Photovoltaic inverter igbt chip

How do IGBTs work in a PV inverter?

During operation inside a PV inverter, IGBTs are subject to AC stress conditions as opposed to DC stress conditions. This typically consists of a 60 Hz on-off cycle, with a Pulse-Width-Modulated (PWM) signal on the order of 10 – 15 kHz superimposed on the lower-frequency cycle.

How does the IGBT case temperature affect a photovoltaic inverter?

As a result, the IGBT case temperature will respond rapidly to a temperature swing by changing of load conditions. That means on days with fluctuating wind conditions the IGBT module baseplate will experience many thermal cycles. Also photovoltaic inverters experience at minimum one huge thermal cycle per day.

What is a 950v IGBT?

This new chip generation allows for compact inverters with unprecedented power density. Especially the new 950V IGBTs, in a variant for high switching frequencies as well as a variant with optimized V ce,sat, are ideally suited for use in 3-level topologies up to 1500VDC.

Are insulated-gate bipolar transistors a good choice for solar inverter applications?

For solar inverter applications, it is well known that insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) ofer benefits compared to other types of power devices, like high-current-carrying capability, gate control using voltage instead of current and the ability to match the co-pack diode with the IGBT.

Are 7th gen IGBT and diode chips better?

The 7th gen IGBT and diode chips possess an optimized structure and are thinner than its predecessors. Additionally, the devices have been designed by selecting an appropriate trade-off between the DC performance and the switching performance .

Can IGBT degradation cause a failure of an inverter?

This IGBT degradation would most likely not cause the failure of an inverter, but could degrade performance. Furthermore, it is highly questionable if a device exhibiting significant instability would operate for the expected lifetime of an inverter (i.e. 5 to 20 years).