Cree introduces the new CPW5 Z-Rec® high-power silicon-carbide (SiC) Schottky diodes, the industry’s first commercially available family of 50-amp SiC rectifiers. Designed to deliver the cost reduction, high efficiency, system simplicity and improved reliability of SiC technology to high-power systems from 50 kW to over 1 MW, these new diodes can address demanding applications that include solar / PV inverters, industrial power supplies, induction heating, battery charging stations, wind-turbine converters and traction inverters.
Developed to facilitate the direct matching of 50-amp diodes to 50-amp MOSFETs or IGBTs, Cree® CPW5 Schottky diodes reduce system complexity and cost by enabling the replacement of multiple low-voltage, low-current SiC Schottky diodes, or silicon PiN diodes, with a single CPW5 rectifier. Additional cost savings can be achieved through reduced maximum voltage ratings and the elimination of snubber circuitry due to the diminished voltage overshoot during switching in silicon carbide.
"Cree’s CPW5 family of SiC Schottky diodes are a critical component in our high-performance power modules and power electronic systems,” said Ty McNutt, director of business development, APEI, Inc. “The low forward voltage drop, fast switching speed and extended temperature capability allow us to push power density and efficiency across many applications, such as high-power motor drives and solar inverters."
Cree CPW5 diodes enable a new generation of high-current Si/SiC IGBT modules. Hybrid Si/SiC IGBT modules can deliver up to a 43-percent reduction in switching losses over conventional modules, while also reducing voltage- and current-overshoot, switching dead time and cooling requirements. As an added benefit, design engineers can use the same gate driver design and circuits used with conventional modules, allowing easy and immediate implementation. Cree CPW5 diodes also provide a peak forward surge resistance greater than 500 amps repetitive and 2000 amps non-repetitive, delivering increased reliability under the harshest electrical conditions.
“As the sole distributor of Cree SiC-based power products in wafer and die form, SemiDice is excited to offer the CPW5 family of Z-Rec Schottky diodes,” said Dan Cormack, CEO of SemiDice, Inc. “We are seeing increased customer demand for 50-amp Schottky diodes, and we know that as a global leader in the manufacture of advanced SiC diodes, Cree will deliver the quality and performance that our customers expect to help them minimize system cost and size.”