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Industry Sessions

IS03.3 - Enhance Traction Motor Efficiency using a GaN based Four-Level Flying Capacitors Inverter

Tuesday, March 18, 2025
9:20 AM – 9:45 AM ET
Location: Level Four, A410
Presentation Description: This presentation deals with the design, layout, and realization of a four-level flying-capacitor multilevel (FCML) three-phase inverter for motor drive applications. When the application is a motor drive, the amount of floating capacitance needed is directly proportional to the maximum current the inverter can deliver to the motor. The presentation contributes to understanding the difficulties in FCML design and their practical limits. Using GaN transistors that can switch at higher frequencies makes it possible to increase the switching frequency to reduce the total energy storage in the FCML converter. Even if using a phase-shift PWM modulation has the property of floating capacitor voltage self-balancing, the presentation will show how a more accurate voltage control of the flying capacitors can be achieved using an active balancing algorithm. The presentation will show the pros and cons of a motor drive GaN FET-based four-level FCML solution so the audience will understand the practical limits as of today, given the actual capacitor technologies.