Optimized Switching Behavior in a 3L-ANPC-Topology with Paralleled IGBTs for Renewable Energy Applications

Abstract:
Today, converter design for renewable energy applications is getting more challenging due to various power ca-pacity range demands coupled with increasingly limited time for the design-cycle. Focusing on the converter design, the IGBT module paralleling technology and the 3L-ANPC application technology are essential to achieve higher power capacity. For the design cycle, a qualified standard commutation loop platform would help designers simply the expansion of the power capacity of a converter set. This paper describes a design approach to support a three-level Active-Neutral-Point-Clamped (3L-ANPC) topology with paralleled IGBTss, using the SCALE-iFlex LT NTC gate driver unit from Power Intergrations. The proposed gate driver system will optimize the switching behavior in the commutation cell, which will create a platform that can be adopted for different converter sets while retaining a similar level of performance. This will reduce design requirements.