Robert Skuriat

Thermal and mechanical design optimization of a pressure-mounted base-plate-less high temperature power module

We discuss the mechanical and thermal design of a high temperature pressure-mounted base-plate-less power module for application in a continuous high temperature (150°C) ambient.

Modelling of jet-impingement cooling for power electronics

The use of an innovative jet impingement cooling system in a power electronics application is investigated using numerical analysis. The jet impingement system, outlined by Skuriat et al [1], consists of a series of cells each containing an array of holes. Cooling fluid is forced through the device, forming an array of impingement jets. The jets are arranged in a manner, which induces a high degree of mixing in the interface boundary layer. This increase in turbulent mixing is intended to induce higher Nusselt numbers and effective heat transfer coefficients. Enhanced cooling efficiency enables the power electronics module to operate at a lower temperature, greatly enhancing long-term reliability [2]. The results obtained through numerical modelling deviates markedly from the experimentally derived data. The disparity is most likely due to the turbulence model selected and further analysis is required, involving evaluation of more advanced turbulence models.

Applications-Based Design of SiC Technology

The adoption of SiC devices as a viable technology depends crucially on maximising the potential advantages of the material. This is best achieved by the adoption of co-design techniques in which the optimisation of the SiC device is performed in parallel to that of the package and the overall application. This paper considers suitable techniques for this co-design and describes new approaches to the development of SiC technology for practical applications.