Active snubber for high power IGBT modules

This paper presents an integrated active snubber (IACS) to be used with IGBT modules in power converters, applied in electric utility devices. The IACS is a compound component, consisting of all active and passive components necessary to change a hard switched power converter into a soft switching topology, i.e. an auxiliary resonant commutated pole (ARCP) power converter. The IACS mounts directly onto standard IGBT modules. Although the IACS does not provide perfect soft switching, the switching losses are reduced such that IGBTs can be used at their maximum current and voltage ratings and frequencies of up to 20 kHz.