On the potential of parallel multilevel Current Source Inverter using SiC devices for renewable applications

Nowadays, renewable energy conversion systems are mainly realized through a double-stage topology, which often combines a Boost chopper (DC-DC) and a three-phase Voltage Source Inverter (DC-AC). Although widely employed, this configuration presents some major drawbacks. New widebandgap (WBG) semi-conductors as SiC devices have led to consider alternative topologies, as the Current Source Inverter (CSI). When implementing WBG devices, the high level of conduction losses in the CSI are vastly improved. Moreover, an interleaved CSI is an extra solution to reduce the constraints on passives and semiconductor components, in addition to providing modularity. The aim of this paper is to analyze a parallel multilevel CSI using SiC devices for renewable energy applications. A dedicated tool to evaluate semiconductor losses is developed with this purpose. Keywords— CSI, interleaving, SiC devices.