Solid State Motors, more specifically called PCB axial flux motors[1], are electric motors that use a printed circuit board (PCB) as the stator. These motors are shorter and wider than equivalent radial motors, and they can be built directly upon a PCB, using PCB traces as the stator windings. PCB stator motors are lightweight and deliver more power in a smaller package. Thus, they are well suited to serve emerging electrification applications in industries such as robotics, HVAC, electric vehicles, medical devices, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, renewable energy, and consumer electronics.
Most traditional motor drives employ Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) as they are both cost effective and ruggedized. However, IGBTs suffer from high switching losses, thus they need to operate at a lower frequency, which increases the size and weight of the motor. With Solid State Motors, higher-speed Silicon carbide (SiC) devices can now be used. For example, SiC MOSFETs have been shown to improve the efficiency of newer solid state motors. Compared to silicon IGBTs they offer the advantage of operating at a much higher frequency while increasing system efficiency and reducing the size and weight of the motor. [2][3][4]
Applications
Some motor drive applications where SiC three-phase motor driver inverters can be used effectively include:
- Motor Drives (e.g., Figure 1)
- PCB Motor Stators
- HVAC Systems
- Robotics
- Electric Vehicles
- Medical Devices
Figure 1. Example of a rotating electric motor where a SiC inverter can be used.
Benefits of SiC Moter Driver Inverters
- Ability to withstand high voltage and their low Rds(on) make SiC motor driver inverters ideal for use in auxiliary power supplies
- Maintain operating performance even at high temperatures (up to 175° C)
- High frequency operation reduces the size of components including the magnetics
- Lower device capacitances with SiC Fast Body Diodes reduces switching losses
Figure 2. Three-phase motor driver inverter design that incorporates two SiC MOSFET models.
Highlighted Products
Luminus offers high-quality SiC power products under the brand Analog Power Conversion Electronics (APC-E) including these SiC MOSFETs.
- AMR1K0V170E1 – SiC MOSFET, 1700 V, 1 W, TO-247 (For Aux Supply)
- AMR075V120H1 – SiC MOSFET, 1200 V, 75 mW, TO-247
APC employes state-of-the-art manufacturing processes conforming to the latest industry standards. All products are designed in the U.S. and built in the Philippines ensuring some of the shortest lead times in the industry.
You can purchase samples of Luminus Power Semiconductor products here. Our authorized distributors include Avnet Electronics, Mouser and Digikey.
Learn more about other applications that can benefit from SiC power products from APC:
Increasing Power Supply Efficiency with SiC Boost Diode and MOSFETs
Simplifying Aux Power Supply Design & Lowering Costs with SiC MOSFETs
Increasing the Efficiency of Bidirectional Converters with SiC Power Devices
For more information, please email apc-e@luminus.com
REFERENCES:
[1] Wikipedia - PCB axial flux motors
[2] Infinitum Electric
[3] ECM
[4] EV Adoption of Axial Motors
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