Wide bandgap (WBG) device-based power electronics converters are more efficient and lightweight than silicon-based converters. WBG devices are an enabling technology for many motor drive applications and new classes of compact and efficient motors. This paper reviews the potential applications and advances enabled by WBG devices in ac motor drives. Industrial motor drive products using WBG devices are reviewed, and the benefits are highlighted. This paper also discusses the technical challenges, converter design considerations, and design tradeoffs in realizing the full potential of WBG devices in motor drives. There is a tradeoff between high switching frequency and other issues such as high dv/dt and electromagnetic interference. The problems of high common mode currents and bearing and insulation damage, which are caused by high dv/dt , and the reliability of WBG devices are discussed.

Wide Bandgap Devices in AC Electric Drives: Opportunities and Challenges

The double pulse test (DPT) is a widely accepted method to evaluate the dynamic behavior of power devices. Considering the high switching-speed capability of wide band-gap devices, the test results are very sensitive to the alignment of voltage and current (V-I) measurements. Also, because of the shoot-through current induced by Cdv/dt (i.e., cross-talk), the switching losses of the nonoperating switch device in a phase-leg must be considered in addition to the operating device. This paper summarizes the key issues of the DPT, including components and layout design, measurement considerations, grounding effects, and data processing. Additionally, a practical method is proposed for phase-leg switching loss evaluation by calculating the difference between the input energy supplied by a dc capacitor and the output energy stored in a load inductor. Based on a phase-leg power module built with 1200-V/50-A SiC MOSFETs, the test results show that this method can accurately evaluate the switching loss of both the upper and lower switches by detecting only one switching current and voltage, and it is immune to V-I timing misalignment errors.

Methodology for Wide Band-Gap Device Dynamic Characterization

The transition to electric road transport technologies requires electric traction drive systems to offer improved performances and capabilities, such as fuel efficiency (in terms of MPGe, i.e., miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent), extended range, and fast-charging options. The enhanced electrification and transformed mobility are translating to a demand for higher power and more efficient electric traction drive systems that lead to better fuel economy for a given battery charge. To accelerate the mass-market adoption of electrified transportation, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with the automotive industry, has announced the technical targets for light-duty electric vehicles (EVs) for 2025. This article discusses the electric drive technology trends for passenger electric and hybrid EVs with commercially available solutions in terms of materials, electric machine and inverter designs, maximum speed, component cooling, power density, and performance. The emerging materials and technologies for power electronics and electric motors are presented, identifying the challenges and opportunities for even more aggressive designs to meet the need for next-generation EVs. Some innovative drive and motor designs with the potential to meet the DOE 2025 targets are also discussed.

Electric Drive Technology Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities for Future Electric Vehicles

Wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductor devices have become increasingly popular due to their superior characteristics compared to their Si counterparts. However, their fast switching speed and the ability to operate at high frequencies brought new challenges, among which the electromagnetic interference (EMI) is one of the major concerns. Many works investigated the structures of WBG power devices and their switching performance. In some cases, the conductive or radiated EMI was measured. However, the EMI-related topics, including their influence on noise sources, noise propagation paths, EMI reduction techniques, and EMC reliability issues, have not yet been systematically summarized for WBG devices. In this article, the literature on EMI research in power electronics systems with WBG devices is reviewed. Characteristics of WBG devices as EMI noise sources are reviewed. EMI propagation paths, near-field coupling, and radiated EMI are surveyed. EMI reduction techniques are categorized and reviewed. Specifically, the EMI-related reliability issues are discussed, and solutions and guidelines are presented.

A Survey of EMI Research in Power Electronics Systems With Wide-Bandgap Semiconductor Devices

This paper overviews the silicon carbide (SiC) technology. The focus is on the benefits of SiC based power electronics for converters and systems, as well as their ability in enabling new applications. The challenges and research trends on the design and application of SiC power electronics are also discussed

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Overview of Silicon Carbide Technology: Device, Converter, System, and Application

In this paper, a novel $dv/dt$ filter is presented targeted for 100-kW to 1-MW voltage source converters using silicon carbide (SiC) power devices. This concept uses the stray inductance between the power device and the converter output as a filter component in combination with an additional small RC -link. Hence, a lossy, bulky, and costly filter inductor is avoided and the resulting output $dv/dt$ is limited to 5–10 kV/ $\mu$ s independent of the output current and switching speed of the SiC devices. As a consequence, loads with $dv/dt$ constraints, e.g., motor drives can be fed from SiC devices enabling full utilization of their high switching speed. Moreover, a filter-model is proposed for the selection of filter component values for a certain $dv/dt$ requirement. Finally, results are shown using a 300-A 1700-V SiC metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor ( mosfet ). These results show that the converter output $dv/dt$ can be limited to 7.5 kV/ $\mu$ s even though values up to 47 kV/ $\mu$ s were measured across the SiC mosfet module. Hence, the total switching losses, including the filter losses, are verified to be three times lower compared to when the mosfet $dv/dt$ was slowed down by adjusting the gate driver.

