Gate Driver Circuit with All-Magnetic Isolation for Cascode-Connected SiC JFETs in a Three-Level T-Type Bridge-Leg

Neville McNeill, Dimitrios Vozikis, Rafael Peña-Alzola, Shuren Wang, Richard Pollock, Derrick Holliday and Barry W. Williams
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Neville McNeill: Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XW, UK
Dimitrios Vozikis: WSP, Glasgow G1 3BX, UK
Rafael Peña-Alzola: Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XW, UK
Shuren Wang: Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XW, UK
Richard Pollock: Technelec Limited, Oakham LE15 6QW, UK
Derrick Holliday: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE1 7RU, UK
Barry W. Williams: Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XW, UK

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: This article presents a gate driver circuit with all-magnetic isolation for driving silicon carbide (SiC) power devices in a three-level T-type bridge-leg. Gate driver circuitry for SiC devices has to be tolerant of rapid common-mode voltage changes. With respect to the resultant potentially problematic common-mode current paths, an arrangement of transformers is proposed for supplying the power devices with drive signals and power for their local floating gate driver circuits. The high-frequency carrier phase-switching technique is used to reduce the number of transformers. Signal timing and other implementation issues are addressed when using this arrangement with the T-type converter. The circuit is demonstrated in a 540 V bridge-leg constructed around 650 V and 1200 V cascode-connected normally-on SiC junction field effect transistors (JFETs).

Keywords: cascode-connected; gate driver; isolation; JFET; silicon carbide; T-type converter (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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