Modeling and Validation of Junction Temperature Estimation in High-Power SiC MOSFET Inverters for Electric Vehicle Applications

Leonardo R. Willers; Paulo Henrique Alves da Silva e Silva; Lucas R. Rocha; Rodrigo Padilha Vieira

doi:10.18618/REP.e202611

Authors

Leonardo R. Willers Universidade Federal de Santa Maria https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0387-5593
Paulo Henrique Alves da Silva e Silva Universidade Federal de Santa Maria https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0429-6593
Lucas R. Rocha Universidade Federal de Santa Maria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1806-1827
Rodrigo Padilha Vieira Universidade Federal de Santa Maria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0558-133X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18618/REP.e202611

Keywords:

Embedded thermal monitoring, thermal modeling, state observer, wide bandgap semiconductors, electric traction inverters

Abstract

The growing concern with reducing CO2 emissions and the demand for sustainable mobility have promoted the adoption of electric vehicles and the use of wide bandgap semiconductors. Thermal management for semiconductor devices is crucial to ensure reliability and efficiency, with junction temperature being a key variable that cannot be directly measured during operation. In this context, this paper proposes a method for junction temperature estimation of SiC MOSFET devices applied to electric traction inverters. A Luenberger state observer is applied to estimate the junction temperature from accessible variables such as ambient temperature, heat sink temperature, and calculated power losses. The method is formulated in a state-space representation, verified through simulations, and validated using an experimental setup, consisting of a single-phase full-bridge inverter. Infrared thermal imaging and physical sensors were employed to compare estimated and measured values. The results demonstrated high accuracy and fast dynamic response of the proposed observer, confirming its robustness and applicability for embedded thermal monitoring in power converters.

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Author Biographies

Leonardo R. Willers, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria

was born in São josé do Inhacorá, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, in 1999. He received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Universidade Regional do Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (UNIJUÍ), Santa Rosa, Brazil, in 2023, and the M.Sc. Eng. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil, in 2025. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Mathematical and Computational Modeling in the research line Mathematical and Computational Modeling, Optimization and Control of Systems. His research interests include the modeling, control, and thermal management of power traction inverters, as well as data acquisition and telemetry systems for agricultural machinery.

Paulo Henrique Alves da Silva e Silva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria

was born in Gonçalves Dias, Maranhão (MA), Brazil, in 1996. He received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Federal Institute of Goiás, Itumbiara, Brazil, in 2021, and his M.S. degree in 2023. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering as a member of the Power Electronics and Control Group (GEPOC). His research interests include the thermal managementof power traction inverters, motor control, and strategies for operating sinusoidal machines across a wide speed and torque range.

Lucas R. Rocha, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria

was born in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil in 1995. He received the B.S., M. Sc. and the Dr. Eng. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) - Brazil in 2019, 2021, and 2025, where he is currently a post-doctorate researcher as a member of the Power Electronics and Control Group (GEPOC) and a substitute professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at UFSM. Dr. Rocha’s main research interests include control and drive of electrical motors, control of non-sinusoidal PMSM, design and analysis of observers and study of control techniques to mitigate torque ripple in non-sinusoidal PMSM.

Rodrigo Padilha Vieira, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria

was born in Cruz Alta, Brazil. Received the B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Universidade Regional do Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Ijuí, Brazil, in 2007, and the M.Sc. and Dr. Eng. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil, in 2008 and 2012, respectively. From 2010 to 2014, he was with the Federal University of Pampa, Alegrete, Brazil. Since 2014, he has been with the UFSM, where he is currently an Associate Professor of Electrical Machines. His research interests include electrical machine drives, sensorless drives, digital control techniques of static converters, and electric vehicles.

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