Project SiC-DCBreaker

Motivation

Today there is a general trend towards utilization of DC networks not only related to the automotive on-board network and photovoltaic systems but also addressing home and office power networks as well as power grids in industrial production sites. However, there is a general challenge related to DC networks which is the spark-free and arcing-free switching/interruption of DC power. State of the art solutions are special mechanical switches suppressing the arcing (possible in low voltage applications) or hybrid solutions for higher voltages. Both solutions are bulky, heavy and expensive

Scope of the project

The project ´Electronic Circuit Breaker for DC Networks´ aims at a full electronic solution taking benefit out of the low Ron resistance of SiC power devices. The project aims at different applications in the voltage range of several hundred volts DC. Two technology pathways are pursued:

• Development of monolithically -integrated SiC-DC-breaker based on SiC JFET
• Optimization of SiC-MOSFET for low on-resistanc

SiC-DCBreaker partners in Germany

• Bavarian Power Electronics Cluster within ECPE e.V.
• Infineon Technologies AG
• Robert Bosch GmbH
• Grass Power Electronics GmbH
• E-T-A Elektrotechnische Apparate GmbH
• Fraunhofer IISB
• University of Bremen