Abstract
A high-efficiency, 2.3-MW, medium-voltage, three-level inverter utilizing 4.5-kV Si/SiC (silicon carbide) hybrid modules for wind energy applications is discussed. The inverter addresses recent trends in siting the inverter within the base of multimegawatt turbine towers. A simplified split, three-layer laminated bus structure that maintains low parasitic inductances is introduced along with alow-voltage, high-current test method for determining these inductances. Feed-thru bushings, edge fill methods, and other design features of the laminated bus structure provide voltage isolation that is consistent with the 10.4-kV module isolation levels. Inverter efficiency improvement is a result of the (essential) elimination of the reverse recovery charge present in 4.5-kV Si PIN diodes,which can produce a significant reduction in diode turn-off losses as well as insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) turn-on losses. The hybrid modules are supplied in industry-standard 140 mm x 130 mm and 190 mm x 130 mm packages to demonstrate direct module substitution into existing inverter designs. A focus on laminated bus/capacitor-bank/module subassembly level switching performance ispresented.
Original language | American English |
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Number of pages | 10 |
State | Published - 2014 |
Event | 2015 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference - Charlotte, North Carolina Duration: 15 Mar 2015 → 19 Mar 2015 |
Conference
Conference | 2015 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference |
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City | Charlotte, North Carolina |
Period | 15/03/15 → 19/03/15 |
NREL Publication Number
- NREL/CP-5000-63189
Keywords
- efficiency
- medium voltage
- NREL
- silicon carbide
- three-level inverter
- wind energy
- wind turbine