Infineon, Siemens partner on solid-state circuit protection

Key Takeaways

• Infineon Technologies AG and Siemens AG have partnered to develop electrical protection systems for data centers, production facilities, and battery storage systems.
• The partnership will utilize Infineon's silicon carbide power modules in Siemens' SENTRON 3QD2 semiconductor circuit breakers.
• The solid-state circuit breakers offer faster response times, operating in the microsecond range, compared to traditional electromechanical breakers.
• The collaboration aims to provide efficient and reliable circuit protection for power-critical applications.

Introduction to Solid-State Circuit Protection

Infineon Technologies AG and Siemens AG have announced a partnership to develop advanced electrical protection systems for various industries, including data centers, production facilities, and battery storage systems. The collaboration will focus on utilizing Infineon's silicon carbide power modules in Siemens' SENTRON 3QD2 semiconductor circuit breakers.

How Solid-State Circuit Breakers Work

A solid-state circuit breaker, also known as a semiconductor circuit breaker, is an electronic device designed to protect electrical circuits from excessive current, such as short circuits or overloads. Unlike traditional electromechanical breakers, which use moving parts and operate in milliseconds, solid-state circuit breakers use semiconductor components and protection algorithms to interrupt current in the microsecond range. This faster response time is crucial for direct current grids and applications like industrial manufacturing and AI data centers, where electrical faults can lead to downtime, data loss, or equipment damage.

Comparison of Circuit Breaker Technologies

Partnership Details

The partnership between Infineon and Siemens aims to provide efficient and reliable circuit protection for power-critical applications. Siemens will utilize Infineon's 62 mm CoolSiC MOSFET module 1200 V in its protection design to support DC grids and other highly electrified environments where performance and system availability are essential.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Infineon and Siemens marks a significant step forward in the development of advanced electrical protection systems. By leveraging Infineon's silicon carbide power modules and Siemens' expertise in protection algorithms, the partnership is poised to provide efficient and reliable circuit protection for various industries.

Bottom Line

In summary, the partnership between Infineon and Siemens is focused on developing solid-state circuit breakers that offer faster response times and higher reliability compared to traditional electromechanical breakers. With the use of Infineon's silicon carbide power modules, the Siemens SENTRON 3QD2 semiconductor circuit breakers are well-suited for power-critical applications, including data centers, production facilities, and battery storage systems, where efficiency, power density, and operational reliability are crucial.