The use of power Darlington transistors in an 40 kVA UPS system-an improved solution

The use of power Darlington transistors for an inverter of a 40 kVA uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system is discussed, and the storage time, dead time, and switching aid network contributions to the total harmonic content of the output voltage are examined. A review of common switching aid circuits, for nominal and short-circuit conditions, is presented, and their limitations are discussed. A solution, conceived specifically for power Darlington transistors, is presented. The solution that fits the most relevant characteristics of this technology is analyzed regarding commutation under nominal conditions, commutation under short-circuit conditions, and contribution to harmonic distortion in the output voltage. Conclusions are drawn about the optimal switching frequency for this type of application. The discussion and conclusions are supported by experimental and simulation results.<>