy efficiency driven by global electrification trends and regulatory mandates. The course highlights the critical role of Silicon Carbide (SiC) in enhancing energy efficiency across various sectors, including transportation, power grids, and industrial applications.
The class begins by discussing the challenges posed by the increasing need for sustainable energy sources and the inefficiencies in current energy systems, emphasizing the significant energy losses during transmission and conversion. It then delves into the advantages of SiC over traditional silicon and gallium nitride (GaN) technologies, particularly in high-voltage and high-frequency applications. SiC's superior properties, such as higher electric field support, faster switching speeds, and better thermal conductivity, make it a promising solution for improving system efficiency and reducing energy losses.
Practical applications of SiC are explored through examples like solid-state transformers and modular multi-level converters, demonstrating how SiC can reduce component count, improve reliability, and lower costs. The course also covers the technical aspects of driving SiC Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFETs), including gate drive requirements, circuit protection, and packaging considerations to minimize parasitic inductance and enhance performance.
The class explains the avalanche and double pulse tests used to characterize SiC devices' performance and compares them with silicon Insulated-Gate BipolarTransistors (IGBTs) and MOSFETs, showcasing SiC's superior switching efficiency. The class concludes with a demonstration of an online simulation tool for analyzing power topologies, helping engineers select the optimal components for their applications.
In summary, the class provides a comprehensive overview of SiC technology, its benefits, and practical implementation strategies, positioning SiC as a key enabler for the future of energy-efficient power conversion.
Start with "Challenges in the Coming Market."
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Learn More
- Challenges in the Coming Market
- Brief Overview of Silicon Carbide
- Driving Silicon Carbide Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (SiC MOSFET)
- Packaging for Silicon Carbide
- Migrating from Silicon to Silicon Carbide
- Testing Silicon Carbide Using the Avalanche Test and the Double Pulse Test
- Simulating Silicon Carbide (SiC) in Switching Power Topographies
- Summary