Operation and Analysis of Current-Source Inverters using Dual-Gate Four-Quadrant Wide-Bandgap Power Switches

Monolithic four-quadrant (FQ) switches that have both bidirectional current and reverse-voltage blocking (RVB) capabilities are appealing candidates for use in current-source inverters (CSI) in order to significantly reduce the switch conduction losses. However, the FQ characteristics of these switches present challenges during switching events by causing transient overcurrent pulses that can be damaging to the system. A commutation method for FQ switches in CSI topologies that addresses these challenges is presented in this paper. Several key aspects of the implementation and testing of the commutation method are explored. The commutation method provides substantial efficiency improvement compared to the conventional CSI implemented with series power diodes. This paper also proposes a novel double-pulse test (DPT) circuit topology that is tailored for the testing of power devices in a CSI topology. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate both the benefits of implementing the proposed commutation method in CSIs that use FQ switches and the suitability of the proposed DPT circuit.

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