Highly efficient high frequency inverter for induction heating using SiC power module

This study aims to elucidate industrial performance of a recently developed SiC power module constituting of a pair of switches (two in one type, maximum rating 1200V/120A) for two types of high frequency inverters. They operates at 100kHz for induction heating applications. Firstly, a conventional voltage fed full-bridge type high frequency inverter bread board is prepared feeding 3kW output power. Based on the obtained experimental result, a simulation calculation is carried out for another inverter feeding 25kW. A satisfactory result reaching more than 95% efficiency is obtained. Next, a half-bridge inverter was constituted operating at a soft switching mode. It unifies a PFC converter and a high frequency inverter circuit. Its input voltage is single phase 200V (50Hz) from commercial line voltage, feeding directly high frequency output power to an induction heating load. Also, a simulation calculation was carried out for this inverter and an experimental bread board was prepared based on the simulation result, a high efficiency of 97 % is obtained.