Solution Finder Get Tech Support

Wind

Wind IconWind power systems have become a vital backbone in today’s energy-generation infrastructure in many countries. Depending on the actual converter topology used these wind power systems contain of one or more of the following subsystems:

  • Machine-side converter
  • Line-side converter
  • DC-Link
  • Break chopper
  • Crow bar

The following figures show the simplified topology of two of the most common wind power systems: the direct drive (DD) wind power system (Fig. 1); and the wind power system with doubly-fed induction generator (Fig. 2).

Fig. 1 Direct drive wind power system                               Fig. 2 Wind power system with doubly-fed induction generation

Apart from the DC-Link and crow bar, the power-semiconductor-of-choice is the IGBT, which requires a reliable gate driver to ensure fault-free operation over its entire lifetime of 15 years (minimum). Otherwise, power outages would become expensive, not only because of the lost energy, but also due to maintenance and logistic costs, especially in remote areas. Power Integrations has designed highly-reliable plug-and-play drivers which have become established as the industrial standard for wind power systems, e.g. 2SP0320, 2SP0325.

Typically, in variable speed wind power systems (such as the DD and DFIG systems illustrated) a pitch control is required to adjust the rotor blades to take into account the actual system and wind conditions. These pitch control converters also use IGBTs driven by products such as  Power Integrations' 2SC0108T IGBT core driver.

Related Products

Related Products
Product
Data Sheet
Topology
Description
Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 2
Description

Dual-channel plug-and-play gate drivers for operation of single LV100 (Mitsubishi), XHP™ 2 (Infineon), HPnC (Fuji) and equivalent semiconductor modules up to 2300 V blocking voltage, featuring an electrical interface, NTC read-out and a built-in DC-DC power supply

Topology 2-level Voltage Source
Description

Dual Plug-and-Play Gate Drivers for Driving Half-Bridge Power Modules with Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) Temperature Sensing via Electrical Interface

Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 2, Multi-Level NP-Clamped
Description

1SP0635V2A0D Digitally Programmable Gate Driver for IGBT Modules up to 3300 V

  • Versatile Fiber-Optic Interface
  • Need to be paired with ISO6125R-33 DC-DC converter
Topology 2-level Voltage Source
Description

Dual plug-and-play gate drivers for EconoDUAL™ and equivalent 17 mm modules, particularly applicable to offshore wind turbines in the 3 to 5 MW range

Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1
Description

Plug-and-play gate drivers for 100x140 mm IGBT modules up to 3.3 kV, particularly applicable to use in electric railway trains and trams.

Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 2, Multi-Level NP-Clamped
Description

Ready-to-use gate driver solution optimized for power modules from 1200 V to 3300 V blocking voltage consists of a central Isolated Master Control (IMC) 2SI0400x2xxC and up to four Module Adapted Gate Drivers (MAGs) 2SM0120D2xxC together with a cable set.

Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1
Description

Dual-Channel SCALE-2 Plug-and-Play Driver for 1200 V, 1700 V and 2300 V PrimePACK™ 3+ IGBT Modules

Topology Any
Description

High-Voltage Isolated DC-DC Power Supply for SCALE-2 Plug-and-Play Gate Drivers

Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 2, Multi-Level NP-Clamped
Description

Single-Channel SCALE-2 Driver Core 1SC0450V and 1SC0450E, highest integration level, flexible 4.5 kV and 6.5 kV gate drives with integrated DC/DC converter and fiber optic link

Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 2, Multi-Level NP-Clamped
Description

Single-Channel SCALE-2 Plug-and-Play Driver with Master/Slave Operation, Drives IGBTs from 3300 V to 6500 V with External DC-DC Converter

Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 2, Multi-Level NP-Clamped
Description

Single-Channel Plug-and-Play Driver with Master/Slave Operation, Drives IGBTs from 1200V to 3300V with On-board DC/DC Converter

Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 2, Multi-Level NP-Clamped
Description

Dual-Channel SCALE-2 Plug-and-Play Driver for PrimePACK™ IGBT Modules, Electrical or Fiber-Optic Interface, Embedded Paralleling Capability

Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 2, Multi-Level NP-Clamped
Description

Dual-Channel SCALE-2 Plug-and-Play Driver for 17mm IGBT Modules, Full Function Across the Range, Embedded Paralleling Capability

Topology 2-level Voltage Source
Description

Dual-channel SCALE-2 driver core, highest integration level, second source for Infineon™ 2ED300C17-S, 30 A gate current and 2 x 4 W drive power

Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 2, Multi-Level NP-Clamped
Description

Dual-Channel SCALE-2 Driver Core for 3.3 kV IGBTs, highest intergration level, compact, high-voltage, high-power, 35 A gate current and 2 x 5 W output power

Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 2, Multi-Level NP-Clamped
Description

Dual-channel SCALE-2 driver core with Planar transformers, highest integration level, highest power density for high-power and high-frequency, 50 A gate current and 2 x 6 W output power

Topology 2-level Voltage Source, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 1, 3-level NP-Clamped - Type 2, Multi-Level NP-Clamped
Description

Single-channel SCALE-2 driver core with Planar transformers, 60 A gate current for driving large IGBT modules in parallel, 20 W output power for high-frequency applications up to 500 kHz

Additional Documents