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Managing high currents in power electronics using IGBT transistors
In traction inverters, IGBTs are used to convert the DC voltage of the traction battery into AC voltage to power the electric motor. Thus, it is possible to regulate the frequency and amplitude of the voltage on the motor windings and, consequently, the vehicle speed. In transport-grade DC/DC and DC/AC converters, the IGBT transistor is needed to convert voltage to power on-board loads, and in on-board chargers, to charge the batteries from the electrical grid.
The use of IGBTs in DC/DC and DC/AC converters ensures lower power losses compared to transistors of other types.
Special control boards, known as drivers, are used to control IGBT transistors. They provide the necessary charge and discharge of the gate and drain capacitances, protection against overloads and short circuits, logic level matching, and isolation.
Advantages of IGBT transistors for traction converters in power electronics:
- The 30-40% converters are lighter and more compact than their thyristor-based counterparts.
- A reduction in losses in 20-30% converters compared to bipolar transistors.
- Increased converter efficiency to 95–97% due to the high switching speed and low channel resistance of the IGBT transistors.
- Increasing the switching frequency up to 10-20 kHz due to the low control power and small gate charge of the IGBT transistors.
- Improvement of voltage and current quality in motor windings due to the possibility of using various PWM algorithms and reducing harmonic distortion.
The effect of using power electronics based on IGBT transistors in electric transport:
- Energy efficiencyHigh energy conversion efficiency due to low losses in IGBT transistors.
- Reliability and durability: IGBT transistors are resistant to current and voltage overloads, high temperatures, and vibrations.
- Management flexibility: Due to the ability to regulate the frequency and voltage amplitude on the motor windings using various pulse-width modulation (PWM) algorithms.
- Weight and dimensions: Compactness and lightweighting due to the small dimensions and weight of IGBT transistors, as well as the ability to integrate drivers and protection circuits into a single module.
Application of technology
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