Design of an IGBT bridge converter for serial resonant load

This paper presents a design procedure for a full-bridge converter with IGBT transistors loaded with serial resonant circuit. The main concern was the reduction of the switching losses in order to increase converter efficiency and power density. One of the basic applications of this topology with serial resonant load is with the induction heating converters. Theoretical analysis of the switching power losses and maximum allowed junction temperatures in IGBT modules are given. For a defined output load simulations of the converter are made in PowerSim program. Using the simulation program SemiSel full bridge converter is optimized. The obtained results are experimentally verified on a prototype that has been tested as power converter for induction heating and melting of metals.