Rixin Lai

A High Power Density Single-Phase PWM Rectifier With Active Ripple Energy Storage

It is well known that there exist second-order harmonic current and corresponding ripple voltage on dc bus for single phase PWM rectifiers. The low frequency harmonic current is normally filtered using a bulk capacitor in the bus which results in low power density. This paper proposed an active ripple energy storage method that can effectively reduce the energy storage capacitance. The feed-forward control method and design considerations are provided. Simulation and 15kW experimental results are provided for verification purposes.

A Systematic Topology Evaluation Methodology for High-Density Three-Phase PWM AC-AC Converters

This paper presents a systematic evaluation approach of three-phase pulsewidth-modulated (PWM) AC-AC converter topologies for high-density applications. All major components and subsystems in a converter are considered and the interdependence of all the constraints and design parameters is systematically studied. The key design parameters, including switching frequency, modulation scheme, and passive values, are selected by considering their impacts on loss, harmonics, electromagnetic interference (EMI), control dynamics and stability, and protection. The component selection criteria as well as the physical design procedures are developed from the high-density standpoint. The concept of using the same inductor for harmonic suppression and EMI filtering is introduced in the design. With the proposed methodology, four converter topologies, a back-to-back voltage source converter (BTB-VSC), a nonregenerative three-level boost (Vienna-type) rectifier plus voltage source inverter (NTR-VSI), a back-to-back current source converter (BTB-CSC), and a 12-switch matrix converter, are analyzed and compared for high specific power using SiC devices. The evaluation results show that with the conditions specified in this paper, BTB-VSC and NTR-VSI have considerably lower loss, resulting in higher specific power than BTB-CSC and the matrix converter. The proposed methodology can be applied to other topologies with different comparison metrics and can be a useful tool for high-density topology selection.

Impact of Interleaving on AC Passive Components of Paralleled Three-Phase Voltage-Source Converters

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis studying the impact of interleaving on harmonic currents and voltages on the ac side of paralleled three-phase voltage-source converters. The analysis performed considers the effects of modulation index, pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) schemes, and interleaving angle. Based on the analysis, the impact of interleaving on the design of ac passive components, such as ac line inductor and electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter, is discussed. The results show that interleaving has the potential benefit to reduce ac passive components. To maximize such a benefit, the interleaving angle should be optimized according to the system requirements, including total harmonic distortion limit, ripple limit, or EMI standards, while considering operating conditions, such as modulation index and PWM schemes. Experimental results have verified the analysis results.

Space Vector Modulator for Vienna-Type RectifiersBased on the Equivalence BetweenTwo- and Three-Level Converters:A Carrier-Based Implementation

This paper presents the equivalence between two- and three-level converters for Vienna-type rectifiers, proposing a simple and fast space vector modulator built on this principle. The use of this duality permits the simple compliance of all topological constraints of this type of nonregenerative three-level rectifier, enabling as well the extension of its operating range by the use of simpler two-level overmodulation schemes. The proposed algorithm is further simplified by deriving its carrier-based equivalent implementation, exploiting the direct correspondence existent between the zero-sequence vectors of Vienna-type rectifiers and the zero state vectors of two-level converters. As a result, the proposed algorithm is also capable of controlling the rectifier neutral point voltage. This feature makes it attractive as well for neutral-point-clamped inverters, complementing previous carrier-based space vector modulators developed for these converters. A complete experimental evaluation using a 2 kW digital signal processor-field programmable gate array controlled Vienna-type rectifier is presented for verification purposes, asserting the excellent performance attained by the proposed carrier-based space vector modulator.

SiC Wirebond Multichip Phase-Leg Module Packaging Design and Testing for Harsh Environment

In order to take full advantage of SiC, a high-temperature wirebond package for multichip phase-leg power module using SiC devices was designed, developed, fabricated, and tested. The details of the material comparison and selection are described, thus culminating a feasible solution for high-temperature operation. A thermal cycling test with large temperature excursion (from -55°C to 250°C) was carried out to evaluate the thermomechanical reliability of the package. During the test, the substrate failed before other parts in 20 cycles. A sealing edge approach was proposed to improve the thermal reliability of the substrate. With the strengthening of the sealing material, the substrate, die-attachment, and wirebond assemblies exhibited satisfactoriness in the thermomechanical reliability tests. In order to evaluate the high-temperature operation ability of designed package, one prototype module was designed and fabricated. The high-temperature continuous power test shows that the package presented in this paper can perform well at 250°C junction temperature.

