High-power SiC Module in Wind Turbine Full Scale Frequency Converter: Efficiency Comparison with IGBT-based Converter

In this paper, the 2MW PMSG-based wind conversion system with bidirectional full scale frequency converter comprised of two back-to-back inverters is considered. The efficiency and total volume comparison have been conducted for Si-and SiC-based converters. The comparison presented is a fair comparison, meaning that the converters are designed with modules of the same power ratings. Wind energy systems are compared both for the same switching frequency (low switching frequency suitable for IGBT modules), but are considering also SiC-MOSFET based converter working at high switching frequencies. The comparison is done in PLECS simulation tool, using the PLECS libraries for different modules obtained from the manufacturers’ experimental data. The results show the benefits of using the SiC-based converter. In fact, when compared to the Si-based converter the efficiency is practically the same, while there is the reduction of 2.85 times in the total volume necessary for the passive components.