Loss Optimization for 48 Volt High Current Inverter

Abstract:
To realize high power levels in a 48 Volt system, the inverter must be capable of providing very high current levels, while maintaining safe operation, high efficiency and power density. To achieve these goals loss mechanisms of the inverter have to be well understood and predictable. An improvement of the losses through changes in hardware like increasing chip size or fast switching are often restricted by external requirements. Discontinuous modulation schemes for the inverter can offer an alternative software defined approach for loss optimization. Therefore in this paper modeling of the semiconductor losses for a 48 V inverter will be reviewed, and based on these models, beneficial application of different discontinuous modulation methods will be discussed in detail. Simulations taking thermal effects into consideration are also presented.