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figure no. 1 is missing green color on HVAC transmission line. i do not have ExTwitter and i do not know other way to let them know. it is interesting to think
by Calwestjobs 2y ago
figure no. 1 is missing green color on HVAC transmission line. i do not have ExTwitter and i do not know other way to let them know.
it is interesting to think about human made object in terms of how much materials they use, for example big old transformer contains 2 tons of iron, new solid-state transformer with same capacity uses only 300 kg of silicon (Si), 120kg kg of plastics and 50 kg of copper.
- JumpCrisscross 2y agoE-mail the author spatel@powermag.com [1]. [1] https://www.powermag.com/contact-us/ https://www.powermag.com/contact-us/
- mppm 2y agoWhy do solid-state transformers need so much silicon?
- LargoLasskhyfv 2y agoBecause they contain long cascades of these https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulated-gate_bipolar_transistor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulated-gate_bipolar_transis... to be arranged into these https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_electronics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_electronics
- mppm 2y agoAs a sibling comment implies, high-power IGBTs are still built from small and thin silicon dies with most of the module being heat spreader, insulator, interconnect and packaging. Even MW-class modules probably contain a gram or so of Si.
- wbraun 2y agoWhere are your weight figures coming from, they are not in the linked article. Packaged semiconductors are going to be more metal interconnect / plastic encapsulation / ceramic insulation than silicon by weight. These systems will also have a significant weight fraction in magnetic materials, either ferrite ceramics or amorphous metals. Still a huge weight savings, but the weight fractions you are giving see off and are missing some important materials.