In this thesis, a proof of concept for a current-source DC-DC converter for powering sensors used in an underwater communications system is presented. The proposed converter steps down an input current of 0.9 A to 0.625 A, while maintaining an output voltage of 24 V and output power of 15 W. The complete steady-state analysis and design of the proposed converter in its single-stage form is also explained in detail. Performance evaluation of the proposed converter was carried out using LTspice. Results of the simulation demonstrate that the design was able to produce average output current of 0.639 A at maximum output power of 15.292 W while maintaining 24.39 V regulated output voltage. The overall efficiency of the converter was determined to be 88.73% and the output voltage ripple was calculated to be 0.4%, meeting the original specifications of the design.

DC-DC converters can be separated into two main groups: switching converters and linear regulators. Linear regulators such as Low Dropout Regulators (LDOs) are straightforward to implement and have a very stable output with low voltage ripple. However, the efficiency of an LDO can fluctuate greatly, as the power dissipation is a function of the device’s input and output. On the other hand, a switching regulator uses a switch to regulate energy levels. These types of regulators are more versatile when a larger change of voltage is needed, as efficiency is relatively stable across larger steps of voltages. However, switching regulators tend to have a larger output voltage ripple, which can be an issue for sensitive systems. An approach to utilize both in cascaded configuration while providing a negative output voltage will be presented in this paper. The proposed two-stage conversion system consists of a switching pre-regulator that can track the negative output voltage of the second stage (LDO) such that the difference between input and output voltages is always kept small under varying output voltage while maintaining the high overall conversion efficiency. Computer simulation and hardware results demonstrate that the proposed system can track the negative output voltage well. Additionally, the results show that the proposed system can provide and maintain good overall efficiency, load regulation, and output voltage ripple across a wide range of outputs.

Global energy consumption continues to grow, driving the need for cheap, power-dense power electronics. Replacing the incumbent silicon insulated gate bipolar transistors with silicon carbide (SiC) metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) has been proposed as a solution to increase the power densities of power converters in some applications. One such application is electric vehicles (EVs) where the efficiency and weight of the power electronics are critical; however, modern packaging technologies are still limiting the performance of SiC MOSFETs. One promising trend in power semiconductor packaging technologies is the use of printed circuit boards (PCBs) because the technology is mature—resulting in low costs—and the allowable stackups are ideal for integrating driving circuitry and power loop components—resulting in reduced manufacturing complexity. This thesis presents the design and analysis of two PCB-embedded 1.2 kV SiC MOSFET half-bridge packages and a hybrid PCB/DBC-based 1.2 kV SiC MOSFET full-bridge package for EV on-board charger applications. The first of the two PCB-embedded packages has integrated gate drive circuitry, less than 2.3 nH loop inductances, and dual-sided cooling with a total junction-to-case thermal resistance (RTH,JC) of 0.12 K/W. The second PCB-embedded package has only drain-side cooling to allow for surface mount terminals, has an area of 37.1 mm x 18.5 mm due to the removal of the gate drive circuitry, and has less than 2.4 nH loop inductances. The PCB/DBC-based full-bridge package has an RTH,JC of 0.65 K/W, less than 4.5 nH, and integrated gate drive circuitry. / M.S. / The continued increase in global energy consumption has led to concerns about sustainability, and as renewable energy generation is adopted more broadly, more efficient means of converting electrical energy from one form to another are required. Some applications, such as electric vehicles (EVs), also require a lightweight and a low volume from their converters in addition to high efficiency. The packaging of the semiconductors used in converters is important to the overall electrical efficiency of the converter and can also have an impact on the size of the converter as well. This thesis explores the design and analysis of three package structures for the semiconductors used in the on-board charger of an EV. These package structures are unified under the common theme of using printed circuit boards (PCBs) in the package itself. PCBs are commonly used to route the electrical connections between packaged semiconductors and other components in the converter, but they are not usually integrated into the package itself. The hope is that by integrating the PCB into the semiconductor package, higher-efficiency, lighter-weight, and smaller-volume converters will be possible.

The primary objective of this master's thesis is to examine a new version of a power unit currently utilized in an unmanned aerial vehicle and develop a simulation model of the power unit. The theoretical groundwork needed for developing a model has been presented, describing components used and the function of the different subsystems. The development of a model is done in the simulation environment of Simscape. Measurements were preformed on the physical prototype of the power unit. These measurements were used to verify the simulation. The results of the simulations and the measurements are presented at the end of the thesis, confirming the simulation model's validity.

TCAD numerical simulations have been carried out to study the current-voltage, electrical breakdown, and self-heating characteristics of β-Ga2O3 based metal-oxide field effect transistors (MOSFETs). β-Ga2O3 semiconductor has an ultra-wide bandgap of ~ 4.8 eV, a theoretical critical breakdown field strength, Ec ~ 8 MV/cm, making it an excellent candidate for high-voltage or power electronics applications. The numerical simulations have been benchmarked against experimentally reported data. For modeling impact ionization, which is expected to induce intrinsic avalanche breakdown, the Selberherr’s model has been used with appropriate parameterization. For a device with a gate length of 2 μm, 0.6 μm gate-drain spacing, 3.4 μm source-drain spacing, and 20 nm thick Al2O3 gate insulator, the intrinsic breakdown voltage was found to be ~460 V. While self-heating dramatically affects the output current and conductance, it has an insignificant effect on the breakdown voltage. The use of a thinner epitaxial channel was found to increase the breakdown voltage slightly (by ~30 V).

