Characteristics of high-voltage capacitors when operating in high temperature environments

Thermal management is the key to compact power electronic design, however research into passive component technologies is falling behind the work carried out on new semiconductor switches. The integration of passive components into power electronic modules has many advantages [1-3]. However the availability of passive components capable of being utilized within the expanding environmental conditions experienced by the semiconductor devices is limited. To this end, this paper presents results on testing of commercially available capacitors beyond their rated temperature ranges, to assess their suitability for use in a higher temperature environment.