Johann W. Kolar

Bio: Johann W. Kolar is an academic researcher from ETH Zurich. The author has contributed to research in topics: Rectifier & Three-phase. The author has an hindex of 97, co-authored 965 publications receiving 36902 citations. Previous affiliations of Johann W. Kolar include Alstom & Infineon Technologies.

Comprehensive comparison of three-phase AC-AC Matrix Converter and Voltage DC-Link Back-to-Back Converter systems

Abstract: This paper provides a comprehensive comparison of a Direct Matrix Converter, an Indirect Matrix Converter, and a Voltage DC-Link Back-to-Back Converter for a 15 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor drive. The comparison involves the investigation of the passive components including the EMI input filter, the required silicon chip area for a defined maximum admissible thermal loading of the power semiconductors, the total losses and achievable efficiency, and a prediction of the resulting volume of the passive components. With this comparative evaluation a systematic procedure is presented that ultimately allows for determining the application area of the considered converter topologies.

A novel three-phase single-switch discontinuous-mode AC-DC buck-boost converter with high-quality input current waveforms and isolated output

Abstract: In this paper, a new three-phase single-switch AC-DC flyback converter system is presented. The system operates in the discontinuous mode. The simple structure of its power and control circuit, low mains current distortion, and resistive fundamental behavior, as well as the high-frequency isolation of the controlled output voltage, have to be pointed out. Besides the analysis of the stationary operating behavior, the dependencies of the peak values, average values, and rms values of the device currents, and of the maximum blocking voltages across the power electronic devices on the circuit parameters, are given as analytic approximations. The theoretical analysis is verified by digital simulation. >

Comparison and implementation of a 3-level NPC voltage link back-to-back converter with SiC and Si diodes

Abstract: This paper presents a high efficiency 10 kVA high-frequency input and output Si IGBT and SiC Schottky diode 3-level neutral point clamped voltage dc-link back-to-back converter (3LNPC-VLBBC). A switching frequency of 48 kHz makes the converter suitable for driving high-speed and low-inductive machines. A detailed loss analysis reveals that only four of the six diodes in a 3-level bridge-leg have to be replaced by SiC diodes to enable high efficiency operation if an appropriate modulation scheme is used. A comparison with an All-Si 3-level converter shows a reduction of the semiconductor losses by 10% at the nominal operating point. In addition, a semiconductor chip area based comparison is presented, showing the chip area partitioning of the individual semiconductor types and the corresponding costs for different implementations. The payback time for the additional costs resulting from replacing the Si diodes in the 3-level converter by SiC diodes due to energy savings is estimated. Finally, experimental results of the prototype are provided.

Three-phase high power factor mains interface concepts for Electric Vehicle battery charging systems

Abstract: This paper discusses novel three-phase high power factor mains interfaces appropriate for Electric Vehicle (EV) battery charging systems. Initially, a highly efficient two-stage ac-dc system, consisting of a three-phase line-commuted rectifier combined with a three-phase shunt connected Active Power Filter (APF) and a group of interleaved dc-dc buck converters operating in Triangular Current Mode (TCM), is presented. In order to replace the costly APF circuit of the front-end converter, while maintaining PFC capability at the input and allowing similar operating conditions for the back-end dc-dc converter, a rectifier topology employing an active third harmonic current injection circuit is proposed. In addition, a novel three-phase buck-type PFC rectifier is introduced for EV charging systems. The characteristics of the presented EV systems, including the principle of operation, modulation strategy, suitable control structures, and dimensioning equations, are described in detail. Finally, a comprehensive comparison of the studied converters rated to 12kW is shown.

Novel AC-Coupled Gate Driver for Ultrafast Switching of Normally Off SiC JFETs

Abstract: Over the last years, more and more SiC power semiconductor switches have become available in order to prove their superior behavior. A very promising device is the 1200 V 30 A JFET manufactured by SemiSouth. It features a very low on-resistance per die area (2.8 mΩ-cm2), switching within 20 ns, normally off characteristic, high-temperature operation and has already been commercialized in contrast to many other SiC switches. To fully exploit the potential of the SiC normally off JFET, conventional gate drivers for unipolar devices must be adapted to this device due to its special requirements. During on-state, the gate voltage must not exceed 3 V, while a current of around 300 mA (depending on the desired on-resistance) must be fed into the gate; during switching operation, the transient gate-source voltage should be around ±15 V and the low threshold voltage of less than 0.7 V requires a high noise immunity which is a severe challenge as the device has a comparably low gate-source but high gate-drain capacitance. To meet these requirements, several concepts have been published recently. They deal with the challenges mentioned, but they still show certain limitations (e.g., frequency and duty cycle limitations or need for additional cooling due to high gate driver losses). In this paper, a novel gate driver consisting of only one standard gate driver IC, resistors, capacitors, and diodes is designed and experimentally validated. It supplies enough gate current for minimum on-resistance, allows fast switching operation, features a high noise immunity, and can be used for any duty cycle and typical switching frequencies without significant self-heating.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

Multilevel inverters: a survey of topologies, controls, and applications

Abstract: Multilevel inverter technology has emerged recently as a very important alternative in the area of high-power medium-voltage energy control. This paper presents the most important topologies like diode-clamped inverter (neutral-point clamped), capacitor-clamped (flying capacitor), and cascaded multicell with separate DC sources. Emerging topologies like asymmetric hybrid cells and soft-switched multilevel inverters are also discussed. This paper also presents the most relevant control and modulation methods developed for this family of converters: multilevel sinusoidal pulsewidth modulation, multilevel selective harmonic elimination, and space-vector modulation. Special attention is dedicated to the latest and more relevant applications of these converters such as laminators, conveyor belts, and unified power-flow controllers. The need of an active front end at the input side for those inverters supplying regenerative loads is also discussed, and the circuit topology options are also presented. Finally, the peripherally developing areas such as high-voltage high-power devices and optical sensors and other opportunities for future development are addressed.

Recent Advances and Industrial Applications of Multilevel Converters

Abstract: Multilevel converters have been under research and development for more than three decades and have found successful industrial application. However, this is still a technology under development, and many new contributions and new commercial topologies have been reported in the last few years. The aim of this paper is to group and review these recent contributions, in order to establish the current state of the art and trends of the technology, to provide readers with a comprehensive and insightful review of where multilevel converter technology stands and is heading. This paper first presents a brief overview of well-established multilevel converters strongly oriented to their current state in industrial applications to then center the discussion on the new converters that have made their way into the industry. In addition, new promising topologies are discussed. Recent advances made in modulation and control of multilevel converters are also addressed. A great part of this paper is devoted to show nontraditional applications powered by multilevel converters and how multilevel converters are becoming an enabling technology in many industrial sectors. Finally, some future trends and challenges in the further development of this technology are discussed to motivate future contributions that address open problems and explore new possibilities.