110 kW, 2.6 l SiC-inverter for DRIVEMODE - a highly integrated automotive drivetrain

In this work the design of a three-phase 110 kW, 2.6 l high frequency switching silicon carbide inverter developed within the DRIVEMODE project [1] is presented. The power electronic device is part of an integrated automotive drivetrain and is attached to a high-speed motor using a novel pressure contact based AC connection. The design is optimized for the motor drive application of a full electric car with focus on optimized cooling to minimize material and cost of power components. The performance in inverter operation is investigated by electrical and thermal characterization of a prototype unit and modelling of its power section. The dependency of the output power and of the inverter’s efficiency from the maximum allowable commutation slew rate at the AC terminals is highlighted.