Optimal Reliability-aware Current Sharing in Adjustable Hybrid Switch (AHS) Power Converter

Abstract:
The Adjustable Hybrid Switch (AHS) is an extension of the Cross Switch (XS) Hybrid concept originally comprising a fixed parallel arrangement of bipolar Silicon IGBTs and unipolar SiC MOSFETs, hence relying on the different electrical characteristics of both devices. In the AHS, the Si-IGBT to the SiC MOSFET ratio is dynamically adjusted through the gate units depending on the load conditions, resulting in a variable configuration of the converter. The AHS is operated to optimize the electrical performance of high-powered automotive drivetrains depending on the different load conditions during drive cycles. The AHS provides the drivetrain with an Electronic Transmission System or Gear functionality. In this paper, we develop an optimal real-time operation of the parallel devices to achieve both efficiency and reliability for the whole power converter system.