High frequency operation of a megawatt voltage source inverter equipped with ETOs

The fast switching speed, snubberless turn-off capability and voltage controlled turn-off property enable the emitter turn-off (ETO) thyristor the capability of high switching frequency-about 5-10 times as high as its GTO counterpart. A one-megawatt ETO-based voltage source inverter system is constructed with a switching frequency up to 3-5 kHz. Experimental results have shown that the ETO is a promising device for use in high frequency systems.