Loss Analysis and Experimental Evaluation of a Si-IGBT based ARCP Inverter

In this paper an exhaustive loss analysis of a Si-IGBT based auxiliary resonant commutated pole (ARCP) inverter is presented. The analysis considers the specific contribution of the different components of the soft-switching ARCP inverter. A methodology based on multiple computer simulations and experimental characterization of IGBT modules in Zero Voltage Switching operation is presented. Results were contrasted with experimental measurements of converter losses on a 150 A/620 V
dc
3-phase inverter prototype operating with inductive load across the current range. These results and analyses reveal, with higher precision, the loss benefits and conditions where the ARCP inverter is more advantageous. A comparison with hard-switching, operating at different switching frequencies along the current range, confirm the significant advantages of the ARCP inverter especially when operating at high switching frequencies.