Abstract

Power electronics plays a significant role in energy conversion systems, and wide-band-gap semiconductors such as SiC MOSFETs are helping to improve performances. For predicting power converters behavior, simulations are generally used, including modeling of the losses for efficiency estimation. However, many of the existing studies simply relies on existing loss models, without validation of their accuracy. In this paper, a high-performances rapid prototyping SiC half-bridge is designed, with objectives toward research and teaching. Hardware implementation is described, as well as its modeling through the PLECS simulation software. Accuracy of the efficiency estimation through simulation is evaluated considering the case application example of a synchronous buck DC-DC converter. It is shown that the theoretical models allow estimation of the efficiency of the converter with error below 5% for most of the tested cases. © 2025 IEEE.