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   IGBT  evaluated  
Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) are today's state-of-the-art power electronics for the traction system of electric (and diesel-electric) rail vehicles. They replace the previous inverter generation represented by GTO (gate turn-off thyristors).
Technology field: Optimisation of traction technologies
open main section General information
close main section General criteria
  close sub-section Status of development: in use
    In the course of the last years, all major manufacturers of railway traction technologies have completely migrated to IGBT technology. This migration has already taken place some years ago in the MU segment and is presently taking place in the locomotive segment of around 7 MW.
  Time horizon for broad application: now
    (no details available)
  Expected technological development: highly dynamic
   

Although IGBTs have reached maturity, R&D dynamics is still high in this field, Major aims are:

  • raise blocking voltages
  • increase switching frequency
  • reduce losses
  • reduce weight

The IGBT itself is integrated in a complex power module which includes besides the transistor the circuits and the cooling etc. These "peripherals" offer even more potential for future optimisation than the IGBT itself.
    Motivation:
    Energy efficiency
  Benefits (other than environmental): big
   
  • Reduced switching losses (compared to GTO)
  • Less cooling required (no organic coolants required)
  Barriers: low
   

Refurbishment costs

Refitting old vehicles with IGBTs is usually not profitable (for present energy prices). Diffusion is therefore essentially limited to stock renewal.
    Success factors:
    (no details available)
  Applicability for railway segments: high
    Type of traction:  electric - DC, electric - AC, diesel
    Type of transportation:  passenger - main lines, passenger - high speed, passenger - regional lines, passenger - suburban lines, freight
    IGBTs are generally applicable to electric traction motors. This includes electric and diesel-electric traction. Refitting old vehicles with IGBTs is expensive, but has been realised in some cases, e.g. NS Reizigers has refurbished their Sprinter train sets with IGBT choppers.
    Grade of diffusion into railway markets:
  Diffusion into relevant segment of fleet: 5 - 20%
  Share of newly purchased stock: > 50%
   

Diffusion into relevant segment of fleet

Most fleets have already a considerable share of vehicles with IGBTs, others like the SBB fleet don't have any IGBT stock yet.

Share of newly purchased stock

Siemens claims that virtually all electric rail vehicles presently produced at Siemens Transportation are based on IGBT traction systems.
  Market potential (railways): high
    (no details available)
    Example:
    (no details available)
open main section Environmental criteria
open main section Economic criteria
open main section Application outside railway sector
open main section Overall rating
References / Links:
Attachments:
Related projects:  Choppers for Sprinter train sets
Contact persons:
 date created: 2002-10-09
 
 
© UIC - International Union of Railways 2003
 
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