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Ideal Power Inc. announced that the company received an order for SymCool™ power modules and drivers from one of the two Forbes Global 500 leaders in diverse power management markets in Ideal Power’s B-TRAN™ test and evaluation program.
“We are delighted to announce this power management market leader in our test and evaluation program is now ordering SymCool™ power modules. This global customer is evaluating SymCool™ for use in its bidirectional solid-state circuit breaker products for diverse industrial markets,” stated Dan Brdar, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ideal Power.
“Strong momentum continues, and we look forward to design wins and/or custom development agreements for solid-state circuit breaker applications in industrial markets. We expect industrial markets to be the earliest source of our sales ramp beginning in the second half of 2024.”
This global power management market leader is evaluating SymCool™ against IGBT modules for use in solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) applications. The order for SymCool™ power modules follows the customer’s testing of discrete B-TRAN™ devices as part of the B-TRAN™ test and evaluation program.
Testing confirmed that the B-TRAN™ technology packaged into the multi-die SymCool™ power module has significantly lower conduction losses compared to conventional power semiconductors such as IGBTs, an advantage that is even more pronounced in bidirectional applications. In addition to energy savings, this improved efficiency also results in lower cost and less complex cooling systems, benefits that significantly impact the economics of OEM products such as SSCBs.
In response to this customer’s requests, Ideal Power provided high-volume quotes for SymCool™ power modules. This customer may also evaluate our technology for its other power conversion applications.
Original – Ideal Power
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Ideal Power Inc. announced that the Company commenced commercial shipment of its SymCool™ Power Module to a large, global customer.
“The commencement of SymCool™ shipments to fulfill customer orders is an exciting time for Ideal Power and a pivotal step in the commercialization of our B-TRAN™ technology. We could not be more excited,” stated Dan Brdar, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ideal Power. “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 commercialization roadmap, remain on track to achieve our 2024 milestones, and look forward to several commercial announcements in the coming months.”
The SymCool™ Power Module targets several applications including solid-state switchgear, renewable energy inverters for solar and wind, industrial inverters, electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging. Customer evaluations confirmed the B-TRAN™ technology packaged into the multi-die SymCool™ Power Module has lower conduction losses and significant efficiency benefits over existing IGBT-based designs.
SymCool™ Power Module is a Groundbreaking Innovation
The SymCool™ Power Module delivers clear advantages for several markets including the large, growing solid-state switchgear market where there is a need for low conduction losses in a wide range of applications such as solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs), protective relays and contactors.
The SymCool™ Power Module utilizes 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. 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 Company looks forward to the SymCool™ sales ramp beginning in the second half of 2024 as expected.
SymCool™ Energy Savings
Circuit breakers continuously conduct current, so it is critical to keep conduction losses to a minimum. The SymCool™ Power Module exhibits dramatically lower conduction losses compared to IGBTs, thereby allowing for energy savings that are necessary as power grids are modernized. 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.
Circuit Breakers are Everywhere
Circuit breakers perform critical functions in controlling the flow of electricity and containing high currents created by faults in that flow in a wide variety of applications. In addition to the high demand for circuit breakers from renewable energy, microgrids, energy storage, and EV applications, there is a tremendous need to upgrade aging infrastructure, including utility transmission and distribution networks and railway systems.
Two critical circuit breaker operating requirements are fast switching and low conduction losses. Traditional mechanical circuit breakers are slow acting and prone to wear and arcing; IGBT and MOSFET-based SSCBs suffer from high conduction losses. The fast-switching speed of B-TRAN™ solves the slow operating time and electrical arcing of electromechanical circuit breakers while also providing more than 50% lower conduction losses compared to SSCBs utilizing conventional semiconductor power switches.
In addition to energy savings, the improved efficiency also results in lower cost and less complex cooling systems, benefits that significantly impact the economics of SSCBs and applications incorporating the SSCBs such as transmission and distribution systems. This is why B-TRAN™ is an enabling technology for SSCBs.
Original – Ideal Power
