Controlled switching of high voltage IGBTs in series

This paper is focused on the investigation of performance and improvement of the switching control of high voltage IGBTs especially when connected in series. A variety of seriesing methods are explored and valuated. Due to the dominant advantages the Active Voltage Control (AVC) strategy is characterized, analyzed and optimised in simulation and experiments. A new method Active Voltage/Current Control (AV/CC) is advanced and validated for di/dt control. It is concluded that the AVC, particularly with the di/dt auxiliary loop control, allows the operation of high power IGBTs in series to be closely defined and well controlled.

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