Undergraduate Research Assistant
I assist a team of graduate students in testing modules for PowerAmerica's clientele, including Corstat and CREE. I was initially responsible for routing a 555 timer circuit, simulating it in LT Spice, and constructing a PCB by soldering, which was used to test Gate-Drivers. In each Converter test 4-6 Gate Drivers are used, so we must ensure that they transmit and convert optical data to analog Sinusoidal waveforms correctly. Test setup generally involves: ensuring Gate-drivers are… Show more I assist a team of graduate students in testing modules for PowerAmerica's clientele, including Corstat and CREE. I was initially responsible for routing a 555 timer circuit, simulating it in LT Spice, and constructing a PCB by soldering, which was used to test Gate-Drivers. In each Converter test 4-6 Gate Drivers are used, so we must ensure that they transmit and convert optical data to analog Sinusoidal waveforms correctly. Test setup generally involves: ensuring Gate-drivers are functioning, connecting wires properly between interfaces from the FPGA module (where the signal information is stored) - up until the Oscilloscope, which displays the final output signal. In my second year at PowerAmerica I wrote a technical literature review, which incorporates the testing setup as well as background information on Half-Bridge Converters. The modules we tested were Silicon-Carbide (SiC) MOSFET Switching devices rated for 10kV. They were provided a double-pulse square wave signal, and loaded until the maximum power input to ensure they fit their specification. These devices are SiC because they can cope with large increases in base-plate temperature and are switchable at high frequencies - which reduces the size and weight requirements of passive elements. Show less