Efficiency, Cost, and Volume Comparison of SiC-Based and IGBT-Based Full-Scale Converter in PMSG Wind Turbine

Power electronics, as an enabling technology in most renewable energy systems, is gaining attention as the penetration of renewable energy sources increases. Wide-bandgap power electronics are of particular interest due to their superior voltage blocking capabilities and fast switching speeds. They can viably be considered in the renewable energy sources, especially as the penetration of wind energy is expected to increase by a great extent in the upcoming years. In this paper, a comparison of Silicon Carbide-based and Silicon-based wind energy conversion systems has been performed, as it is crucial in understanding the benefits of adopting wide-bandgap-based solutions at a commercial level. For this analysis, a 2 MW permanent magnet synchronous generator-based wind conversion system with a bidirectional full-scale frequency converter comprised of two back-to-back inverters is considered. The efficiency, cost, and total volume of the passive components comparison have been conducted for Silicon- and Silicon Carbide-based converters. The comparison presented is a fair comparison, meaning that the converters are designed with modules of the same power ratings. Wind energy systems are compared both for the same switching frequency (low switching frequency suitable for IGBT modules) and also considering a Silicon Carbide-MOSFET-based converter working at high switching frequencies. The comparison is performed in PLECS simulation tool, using the PLECS libraries for different modules obtained from the manufacturers’ experimental data. The results show the benefits of using the Silicon Carbide-based converter when it comes to volume reduction in the passive components and provide insights to what is missing in order to achieve overall system volume and cost savings.