Average Modeling and Control Design for VIENNA-Type Rectifiers Considering the DC-Link Voltage Balance

This paper presents a new average d- q model and a control approach with a carrier-based pulsewidth modulation (PWM) implementation for nonregenerative three-phase three-level boost (VIENNA-type) rectifiers. State-space analysis and an averaging technique are used to derive the relationship between the controlled duty cycle and the dc-link neutral-point voltage, based on which an optimal zero-sequence component is found for dc-link voltage balance. By utilizing this zero-sequence component, the behavior of the dc-link voltage unbalance can be modeled in d-q coordinates using averaging over a switching cycle. Therefore, the proposed model is valid for up to half of the switching frequency. With the proposed model, a new control algorithm is developed with carrier-based PWM implementation, which features great simplicity and good dc-link neutral-point regulation. Space vector representation is also utilized to analyze the voltage balancing mechanism and the region of feasible operation. Simulation and experimental results validated the proposed model and control approach.

Study of Energy Storage Capacitor Reduction for Single Phase PWM Rectifier

It is well known that there exist second-order harmonic current and corresponding ripple voltage on dc bus for single phase PWM rectifiers. The low frequency harmonic current is normally filtered using a bulk capacitor in the bus which results in low power density. This paper studies the energy storage capacitor reduction methods for single phase rectifiers. The minimum ripple energy storage requirement is derived independent of a specific topology. Based on the minimum ripple energy requirement, the feasibility of the active capacitors reduction schemes is verified. Then, we propose a bidirectional buck-boost converter as our ripple energy storage circuit that can effectively reduce the energy storage capacitance. Simulation and experimental results are provided for verification purposes.

High-Density EMI Filter Design for DC-Fed Motor Drives

This paper presents strategies to reduce both differential-mode (DM) and common-mode (CM) noise using a passive filter in a dc-fed motor drive. The paper concentrates on the type of grounding and the components to optimize filter size and performance. Grounding schemes, material comparison between ferrite and nanocrystalline cores, and a new integrated filter structure are presented. The integrated structure maximizes the core window area and increases the leakage inductance by integrating both CM and DM inductances onto one core. Small-signal and large-signal experiments validate the structure, showing it to have reduced filter size and good filtering performance when compared with standard filters at both low and high frequencies.

DC-Link Ripple Current Reduction for Paralleled Three-Phase Voltage-Source Converters With Interleaving

This paper presents a complete analysis of studying the impact of interleaving on the ripple current in the dc-side passive components of paralleled three-phase voltage-source converters (VSCs). The analysis considers the effects of different pulsewidth modulation scheme, the modulation index, the interleaving angle, and the power factor or displacement angle. In the analysis, the rms value of the total ripple current in the dc-side is used as figure of merit and calculated in the frequency domain. The results obtained show that all of the factors considered can strongly affect the rms value one way or another. Based on the analysis, the interleaving angle-optimization method is shown to minimize the rms in different cases. The effect of circulating currents on the ripple currents in the dc-side passive components is also taken into consideration to perform a more accurate analysis. All the analysis is based on an example system containing two VSCs, but the proposed analysis method in the frequency domain can be easily expandable for multiple paralleled VSCs. Experimental results are used to verify the analysis conducted.

A Shoot-Through Protection Scheme for Converters Built With SiC JFETs

SiC JFET has been an attractive device for the converter construction due to its superior switching performance and high temperature operation capability. But the shoot-through protection remains a challenge because of the limited knowledge and normally-on characteristics of this device. This paper presents a novel shoot-through protection approach. A bi-directional switch which consists of an IGBT and a relay is embedded into the dc-link and then the shoot-through failure can be detected and cleared regardless the device type used in the converter. Therefore it is suitable for the converter built with SiC JFETs. The protection mechanism and the corresponding circuit design are described in details. The proposed protection circuit is first tested in a phase leg setup with MOSFET and then implemented in an ac-ac converter system using SiC JFETs. The experimental results verify the feasibility of the proposed protection approach.