Comparative suitability evaluation of reverse-blocking IGBTs for current-source based converter

In this paper, a Reverse Blocking IGBT is compared with various other combinations of switches and diodes keeping Current Source based Converter application in mind. The devices are tested under Reverse Voltage Commutation, Switch Overlap (turn on at non-zero current but zero voltage), Hard Switching, and Zero Current Switching condition. Test Circuits have been constructed and tested at various voltage levels with various combinations of devices. Forward Characteristics have also been compared. The main motivation of the paper is to make a fair judgment on device selection for Partial Resonant Link AC/AC Converter (soft-switched) and Isolated Dynamic Current Converter (hard switched). As for soft switched, majority of the losses are caused due to conduction loss. Therefore, RB-IGBT leads to a huge reduction of losses owing to better forward characteristics (lower conduction loss) as compared to the rest of the set. SiC-MOS and SiC-JBS Diode combination showed significant loss reduction for hard switched converter.