Silicon carbide (SiC) power switching devices promise to be a major breakthrough for new generation ac three-phase power converters, offering increased junction temperature, low specific on-resistance, fast switching, and low switching loss. These characteristics are desirable for increasing power density, providing faster system dynamics, and improving power quality. At present, the normally-on SiC JFET prototypes available from SiCED are the first SiC power switches close to commercialization. The objective of this work is to characterize the switching behavior of the prototype SiC JFET devices, as well as demonstrate the feasibility of achieving high switching frequency for a 2 kVA three-phase converter. The switching characterization of the 1200 V SiC JFET prototypes is shown for a wide range of operating conditions such as switched voltage, switched current, and junction temperature. The SiC JFET is shown to be a fast-switching, low-loss device offering performance benefits compared to traditional silicon (Si) power devices of similar ratings. Utilizing the SiC JFET, a three-phase ac buck rectifier is then demonstrated with a 150 kHz switching frequency and a rated power of 2 kVA. Additionally, improvements are made to the charge control scheme for the buck rectifier allowing power factor compensation and reduction of input current transients. / Master of Science

A systematic and versatile method to derive accurate and efficient Circuit Oriented Large Signal Average Models (COLSAMs) that approximate the slow dynamics manifold of the moving average values of the relevant state variables for Pulse-Width Modulated (PWM) dc to dc and three-phase to dc power converters is developed. These COLSAMs can cover continuous conduction mode (CCM) as well as discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) of operation and they are over one order of magnitude cheaper, computation wise, than the switching models. This method leads primarily to simple and effective input-output oriented models that represent transfer as well as loading characteristics of the converter. Sine these models consist of time invariant continuous functions they can be linearized at an operating point in order to obtain small-signal transfer functions that approximate the dynamics of the original PWM system around an orbit. The models are primarily intended for software circuit simulators (i.e. Spice derived types, Saber, Simplorer, etc), to take advantage of intrinsic features such as transient response, linearization, transfer function, harmonic distortion calculations, without having to change simulation environment. Nevertheless, any mathematics simulator for ordinary differential equations can be used with the set of equations obtained through application of Kirchoff's laws to the COLSAMs. Furthermore, the COLSAMs provide physical insight to help with power stage and control design, and they allow easy interconnection among themselves, as well as with switching models, for complete analysis at different scales (time, signal level, complexity; interconnectivity). A new average model for the Zero-Voltage Switched Full-Bridge (ZVS-FB) PWM Converter is developed with the above method and its high accuracy is verified with simulations from a switching behavioral model for several circuit component values for both CCM and DCM. Intrinsic positive damping effects and special delay characteristics created by an energy holding element in a saturable reactor-based Zero-Voltage Zero-Current Switched Full-Bridge (ZVZCS-FB) PWM converter are explained for the first time by a new average model. Its large signal predictions match very well those from switch model simulations whereas its small-signal predictions are verified with experimental results from 3.5 kW prototype modules. The latter are used in a multi-module converter to supply the DC power bus in and aircraft. The design of control loops for the converter is based on the new model and its linearization. The ZVZCS-FB PWM converter's average model above is extended to deal with interconnection issues and constraints in a Quasi-Single Stage (QSS) Zero-Voltage Zero-Current Switched (ZVZCS) Three-Phase Buck Rectifier. The new model reveals strong nonlinear transfer characteristics for standard Space Vector Modulation (SVM), which lead to high input current distortion and output voltage ripple inadmissible in telecommunications applications. Physical insight provided by this average model led to the development of a combined modified SVM and feed-forward duty-cycle compensation scheme to reliably minimize the output voltage ripple. Experimental results from a 6 kW prototype validate large signal model for standard and modified SVM, with and without duty-cycle compensation scheme. / Ph. D.