300 C ROTATING RECTIFIER ALTERNATOR. PHASE I-B.

The purpose of this project is to determine the feasibility of using Silicon Carbide diodes in a rotating rectifier assembly in a brushless three-phase a-c generator. The generator is to radiate its heat to a 300 C ambient. The diodes will operate at about 500 C. Originally 14 Silicon Carbide rectifiers were supplied to Lima Westinghouse by the Air Force. Tests were made on these diodes at Lima and it was determined by these tests that the supplied diodes were unsuitable for application into a generator design. This was Phase Ia of the study. This Interim Report covers the first three months of Phase Ib of the study. The objective of Phase Ib is to procure a minimum of 15 new diodes and to evaluate these diodes by test. The following is a summary of the phases of the study. Phase Ia - Test evaluate 14 Silicon Carbide diodes supplied by Air Force. This phase is complete and is covered by Technical Report AFAPL-TR-66-75, August 15, 1966. Phase Ib - Procure and test evaluate a minimum of 15 Silicon Carbide diodes. Phase II - Design, build, and test a brushless a-c generator utilizing rotating Silicon Carbide diodes. Author