The effect of the electrical field enhancement at the junction discontinuities and its impact on the on-state resistance of power semiconductor devices was investigated. A systematic analysis of the mechanisms behind the techniques that can be used for the edge termination in power semiconductor devices was performed. The influence of the passivation layer properties, such as effective interface charge and dielectric permittivity, on the devices with different edge terminations was analyzed using numerical simulation. A compact analytical expression for the optimal JTE dose was proposed for the first time. This expression has been numerically evaluated for different targeted values of the blocking voltage and the maximum electric field, always resulting in the optimal field distribution that does not require further optimization with 2-D device simulator. A compact set of rules for the optimal design of super-junction power devices was developed. Compact analytical expressions for the optimal dopings and dimensions of the devices employed the field compensation technique are derived and validated with the results of numerical simulations on practical device structures. A comparative experimental study of several approaches used for the edge termination in SiC power diodes and transistors was performed. The investigated techniques included the mesa termination, high-k termination, JTE, and the combination of JTE and field plate edge termination. The mesa edge termination was found to be the most promising among the techniques investigated in this work. This stand-along technique satisfied all the imposed requirements for the ?ideal? edge termination: performance, reproducibility (scalability), and cost-efficiency. First of all, it resulted in the maximum one-dimensional electric field (E1DMAX) at the main device junction equal to 2.4 MV/cm or 93% of the theoretical value of critical electric field in 4H-SiC. Secondly, the measured E1DMAX was found to be independent of the voltage blocking layer parameters that demonstrate the scalability of this technique. Lastly, the implementation of this technique does not require expensive fabrication steps, and along with an efficient use of the die area results in the low cost and high yield.

No description available.

This thesis focuses on the concept, design, and simulation of the Reconfigurable Multi-Source Inverter for EV applications and its effectiveness when combined with a HESS. The current trends in the automotive market, including different vehicle types, and the adoption of electrified vehicles by the public are discussed. The benefits and logistics of different vehicle architectures are analyzed and compared. Hybrid vehicles will be essential in helping transition society from conventional internal combustion engine vehicles to purely electric vehicles. The individual components of these electrified vehicles are reviewed, and common topologies are discussed with the benefits of each system compared. The batteries required for these electric vehicles are costly and require many individual cells in order to operate efficiently. Many hybrids vehicles make use of expensive power electronics, such as DC/DC converters to help boost the operating voltage of the battery pack without adding additional cells. A Reconfigurable Multi-Source Inverter in introduced and its switching structure is explained in depth. Its’ ability to make use of multiple DC sources to create four different voltage levels is outlined and possible modulation techniques are presented. This thesis aims to introduce a novel Reconfigurable Multi-Source Inverter using a Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) scheme and is further investigated through simulations and with plans for experimental validation on an R-L load. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / One of the main factors affecting the cost of electrified vehicles is the expense of building a high voltage battery pack. Motor’s used in electric vehicle applications typically operate at higher voltages and therefore require large battery pack or costly power electronics to step the voltage of the pack up to a suitable operating level. A Reconfigurable Multi-Source Inverter uses a combination of two sources to create different voltage levels. This novel inverter can be used to maximize the voltage of smaller packs to help reduce the overall cost of vehicle electrification.

Two constant-frequency resonant power processors are discussed. The parallel resonant converter(PRC) with a controlled output rectifier can provide both forward and reverse power flow. A new control parameter — "θ-angle" is proposed for achieving output regulation and bidirectional power flow of the PRC. The θ-angle, measured as the displacement angle between the firing of the inverter switches and the firing of their corresponding output rectifier switches, provides a control-to-output characteristic independent of load variations and is very easy to implement. Unified closed-form expressions for the steady-state operating conditions are derived. Circuit performances are analyzed through closed-form solutions. Similar analyses are performed for a phase-controlled dual-inverter resonant converter. The feasibility of generating a regulated high-frequency AC bus employing this circuit is investigated. A controlled rectifier and LC filter type of load is used for the circuit to demonstrate the complex interactions between the inverters and the load and the effect of load power factor on the quality of the ac bus voltage. Desired operating regions for input, output, and various control parameters are analytically defined through closed-form solutions such that good quality ac bus voltage can be achieved. / M.S.

A new methodology is proposed to investigate the large-signal stability of interconnected power electronics systems. The approach consists of decoupling the system into a source subsystem and a load subsystem, and stability of the entire system can be analyzed based on investigating the feedback loop formed by the interconnected source/load system. The proposed methodology requires two stages: (1) since the source and the load are unknown nonlinear subsystems, system identification, which consists of isolating each subsystem into a series combination of a linear part and a nonlinear part, must be performed, and (2) stability analysis of the interconnected system is conducted thereafter based on a developed stability criterion suitable for the nonlinear interconnected-block-structure model. Applicability of the methodology is verified through stability analysis of PWM converters and a typical power electronics system. / Ph. D.