6.5kV SiC JFET-based Super Cascode Power Module with High Avalanche Energy Handling Capability

A new Super Cascode Power Module (SCPM) topology was designed, and a 6.5kV/100A implementation was fabricated and tested. Simulation and test results show 175kHz switching with 28ns switching time. Vulnerability to avalanche energy was observed, and a solution was proposed and verified with simulation. Simulation shows more than 99% of the avalanche energy is diverted to the power devices from balancing diodes, which have much smaller die size compared with the power device.