Press-pack insulated gate bipolar transistors (PP-IGBTs) are a more attractive choice for high-power converters, due to increased current ratings, and an inherent short-circuit failure mode. This paper shows how a power electronics building block (PEBB) based on PP-IGBTs has been carefully designed and assembled to build a 36MVA power converter for high-speed maglev applications. The minimization of the stay inductance, the equalization of power loss and snubberless operation are within the main technical design requisites. Simulation and experiment results show that the developed PEBB based on PP-IGBTs is proved to be suitable for the 36MVA power converter.

press-pack IGBT， power electronics building block， power converter， maglev system