A Single Passive Gate-Driver for Series Connected Power Devices in DC Circuit Breaker Applications
- Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States); Center for Power Electronics Systems, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
- Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)
This letter proposes a novel single passive gate driver solution based on passive devices to control series-connected power semiconductor devices for dc circuit breaker (DCCB) applications. The transient suppression devices (e.g., metal oxide varistors) are utilized to achieve natural voltage balancing among the series devices, while providing the discharge path of the gate capacitor of the upper devices. Here, the proposed method is very simple, cost effective and more compact compared with conventional voltage balancing method-based DCCBs. Besides, gate voltage oscillation during the voltage recovery process is mitigated by the addition of an extra gate capacitor. Simulation and experimental results are provided to verify the effectiveness of proposed method.
- Research Organization:
- Eaton Corporation, Menomonee Falls, WI (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AR0001111
- OSTI ID:
- 1798341
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-EATON--0001111-4
- Journal Information:
- IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 36; ISSN 0885-8993
- Publisher:
- IEEECopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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