Silicon Carbide MOSFET Traction Inverter Operated in the Stockholm Metro System Demonstrating Customer Values

Abstract

For the first time results are reported in literature of a successful field test using a silicon carbide (SiC) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) traction inverter operated in the field. The metro train has been operated over a period of 3 months on the Green Line in the Stockholm metro system. Increased traction converter power density with a volume reduction of 51 % as well as a weight reduction of 22 % have been achieved. Lower power losses allow the use of car motion cooling. From complementing measurements in the laboratory of silicon and SiC in the same power device package with varying switching frequencies considerably lower SiC temperatures can be reported.