KV CEI Applied to IGBT Modules for Better Performance

KV-CEI isolates electronic systems from air pollutants, dust, chemicals and evaporation of water vapor. It is an enclosure that works by closing the cooling circuit system of the outside atmosphere (where evaporation escapes) with a breathing chamber. The outside air inflates and deflates the bladder when the fluid levels inside the isolation tank expand and contract from the temperature changes of the system liquid. 

A low-pressure relief valve helps prevent overpressurization of the system in case unforeseen air is trapped inside the fluid lines. An open shut-off valve that draws air allows the system to drain and fill with adequate fluid levels during a normal preventive maintenance cycle. By isolating the internal volume of the tank from the existing external atmosphere, the system prevents the evaporation of water and the entry of contaminants into the air in the water-glycol solution. 

A check valve provides overpressure protection and a visual level indicator allows local confirmation of the coolant level. In addition, a port allows you to add an optional floating standard liquid level switch for remote low-level refrigerant indication. "The design of KV-CEI is versatile enough to allow the addition of low-level liquid sensors when necessary in a turbine," Mosher says that custom designs are also possible. "We can also design many mounting options to fit a particular mounting pattern." The objective is to keep wind turbines generating energy even in extreme temperatures, without adding more maintenance visits to a site. "The return on investment for the KV-CEI solution can be measured in just a few weeks in warmer climates and at high operating temperatures," says Mosher.

IGBT-Based Motor Drives in Public Transports

The IGBT has a major impact on the transportation sector in all over the world. It enabled the introduction of cost-effective and reliable electronic ignition systems that have improved gasoline fuel efficiency by at least 10 percent. They have also been critical elements in the improvement of mass transit systems and the deployment of electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Modern mass transit systems rely upon electric trains where the propulsion is derived from supplying AC power to motors. High-speed rail, such as the European TGV and the Japanese Shinkansen bullet trains allows travel by large numbers of people while avoiding fossil fuel consumption experienced with gasoline-powered automobiles and aircraft. Until the 1990s, the silicon GTO was the only available power semiconductor switching device with the power handling capability suitable for this application. In the 1990s, the ratings of IGBTs had sufficiently advanced, to exceed one Mega-Watt allowing penetration of the IGBT into this traction market. 

The availability of the IGBT allowed significant improvements in the motor drive technology due to the elimination of snubber circuits and an increase in the operating frequency of the inverter circuit used to deliver power to the motors. Mass transit systems within cities must rely upon busses, trams, and underground trains. Many cities have been replacing gasoline-powered buses with electric buses and trams to reduce urban pollution. All of these below requirements were met by using the IGBT-based motor drive in control system for the electric transit bus: (a) wide range of speed including high operating speed; (b) large startup torque for good acceleration; (c) high efficiency; and (d) regenerative braking to increase utilization of batteries. In Europe and Japan, electric tram transit systems have been modernized by using IGBT-based motor drives. According to AEG-Westinghouse Transport Systeme, Germany, the low floor concept is becoming a standard customer prerequisite. This has been enabled by today’s IGBT modules.

Excessive Heating of IGBTs and How to Avoid Them

An excessive or unexpected increase in the internal temperature can lead to the evaporation of water and loss of coolants in critical turbine cooling systems, and may eventually cause the turbine electronics to overheat. This is a particular concern on machines with an open-loop cooling system and can occur even with the use of high-quality refrigerants. An open-loop system allows water to gradually evaporate from the water-glycol refrigerant in the bipolar insulated gate transistor (IGBT) circuit, particularly during warm weather. (IGBTs are an electronic component typically used in turbines due to their fast and efficient switching capabilities. ) 

A problem can occur when the evaporation of water lowers the coolant level and raises the concentration of the mixture. If the system is left unchecked and not maintained, the resulting imbalance of the mixture inhibits the cooling properties of the fluid. This potentially compromises the IGBT. It goes without saying that a loss of IGBT components due to overheating can result in costly hardware losses and significant downtime of the turbine. To avoid this, wind operators have "bandaged" the problem with a regular rate of coolant monitoring, water replenishment and rebalancing of the coolant mixture. This approach may work when diligently respected, but it is an expensive maintenance plan.

