Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are traditionally associated with low power electronic circuits. In power electronics, PCBs are mostly used as the main carrier for low power converters. In the higher power range, PCBs are used as carriers for passives, driver and control circuits and interconnected to the power devices by means of busbars. An ongoing industry trend is to push the power capability of PCBs towards higher power, reaching 50kW or even 100 kW. From the system integration point of view, this is expected to bring cost benefits together with achieving more compact design and higher performance. The aim of this seminar is to explore the limits and boundaries of power PCB and bus bars for high power applications.

The seminar will cover various aspects of power PCBs, including evaluation of power PCB limits, thermal management considerations and techniques as well as novel enabling PCB and busbar technologies such as high current thick copper PCB technologies, miniature heat pipes for PCBs etc. Furthermore, advanced integration PCB technologies such as EMPIC and Power Sandwich PCB technology will be presented.

Prof. Dr. J.A. Ferreira (Delft University of Technology) will chair the seminar together with Thomas Harder (ECPE).