IGBT Phase Module

The main components of a hybrid system are an electric motor, alternator (generator) and an inverter.  The inverter is used as an electric power conversion system for supplying electrical energy from the alternator to the motor.  IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) modules are often used as the main switching device in  this electric power conversion system.

IGBT modules are now being used in electric power conversion systems for controlling motors in a wide range of fields, ranging from household appliances such as air conditioners to heavy industrial applications in the rail and mining  industry.  In recent years, the range of automotive applications has been expanded and development is aiming to realize IGBT modules having even higher levels of performance.

GE drive systems are widely used in the rail and mining industry and  refurbishing  IGBT phase modules from these systems are a large part of the work that CTI does to keep these vehicles working.

Failed IGBTs can be replaced with a new equivalent or same IGBT.

An integral part of the IGBT phase module is the gate driver. CTI has available a tried and tested replacement gate driver that has incorporated in it a number of changes that have been deemed necessary since GE first released its version and that is now to be found on many hybrid vehicles with the GE drive system. The CTI  IGBT Gate Driver is therefore also well suited for  use in heavy mining vehicles that use this system. (See the Gate Driver web page for further information)

The laminated bus bar which is mounted to the side of the phase module is often a victim of catastrophic IGBT failures and is sometimes even the cause of a failure due to arcing and flashover issues. These IGBT bus bars can in most cases be repaired. Even the vertical bus bars to which the phase modules are connected can in most cases be repaired.
(See the Laminated bus bar web page)

IGBT phase modules can therefore successfully be entirely rebuilt at a cost that is far less than the cost of a new module.