A Review of Voltage Sharing Control Methods for Series-connected IGBTs for Applications in Pulsed Power Generation

Pulsed power generation is required by various types of industrial applications. With the current development of semiconductor devices, solid-state pulse generators have been growing. To fully integrate such devices, series connection is preferred for high-voltage applications. In this paper, a review of series IGBT control methods for solid-state switching devices are provided. These methods are categorized into three groups based on the locations of the auxiliary circuits: load-side, gate-side and both sides combined. Then, they are analyzed and compared in terms of output voltage rise time, voltage balancing, loss, and complexity, specifically for pulse generation. Finally, it is shown that each group excels only at certain aspects and that further development of series-connected devices for pulse generation is necessary.

[1]  Xiu Yao,et al.  Implementation of a Self-Balancing Control for Series IGBTs , 2018, 2018 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE).

[2]  G. Rochau,et al.  Applied spectroscopy in pulsed power plasmas , 2009 .

[3]  Jiann-Fuh Chen,et al.  The techniques of the serial and paralleled IGBTs , 1996, Proceedings of the 1996 IEEE IECON. 22nd International Conference on Industrial Electronics, Control, and Instrumentation.

[4]  Xueqiang Zhang,et al.  IGBT series connection under Active Voltage Control , 2011, Proceedings of the 2011 14th European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications.

[5]  S. Castagno,et al.  Analysis and Comparison of a Fast Turn-On Series IGBT Stack and High-Voltage-Rated Commercial IGBTS , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[6]  Xiu Yao,et al.  Investigation of control and applications of modular multilevel converter with sub-modular series IGBTs , 2018, 2018 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC).

[7]  Bing Sun,et al.  Use of a pulsed high-voltage discharge for removal of organic compounds in aqueous solution , 1999 .

[8]  I. Baraia,et al.  An Experimentally Verified Active Gate Control Method for the Series Connection of IGBT/Diodes , 2012, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[9]  Zhengming Zhao,et al.  Series-Connected HV-IGBTs Using Active Voltage Balancing Control With Status Feedback Circuit , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[10]  R.D. Curry,et al.  Application of Pulsed Electric Fields and Magnetic Pulse Compressor Technology for Water Sterilization , 2005, 2005 IEEE Pulsed Power Conference.

[11]  Xueqiang Zhang,et al.  IGBT series connection under Active Voltage Control with temporary clamp , 2012, IECON 2012 - 38th Annual Conference on IEEE Industrial Electronics Society.

[12]  Geun-Hie Rim,et al.  High Voltage Pulsed Power Supply Using IGBT Stacks , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation.

[13]  S. J. Finney,et al.  Series-Connected IGBTs Using Active Voltage Control Technique , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

[14]  A. Welleman,et al.  Compact High Voltage IGBT Switch for Pulsed Power Applications , 2008, 2008 14th Symposium on Electromagnetic Launch Technology.

[15]  A.F.G. van der Meer,et al.  Stabilization of the output power of a 20‐MW klystron to within 0.1% , 1993 .

[16]  Sigo Scharnholz,et al.  Modular 50-kV IGBT Switch for Pulsed-Power Applications , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[17]  Kwang-Cheol Ko,et al.  Active Clamping Circuit to Suppress Switching Stress on a MOS-Gate-Structure-Based Power Semiconductor for Pulsed-Power Applications , 2011, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[18]  B. Locke,et al.  Low-Power Pulsed Plasma Discharge in a Water Film Reactor , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[19]  Zhengming Zhao,et al.  Active Clamping Circuit With Status Feedback for Series-Connected HV-IGBTs , 2014, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

[20]  T. Hawkey,et al.  A solid state pulsed power system for food processing , 2001, PPPS-2001 Pulsed Power Plasma Science 2001. 28th IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science and 13th IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference. Digest of Papers (Cat. No.01CH37251).

[21]  Y. Krasik,et al.  Inactivation of microorganisms using pulsed high-current underwater discharges , 2002 .

[22]  Xiangxiao Qiu,et al.  Application of pulsed power technology in nonthermal food processing and system optimization , 1997, Digest of Technical Papers. 11th IEEE International Pulsed Power Conference (Cat. No.97CH36127).

[23]  Lei Yang,et al.  A module based self-balanced series connection for IGBT , 2014, 2014 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE).

[24]  Shahriyar Kaboli,et al.  A Fast and Series-Stacked IGBT Switch With Balanced Voltage Sharing for Pulsed Power Applications , 2016, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.