3-Level power converter with high-voltage hybrid pairs of SiC-PiN diode and IEGT

High-switching-frequency operation is essential for reducing the size and weight of LC filters in medium-voltage power converters. In this work, hybrid pairs of 6 kV SiC-PiN diodes and 4.5 kV Si-IEGTs have been applied to realize the high-switching-frequency operation. A gate-driving technique with an extremely low gate resistance called hard gate driving is employed for low switching losses of the hybrid pair. 100 A class hybrid pair modules are fabricated and their high-speed switching characteristics have been evaluated. By using the developed hybrid pair module, high switching frequency operation more than 2 kHz have been demonstrated in a prototype power converters.