| Abstract |
The permanent demand on increasing output power and density of Medium Voltage Converters in different applications is pushing up the need of new devices with higher current rates in the market. Semiconductor manufacturers are evolving their technology in order to achieve higher current rates [1-4], especially based on higher junction temperature operation, new chip layout which enhances the thermal impedance and also lower conduction and switching losses, with its trade-off relationship in order to optimize the device to the corresponding topology and application. The new Technology version of Hitachi's 4,5kV IGBTs (1500A) has been tested in order to verify its features for a new 3LNPC converter to be used in Wind applications. This new devices increase rated current compared to conventional 4.5kV IGBT modules [5]. For the verification, different tuned devices have been evaluated in a 3-level configuration from the loss point of view (conduction and switching), thermal impedance and maximum spike voltage. The best options were selected in order to increase the output current (in certain operation points) more than 50\% for a 3L NPC converter. |
