SiC-based Support Converter for passive front-end AC drive applications

The paper presents a simulation study of the Support Converter (SC) for passive front-end 55 kVA AC drive, which is aimed to improve the system performance. Most of time, the converter acts as a parallel Active Power Filter (APF) taking advantage from fast SiC devices application. During the regenerative breaking the SC may feed energy back to the supply grid. The complete system, including an advanced control system based on Direct Power Control with Space Vector Modulation concept, is modeled with the use of Saber package. Moreover, an estimation of the power losses is presented on the base of simulation results and switching performance tests of SiC MOSFETs and Schottky diodes. When harmonic compensation mode is considered semiconductor power losses are expected to be on the level of 120W (0.22% of nominal drive power). The converter is also expected to restore major part of energy from regenerative braking (power limit up to 28 kW) of the drive with total efficiency around 97.5%.