Short-Circuit Ruggedness and Partial Discharge Evaluation of a 3.3 kV SiC MOSFET Power Module

This paper presents the initial evaluation of a 3.3-kV, SiC MOSFET power module (not fully populated) from Wolfspeed, including static, short circuit (SC), and partial discharge (PD) test results. Static characterization results are presented first. The module performance change after repetitive pulse SC tests is provided by comparing the original static characterization test results to the one performed after the SC stress tests. More electric aircrafts (MEA) require an increased electric system voltage level (e.g., 230 VAC constant or variable frequency, ± 270 VDC or 540 VDC) and make PD a very relevant and urgent issue. Thus, PD evaluation tests for the module package are included for different air pressures from Sea Level (i.e., 760 Torr) to 50,000 feet (i.e., 87 Torr) altitude. The PD inception voltage (PDIV) and extinction voltage (PDEV) obtained via experimentation are presented in this paper.