JAPAN: Mitsubishi Electric has supplied silicon carbide power modules for the auxiliary power supply systems on the Series 1000 electric multiple-units entering service on Tokyo Metro's Ginza Line this year. A fleet of 37 six-car sets is being built by Nippon Sharyo to join a prototype unit which began running in April 2012. Mitsubishi Electric says the SiC modules which provide power for the air-conditioning and lighting systems offer 30% less power loss and are 20% smaller and 15% lighter than its silicon modules. Transformer noise is reduced owing to a 35% improvement in the distortion rate of output voltage waveforms. Mitsubishi Electric has developed a variety of SiC power modules, with its first deployment being 600 V/750 V DC inverters for Ginza Line Type 01 units last year. SiC inverters developed for 1 500 V DC power lines are being installed on Tozai Line Type 15000 trainsets. More...
