Feature: Military
In defence and aerospace industries, high-power electronic systems play a critical role in ensuring the efficiency, reliability and safety of mission-critical systems
At the heart of power electronic devices lie intricate circuitries
Enhancing power system relibility and performance with mica capacitors
By Carol Brower, Michael Schulte and Pradeep Haldar, Custom Electronics
H
igh-power electronic systems are always at the forefront of modern technological advancements, driving efficiency, reliability and performance across various applications, including renewable energy, electric vehicles, industrial automation, power transmission and distribution, medical
equipment, aerospace and defence, rail/transportation, and energy storage systems, to name just a few. Tese power systems, comprising intricate assemblies of electronic components, undergo meticulous design and assembly processes to ensure optimal functionality and longevity.
38 May 2024
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
and topologies that efficiently handle high voltages and currents. Power semiconductors are the heart of high-power electronic systems, responsible for switching and controlling the flow of electricity. Tey include modules that incorporate high-reliability mica capacitors (which use mica as their internal dielectric), inductors, heat sinks, cooling systems, control circuitry, protection circuits, transformers, converters, busbars, interconnects, enclosures, packaging, and sensor elements; see Figure 1. Tey all play pivotal roles in working together to regulate power flow, by efficiently converting, switching, controlling and distributing electricity over a wide range of frequencies, voltages and currents. In defence and aerospace industries, high-power electronic
systems play a critical role in ensuring the efficiency, reliability and safety of mission-critical systems. Tey are used for efficient distribution and management of electrical power within aircraſt, satellites, missiles and other platforms, including propulsion, ignition, radar and communication systems, travelling wave tubes laser devices, electronic countermeasures, directed energy weapons, avionics and flight control systems, environmental control systems and storage/generation of power.
Power semiconductors Te primary element in an electronic power system is a switching power converter that consists of power semiconductors that are turned on and off at high frequencies. Tis operation switches the voltage and current through the devices, delivering controlled power at the output. In addition, the power drawn from the input can also be controlled. Commonly used devices include IGBTs, MOSFETs, thyristors and diodes. More recent advancements in power semiconductors have
paved the path for newer devices like silicon carbide and gallium nitride FETs, and power diodes. Tese devices have superior characteristics due to their wide band-gap nature that enables their high-voltage operation, improved thermal management and better efficiency. Teir main advantage is that they can withstand high voltage when compared to silicon devices. In addition, operating at higher switching frequencies helps reduce the size of the passive components around them, making the overall systems
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