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Virginia Tech

Double-Side Cooled 3.3 kV, 100 A SiC MOSFET Phase-Leg Modules for Traction Applications

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis presents the development of a double-side cooled 3.3 kV, 100 A SiC MOSFET phase-leg power module for heavy-duty traction applications. Parasitic extraction and thermal simulations of the module showed a parasitic inductance of 2.89 nH and junction temperature of 108.3 °C at a heat flux of 156 W/cm² under a typical water-cooling condition. Electric field simulations identified high electric field stress at the module's outer surface edges exposed to air, posing a risk for partial discharge. To mitigate this risk, a solution that involves covering the critical point in an epoxy was proposed, analyzed, and validated through partial discharge inception voltage tests. Steps for fabricating the module are presented. Static electrical characterization of the fabricated module showed an average on-resistance of 31 mΩ and an average leakage current of 356 nA at VDS of 3 kV, which are similar to those of the unpackaged devices. The module with a double-side cooling design achieved an exceptional power density of 116.6 kW/cm³, more than twice that of any single-side cooled 3.3 kV SiC module. This makes it highly suitable for next-generation electric transportation systems that require high power density and efficient thermal management, such as electric trucks, railways, and eVTOL aircraft.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Materials Science and Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Materials Science and Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2024

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Yuchi, Qingrui
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Lu, Guo Quan
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Ngo, Khai D.
  • Dimarino, Christina Marie

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:41356
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/120970

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Yuchi, Qingrui. Double-Side Cooled 3.3 kV, 100 A SiC MOSFET Phase-Leg Modules for Traction Applications. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2024. https://hdl.handle.net/10919/120970