Soft-switching SiC power electronic conversion for distributed energy resources and storage applications

Power electronic conversion plays an important role in flexible AC or DC transmission and distribution systems, integration of renewable energy resources, and energy storage systems to enhance efficiency, controllability, stability, and reliability of the grid. The efficiency and reliability of power electronic conversion are critical to power system applications. One way to enhance the efficiency and reliability of power electronic conversion is soft-switching technology. This paper introduces a generic zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) technique based on silicon carbide (SiC) power device. Using the proposed ZVS technique, all semiconductor switching devices in a power converter can realize ZVS operations. Next, the applications of the ZVS technique in different power electronic conversion systems such as photovoltaic inverters, wind power systems, energy storage systems and flexible AC transmission system devices are discussed. Finally, as an example, the operation performance and efficiency improvement of a SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) ZVS back-to-back converter are discussed.