IGBT Applications in Power Converters (II)

SummaryThe economic and technical advantages power converters with IGBTs offer are the result of lower costs for gate drive circuitry, a favourable trend in price developments and the enhanced ruggedness of these semiconductor devices. Different applications can be implemented by simply adapting the gate drive circuit, thought specific switching characteristics and parasitic stray inductances have to be taken into account, especially under fault conditions. The example of a safe operating area (SOA)from the view of application is calculated to illustrate this. Turn-off under short-circuit conditions in the critical time space of a gate drive circuit will become manageable by active clamping of the collector-overvoltage. Parallel connections can be quantitatively described by dynamic and steady-state temperature dependent asymmetries in the current didtribution. An analysis of the electrothermal correlations between the elements creates a better calculation basis for investigating the sensitivity of parame...