Energy recovery flyback type snubber for 10kV IGCT in 7MW wind turbine systems

Abstract

10kV IGCT has been recently developed and has the potential to push wind turbine systems to higher power and voltage rating. Converters employing IGCTs need snubber and OVP circuit to limit the rate of rise of current and peak over voltage across IGCT during turn on and off state respectively. The conventional RCD snubber which is used in such power converter dissipates a significant amount of power. In order to reduce the amount of energy lost by conventional RCD snubber, this paper proposes a flyback-type snubber circuit that not only meets all of the IGCTs characteristics during on and off-state but also significantly saves the power loss. Loss analysis of conventional di/dt snubber and OVP circuit is performed for the 3-level NPC type back-to-back VSC supplied from grid voltage of 6.9kV. In comparison with the conventional snubber, flyback type snubber has a fewer number of components and improved efficiency leading to a reliable and efficient wind turbine systems.