Ideal Power ships SymCool modules
CEO says this is a "pivotal step" in the commercialisation of B-TRAN technology
Ideal Power, US-based inventor of the B-TRAN bidirectional semiconductor power switch, has started commercial shipment of its SymCool power module to a large, global customer.
Dan Brdar, president and CEO of Ideal Power, said this is a "pivotal step" in the commercialisation of B-TRAN technology,. "We expect to convert large OEMs into design wins and/or additional custom development agreements this year. We're thrilled we are successfully executing against our commercialisation roadmap, remain on track to achieve our 2024 milestones, and look forward to several commercial announcements in the coming months."
Targeted at solid-state switchgear, renewable energy inverters for solar and wind, industrial inverters, EVs and EV charging, the SymCool Power Module uses Ideal Power's B-TRAN technology, a dual-sided semiconductor with inherent bidirectional capability.
Existing power semiconductors, such as IGBTs, are single-sided and operate as unidirectional switches. The inherent bidirectional capability of the SymCool Power Module means that half as many switches are needed compared to implementation with IGBTs, as IGBT-based modules need a dedicated switch for each direction of energy flow, according to Ideal Power.
Fewer components translate to smaller, more cost-efficient OEM designs. In addition, SymCool Power Modules can be configured in parallel to achieve the required current for a wide range of applications and OEM products.
The SymCool Power Module is said to exhibit dramatically lower conduction losses compared to IGBTs, thereby allowing for energy savings that are necessary as power grids are modernised. In particular, the integration of renewable energy sources and energy storage systems into the grid will require circuit breakers that do not waste the precious energy generated by solar or wind. The low conduction losses of the SymCool Power Module meet this requirement.
