SiC power simulator tests devices in design phase

Microchip Technology Inc. has announced its MPLAB SiC Power Simulator, giving power design engineers the ability to easily move to SiC power solutions by allowing them to test Microchip’s power devices and modules in the design phase. The transition to SiC has been gaining traction for the past few years given its fast switching, low power loss and high temperature performance, compared to silicon. For high-power applications, SiC technology yields higher system efficiency, power density and temperature stability over silicon insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs).

Design engineers can rapidly evaluate device performance quickly in a power converter design using the tool. It works by calculating power losses, while it estimates junction temperature for the SiC devices using lab testing data for common power converter topologies in DC/AC, AC/DC and DC/DC apps.

The tool enables the selection of the best device for the job as well as device configurations. It also compares power loss and thermal performance for a variety of devices and environments, captures waveforms for passive component design and evaluates the impact of gate resistances.

(Source: Microchip Technology Inc.)

The Power Simulator is a PLECS-based software environment designed with Plexim to create a free online tool that eliminates the need for a simulation license. It enables customers to benchmark and evaluate Microchip SiC devices while in the design phase.

The simulator tool is suited for OEMs designing power systems for e-Mobility, sustainability and industrial applications including electric vehicles, on/off-board charging, power supplies and battery storage systems.

Microchip’s SiC portfolio includes power module packaging with the low parasitic inductance (<2.9 nH) and 3.3-kV discrete MOSFETs and diodes with the high current ratings. It also includes 700 V, 1200 V and 1700 V die, discretes and modules, as well as AgileSwitch configurable digital gate drivers. The MPLAB SiC Power Simulator is free to use and can be accessed here.