Power Converter GTO to IGBT upgrade – a new life for traction converters

Inhalt:
The power traction converter with thyristor GTO (Gate Turn Off) technology was, in the last 30 years, the most widely used in railways traction applications. Currently, owners and operators find themselves in great difficulties due to the fact of the technological performance of GTO technology compared with new ones. This GTO to IGBT(Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) upgrade/modernization project was launched as a pioneer solution in this type of application, resulting in huge benefits for the owners and operators of the rolling stock, such as, but not limited to: increase in the lifetime of the rolling stock and consequently reduced life-cycle cost; higher efficiency either operational or energywise; embedded remote condition monitoring, with no need for major and intrusive changes on the vehicle or the need for special approvals or re-homologation. The modernization installation process can be performed on an existing immobilization short period of the rolling-stock.