Application of high voltage HVIPM in propulsion control of rail vehicles [intelligent power modules]

Intelligent power modules (HVIPMs) have been applied in propulsion controllers of rail vehicles for the past seven years, and the high voltage versions of these, called HVIPMs, are also in use for almost five years now. During this period, the HVIPMs came to be applied in a wide range of controllers from small capacity types (120 kW using 3300 V/1200 A rated HVIPMs in a 2-level configuration) for light vehicles to large capacity types (1200 kW using 3300 V/1200 A rated HVIPMs in a 3-level configuration) for ´Shinkansen´ trains. In this paper, some design aspects of the latest HVIPMs, rated 3300 - 6500 V/600 - 1200 A, applied in the propulsion control of rail vehicles is introduced, including details of various system topologies developed so far and the progress achieved thereby. The paper discusses the power and circuit integration concept adopted in configuring this HVIPM family, detailing its power and control circuit functionalities and how such an integration concept has contributed in downsizing dimensions and enhancing reliability of the applied systems.