Power semiconductor module, power converting apparatus and railway car

A power semiconductor module applied to a power converting apparatus for a railway car, wherein

• a first element pair and a second element pair are connected in series and housed in one module,
• the first element pair being formed by connecting a first switching element and a first diode element in anti-parallel to each other and configured to operate as a positive side arm of the power converting apparatus, and
• the second element pair being formed by connecting a second switching element and a second diode element in anti-parallel to each other and configured to operate as a negative side arm of the power converting apparatus,
• the first element pair and the second element pair are configured as a 2-in-1 module in which an electric current flows in the first switching element and the second switching element during acceleration of the car and an electric current flows in the first diode element and the second diode element during deceleration of the car,
• a ratio of an occupied area of the diode elements to an occupied area of the switching elements in the element pairs is equal to or higher than 15% and lower than 45%, and
• the first and second diode elements are formed of wideband gap semiconductor and formed in a size for equalizing a temperature rise in the first and second diode elements to a temperature rise in the first and second switching elements.

A power converting apparatus installed in a railway car and configured to convert an input direct-current voltage or alternating-current voltage into a desired alternating-current voltage and output the alternating-current voltage, wherein

• a first switching element and a first diode element are connected in anti-parallel to each other to configure a positive side arm of the power converting apparatus,
• a second switching element and a second diode element are connected in anti-parallel to each other to configure a negative side arm of the power converting apparatus,
• a plurality of legs each formed by connecting the positive side arm and the negative side arm in series are housed in one module,
• the positive side arm and the negative side arm are configured as a 2-in-1 module in which an electric current flows in the first switching element and the second switching element during acceleration of the car and an electric current flows in the first diode element and the second diode element during deceleration of the car,
• a ratio of an occupied area of the first and second diode elements to an occupied area of the first and second switching elements in the module is equal to or higher than 15% and lower than 45%, and
• the first and second diode elements are formed of wideband gap semiconductor and formed in a size for equalizing a temperature rise in the first and second diode elements to a temperature rise in the first and second switching elements.

A railway car comprising:

• a power converting apparatus configured to convert an input direct-current voltage or alternating-current voltage into a desired alternating-current voltage and output the alternating-current voltage;
• and
• a motor configured to receive power supply from the power converting apparatus and drive the car, wherein
• in the power converting apparatus,
• a first switching element and a first diode element are connected in anti-parallel to each other to configure a positive side arm of the power converting apparatus,
• a second switching element and a second diode element are connected in anti-parallel to each other to configure a negative side arm of the power converting apparatus, and
• a plurality of legs each formed by connecting the positive side arm and the negative side arm in series are housed in one module,
• the positive side arm and the negative side arm are configured as a 2-in-1 module in which an electric current flows in the first switching element and the second switching element during acceleration of the car and an electric current flows in the first diode element and the second diode element during deceleration of the car,
• a ratio of an occupied area of the first and second diode elements to an occupied area of the first and second switching elements in the module is equal to or higher than 15% and lower than 45%, and
• the first and second diode elements are formed of wideband gap semiconductor and formed in a size for equalizing a temperature rise in the first and second diode elements to a temperature rise in the first and second switching elements.