The Use of IGBT in Static UPS Systems

The best way to protect electronic equipment from power problems is by using UPS. UPS units have different sizes, from a little desktop system that shields an individual PC to massive UPS that can supply power to a whole building. Nearly every organization has a power safeguard necessity, ranging from companies with computer UPS provides power to your equipment in the case of an entire power collapse, giving you the opportunity to save data and close files. At a more commencing level, the UPS conditions and filters networks to hospitals, airports, oil rigs and anywhere where uninterrupted power is a must. Today maximum industries are using UPSs to save their core business against mains failures, mains supply fluctuations, power surges, and other troubles in the electrical supply. The option of picking a Rotary or Static UPS for industrial applications has become contentious and the myths require rectification. 

Over recent years, Static UPSs have captured a large share of the UPS market when compared to the Rotary type, although Rotary UPSs still sustain popularity in industrial environments where ratings are in excess of 800kVA. The drawback is, however, that Rotary technology is usually 30% more costly than the substitute Static offerings. Nowadays, Static UPSs are a major rival for industrial installations, and the conveniences and benefits they offer, have seen consultants considering their design criteria from Rotary to Static technology. Outward appearances and inverters of Static UPS have changed amazingly in modern years with thyristor technology being replaced with IGBT technology. 

This recent technology has assisted notably to enhance the potency and managing of non-linear loads (computers and SMP type loads) with excessively low voltage distortion. With thyristor technology, peaks of the voltage waveform were frequently flattened, whereas this does not happen with the more recent IGBT technology. A moreover advantage of IGBT is that it minimizes the size of the inverter stacks and makes allowance for repairs to be done more effortlessly. And, owing to digitally controlled UPS design and growth in the IT arena, it is now very simple to monitor UPSs remotely from a different site or even from another country.

WEG Presents New Variable Speed Drives with IGBT Technology

The world's leading manufacturer of motor and drive technology, presents the new series of MVW3000 variable speed drives with nominal voltage from 2.3kV to 8kV and nominal power from 280 kW to 2,400 kW. This family of devices incorporates multilevel technology and H cascade bridges (CHB). The multilevel topology is based on the serial connection of three to ten low voltage IGBT (690V) power modules, depending on the output voltage. In this way, voltage levels in the medium voltage range can be achieved using, in a cost-effective manner, proven standard low voltage components (diodes, IGBTs, and plastic film capacitors). As a special feature, the MVW3000 is supplied as a complete system integrated into a distribution cabinet, including medium voltage disconnect switch, fuses, multilevel power transformer, and variable speed module.

“The current-voltage and power range is only the first stage in the evolution of the product. Higher voltages and powers are available if requested, ”says Johannes Schwenger, Product Manager for Low and Medium Voltage Drive Systems in Europe for WEG. no additional medium voltage switchgear. This variable speed drive system is distinguished by its extraordinary input and output parameters and excellent levels of energy efficiency and availability.

IGBT Motor Drives in the Hybrid & Electric Vehicles

The automotive industry, the largest in the world, is fast-growing and diverse, with a wide range of customer preferences for design, comfort, and technology. It is well recognized that gasoline power vehicles produce significant urban pollution while consuming a dwindling fossil fuel resource. A solution to this problem is the deployment of electric and hybrid-electric vehicles. The global goals to reduce emissions and fuel consumption, with pioneering efforts in developing electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), bring significant technology challenges. 

All hybrid-electric and electric cars that have been introduced into the market so far have relied upon IGBT-based motor drives. In new powertrain generations such as EVs and HEVs, IGBTs play a key role in order to drive the electric motor or store the energy. IGBTs run at very high frequencies and under high power which makes them vulnerable to thermal problems. Thermal characterization helps to optimize the IGBTs layout, structure and mounting to optimize its performance. After all, we can say, the availableness of IGBTs has been diametrical to the advancement of hybrid vehicles and to the expansion of the charging substructure for electric vehicles. IGBTs will carry on playing a significant part in the availableness of expense reducing technology for the whole hybrid and electric vehicle business.