Snubber-less NPC inverter by a novel reduction technique of parasitic inductance for magnet power supplies

The effects induced by parasitic inductance were studied in a neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter. The energy stored in the parasitic inductance by the output current causes a surge voltage during the turn-off period of semiconductor switches. The effect is serious in a magnet power supply for which a large excitation current is required. It is predicted by a circuit analysis that the parasitic inductance causes an electrical breakdown of the semiconductor switches. It was found that the most promising way to mitigate the effect is to reduce the parasitic inductance. With newly developed circuitry and layout of an NPC inverter, cancelation of the induced magnetic field, which is based on Ampere׳s circuital law, in power devices has been accomplished. The newly developed NPC inverter has been operated successfully with both a resistive dummy load and the dipole magnets in the main ring synchrotron at the J-PARC facility.