Silicon Carbide (SiC) – The Future of Efficient UPS Systems
As the demand for more efficient, reliable, and sustainable power solutions continues to rise, the limitations of traditional silicon-based semiconductors are becoming increasingly evident. Enter Silicon Carbide (SiC), an advanced material that is revolutionising power electronic such as UPS, offering significant advantages over conventional silicon.
Silicon (Si) has long been the industry standard for semiconductor technology, particularly in power applications. However, as efficiency and performance demands increase, Si-based power electronics face fundamental material limitations, including lower thermal conductivity, higher switching losses, and limited high-temperature performance. Silicon Carbide (SiC), on the other hand, is a wide-bandgap semiconductor that overcomes these limitations, offering remarkable improvements in efficiency, power density, and reliability.
Superior Efficiency
One of the key benefits of SiC is its higher efficiency. SiC has a wider bandgap (3.26 eV compared to silicon’s 1.12 eV), which means it can operate at significantly higher voltages with lower conduction and switching losses. This translates into greater energy efficiency, reducing wasted power and heat dissipation.
Better Thermal Conductivity
Additionally, with three times the thermal conductivity of silicon, SiC components can handle higher temperatures without degradation. This allows for reduced cooling requirements, smaller heat sinks, and overall, more compact system designs.
Enhanced Power Density
SiC-based devices exhibit much faster switching capabilities compared to silicon, reducing switching losses and enabling higher frequency operation. This leads to smaller passive components, enhancing power density and system efficiency.
More Robust
Furthermore, SiC’s robust material properties make it far more resistant to extreme conditions, ensuring a longer lifespan and increased reliability in demanding applications, including industrial power supplies, electric vehicle charging, and renewable energy systems.
One of the most critical applications of SiC technology is in Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems. Modern UPS systems demand exceptional efficiency to reduce energy waste and operational costs. By integrating SiC components, UPS manufacturers are now able to achieve unprecedented levels of performance.
A prime example of Silicon Carbide’s game-changing impact in UPS technology is the Legrand Keor FLEX. This cutting-edge modular UPS system incorporates SiC technology to deliver a groundbreaking 98.4% online double conversion efficiency, a level far superior to any other UPS on the market.
The Legrand Keor FLEX utilises SiC-based power conversion technology to achieve maximum efficiency. It offers modular scalability from 1.2MW per unit, parallelable up to 4 units to achieve up to 4.8MW, providing flexibility for various power demands. Thanks to the high thermal conductivity and efficiency of SiC components, the UPS system has a compact footprint with reduced cooling requirements. Optimised for critical applications in data centres, including AI data centres, the Legrand Keor FLEX is designed to provide reliable and sustainable power backup.
Why SiC-Based UPS Systems Are Superior
UPS systems that leverage Silicon Carbide technology offer several significant advantages over traditional silicon-based models. They achieve higher efficiency, with the Legrand Keor FLEX boasting a market-leading 98.4% online double conversion efficiency. This minimises power losses, reducing energy waste and lowering operational costs.
SiC-based UPS systems also exhibit lower power losses, meaning less energy is dissipated as heat. As a result, these systems have superior thermal management, reducing the need for complex and bulky cooling mechanisms. This leads to a more compact and lightweight design, saving valuable space in critical environments such as data centres and industrial facilities.
Another key benefit is the faster switching speeds enabled by SiC technology, which improves power conversion efficiency and system responsiveness. Additionally, the increased reliability and longevity of SiC components ensure long-term performance, even in demanding conditions. These advantages make SiC-based UPS solutions ideal for critical applications where power stability, efficiency, and sustainability are paramount.
By leveraging SiC technology, the Legrand Keor FLEX not only lowers energy consumption and operating costs but also enhances reliability and sustainability, making it an ideal choice for data centres looking to future-proof their power infrastructure.
Silicon Carbide is reshaping the landscape of power electronics, enabling superior efficiency, performance, and sustainability across multiple industries. As businesses strive to reduce energy waste and carbon footprints, adopting SiC-based solutions like the Legrand Keor FLEX UPS is a smart investment in long-term energy efficiency and resilience.
Explore the Legrand Keor FLEX and discover how Silicon Carbide technology can revolutionise your power backup strategy: Legrand Keor FLEX.