High power-density, high back emf permanent magnet machine and method of making same

1. An electric drive system comprising:

a permanent magnet machine having a rotor and a stator; and

a power converter electrically coupled between a DC link and the permanent magnet machine and configured to convert a DC link voltage to an AC output voltage to drive the permanent magnet machine, the power converter comprising:

a plurality of silicon carbide (SiC) three-terminal controlled switching devices having a voltage rating that exceeds a peak line-to-line back electromotive force (emf) of the permanent magnet machine at a maximum speed of the permanent magnet machine during an uncontrollable generation mode of the permanent magnet machine when a control gate signal on each of the switching devices are turned off.

2. The electric drive system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of SiC switching devices comprise a plurality of SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs).

3. The electric drive system of claim 1 wherein a maximum DC link voltage of the electric drive system is less than the voltage rating of the plurality of SiC switching devices.

4. The electric drive system of claim 3 wherein the plurality of SiC switching devices have a voltage rating greater than approximately three kV.

5. The electric drive system of claim 1 wherein the permanent magnet machine comprises a multi-phase traction motor comprising one of 3, 5, 7, and 9 phases.

6. The electric drive system of claim 1 wherein the permanent magnet machine comprises a single-phase traction motor.

7. The electric drive system of claim 1 wherein the permanent magnet machine comprises a multi-phase alternator coupled to a heat engine.

8. The electric drive system of claim 1 wherein the power converter further comprises plurality of diodes connected in an anti-parallel arrangement with the plurality of SiC switching devices.

9. The electric drive system of claim 1 wherein the power converter is a three-phase power converter.

10. A method of manufacturing an electric drive system comprising the steps of:

providing a permanent magnet machine having a rotor and a stator;

providing a power converter having a plurality of silicon carbide (SiC) three-terminal controlled switching devices each having a voltage rating that exceeds a peak line-to-line back electromotive force (emf) of the permanent magnet machine at a maximum speed of the permanent magnet machine during an uncontrollable generation mode of the permanent magnet machine when a control gate signal on each of the switching devices are turned off; and

coupling the SiC power converter to the permanent magnet machine to drive the permanent magnet machine.

11. The method of manufacturing of claim 10 wherein the plurality of SiC switching devices comprise a plurality of SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs).

12. The method of manufacturing of claim 10 further comprising coupling the power converter to a power source.

13. A vehicle drive system comprising:

a motor comprising:

a permanent magnet rotor; and

a stator;

a DC link; and

a power converter electrically coupled between the DC link and the motor to drive the motor;

wherein the power converter comprises a plurality of silicon carbide (SiC) three-terminal controlled switching devices having a voltage rating that exceeds a peak line-to-line back electromotive force (emf) of the motor at a maximum speed of the motor based on a fault condition when a control gate signal on each of the switching devices are turned off.

14. The vehicle drive system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of SiC switching devices comprise a plurality of SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs).

15. The vehicle drive system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of SiC switching devices have a voltage rating of at least three kV.

16. The vehicle drive system of claim 13 wherein the power converter comprises a three-phase power converter.

17. The vehicle drive system of claim 13 further comprising a voltage source coupled to the DC link and configured to provide a source voltage to the DC link.

18. The vehicle drive system of claim 17 further comprising a controller electrically coupled to the power converter, the controller configured to detect a fault in the power converter when the peak line-to-line emf of the motor is within a threshold percentage of a voltage rating of the power source.

19. The vehicle drive system of claim 17 further comprising at least one contactor electrically coupled to the controller to receive signals therefrom, the at least one contactor connected between the power source and the power converter and configured to decouple the power source from the power converter upon receiving a fault signal from the controller.

20. The vehicle drive system of claim 17 wherein the voltage source comprises a DC source and a DC voltage converter configured to boost a voltage of the DC source to a DC link voltage.

21. The vehicle drive system of claim 20 wherein the DC source comprises at least one of a battery, an ultracapacitor, and a flywheel.

22. The vehicle drive system of claim 17 wherein the voltage source comprises an AC source and a rectifier configured to invert a voltage of the AC source to a DC link voltage.

23. The vehicle drive system of claim 13 wherein the motor comprises a multi-phase permanent magnet traction motor.

24. The vehicle drive system of claim 13 wherein the motor comprises a multi-phase permanent magnet alternator coupled to a heat engine of a hybrid electric vehicle.