Uniform and Efficient Embedded Microfluidic Cooling for High-Power-Density Power Modules

Abstract

The increasing power density of SiC power modules presents significant challenges in achieving uniform high-heat-flux thermal management, which is often limited by conventional packages. To address this, an embedded microfluidic-cooled SiC power module is developed, combining embedded microchannels and nano-silver sintering to enable efficient and uniform cooling. Microchannels were directly fabricated beneath the die footprint in the direct-bonded copper substrate using picosecond laser etching, with a crossover double-layer manifold integrated into the baseplate to facilitate large-area liquid distribution. The thermal performance and temperature uniformity of the proposed design were first validated using SiC thermal test chips (SiC TTCs). Our results demonstrated an ultralow junction-to-fluid thermal resistance of 0.064 K/W and a coefficient of performance greater than 20 000, representing a 52% reduction and more than a 10-fold improvement over conventional heat sinks, respectively. The design allowed reliable heat dissipation up to 655 W at a coolant flow rate of 3 g/s, reducing junction temperature gradients by 86%. Finally, when applied to a practical SiC power module, the improved thermal performance of the new architecture led to an increase in current capacity by 43%. The proposed codesigned integrated microfluidic-cooled packaging architecture offers an efficient and easy-to-extend solution for next-generation high-power-density power electronics.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.1109/TPEL.2025.3584306

Journal

IEEE transactions on power electronics

Year

2025