An Ultralow Loss Inductorless $dv/dt$ Filter Concept for Medium-Power Voltage Source Motor Drive Converters With SiC Devices

In this paper, a new low-loss turn- on concept for the silicon insulated-gate bipolar transistor (Si-IGBT) in combination with silicon p-i-n diode is presented. The concept is tailored for two-level motor converters in the 100 kW to 1 MW range under the constraint that the output voltages slopes are limited in order to protect the motor windings. Moreover, analyses of the IGBT turn- on and diode reverse recovery voltage slopes are presented concluding that the diode reverse recovery is the worst case. The concept includes a low-cost measurement of the free-wheeling diode current and temperature by the gate driver without necessity of acquiring this information from the converter control board. By using this concept, the output dv/dt at the diode turn- off can be kept approximately constant regardless of the commutated current and junction temperature. Hence, the switching losses could be decreased for the currents and temperatures where the voltage slopes are lower when using a conventional gate driver optimized for the worst case. Moreover, results are shown for one such power semiconductor, showing a total switching loss reduction of up to 28% in comparison with a gate driver without current and temperature measurement. Finally, this concept is particularly suitable for high power semiconductor modules in half-bridge configuration which are recently proposed by several suppliers.

An IGBT Turn-ON Concept Offering Low Losses Under Motor Drive dv/dt Constraints Based on Diode Current Adaption

The Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFET is considered to be the leading candidate for future 1.7 kV and 3.3 kV switches in 2-level voltage source converters (VSC) up to 2 MW. For those converters, short circuit (SC) in the dc-link loop can occur due to a number of reasons, e.g. faulty semiconductor modules, faulty gate drivers (GDs), or electro-magnetic interference (EMI). Termination of such SCs is important in order to protect components and reduce the damage in the converter box. This paper presents a new short circuit protection scheme based on a universal current-source GD principle without dedicated hardware components. The performance of the design is evaluated for SC in the dc-link loop under load conditions, called type II and type III. Moreover, measurement results are presented using the proposed GD connected to a 1700 V 300 A SiC MOSFET tested during SC type II and III at two different dc-link stray inductances, 30 nH and 100 nH, and at two different temperatures, 25 °C and 125 °C. The conclusions are that the proposed scheme is able to terminate both SC type II and III with fast reaction time, with low energy dissipation, with a margin of about 15 times below the destructive level for dc-link voltages and load currents up to 1050 V and 300 A respectively.

Analysis of short circuit type II and III of high voltage SiC MOSFETs with fast current source gate drive principle

The SiC (LV-JFET) has several advantages as a switch component in frequency converters. One challenge, when using the component at high switching speed is the coupled unwanted turn-on of the complementary switch, called parasitic turn-on. This paper presents three different novel solutions to suppress parasitic turn-on for a module design on the gate-drive-unit level. Measurements and improvements results on two of the solutions are presented. The paper shows that the losses could be significantly decreased by active current sources and the proposed clamping solution.

Novel Solutions for suppressing Parasitic Turn-on behaviour on Lateral Vertical JFETs

For the ﬁrst time results are reported in literature of a successful ﬁeld test using a silicon carbide (SiC) metal-oxide-semiconductor ﬁeld-effect transistor (MOSFET) traction inverter operated in the ﬁeld. The metro train has been operated over a period of 3 months on the Green Line in the Stockholm metro system. Increased traction converter power density with a volume reduction of 51 % as well as a weight reduction of 22 % have been achieved. Lower power losses allow the use of car motion cooling. From complementing measurements in the laboratory of silicon and SiC in the same power device package with varying switching frequencies considerably lower SiC temperatures can be reported.

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Erik Velander

Papers

An Ultralow Loss Inductorless $dv/dt$ Filter Concept for Medium-Power Voltage Source Motor Drive Converters With SiC Devices

An IGBT Turn-ON Concept Offering Low Losses Under Motor Drive dv/dt Constraints Based on Diode Current Adaption

Analysis of short circuit type II and III of high voltage SiC MOSFETs with fast current source gate drive principle

Novel Solutions for suppressing Parasitic Turn-on behaviour on Lateral Vertical JFETs

Silicon Carbide MOSFET Traction Inverter Operated in the Stockholm Metro System Demonstrating Customer Values