Fast recovery diode offers improved thermal stability

6th December 2017

IXYS

Alice Matthews

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Datasheet

International power and IC semiconductor company, IXYS, has announced that its UK subsidiary introduced a new addition to its family of 4.5kV fast recovery diodes (HP-sonic FRD) with a high rate of change of current capability and soft recovery characteristics. The new diode has a nominal operating current of 460A and is optimised to be used in conjunction with IXYS UK’s range of press-pack IGBTs.

The new diodes incorporate IXYS UKs most advanced process and assembly technology, replacing older designs based on floating silicon. The new bonded die design offers a diode with improved thermal stability and robust mechanical properties. The company claims that the silicon is optimised with advanced processing to give unrivalled di/dt, change of current capability, more than 2kA per microsecond, while retaining a soft recovery characteristic and low switching losses.

The diodes are packaged in fully hermetic 26mm thick ceramic packages with copper electrodes and are compatible for series clamping in the same stack as IXYS UK’s range of high current press-pack IGBTs. The 460A device has a 43mm die and is packaged in a 38mm electrode package with an overall diameter of 60mm. The part number designation for the new diode is E0460QC45E.

The new HP sonic FRD is optimised for use with IXYS UK’s range of 4,500V press pack IGBTs; as both anti-parallel and neutral point clamp diodes (for multi-level converters) with IXYS UKs press-pack IGBT types T0240NB45E, T0340VB45G and T0510VB45A. The new diode is also suitable to be used as a snubber diode with IXYS UKs larger press-pack IGBTs such as the T1600GB45G, T1800GB45A, T2400GB45E and the recently launched T2960BB45E.

“As well as applications using the press-pack IGBT the new diode is also suitable to be used as a snubber or clamp diode with other fast switching devices that require a diode with the capability for a rate of change of current greater than 500A per microsecond,” commented Frank Wakeman, IXYS UK’s Marketing and Technical Support Manager.

Typical applications for this device include: utilities and HVDC applications such as flexible AC transition systems, HVDC transition, Statcoms, VSC SVC etc.; medium voltage AC drives for harsh environments and ultra-high power such as mining, marine and off shore, gas and oil installations; renewable energy for wind turbines, hydro generation, wave-generation and solar.