Rectifiers with commutation ruggedness designed for power management

Recent trends in the power electronics industry lead to cost optimisation by reducing input filters or capacitor banks, thereby create more dynamic stress on the input rectifiers of such products. Often it is the input rectifiers that take the brunt of such excessive stress during current commutation. For these reasons, the commutation robustness and the power surge capability for over voltage spikes have become a dominant benchmark factor for the selection of suitable power rectifiers for the input rectification.

IXYS now offers a new range of standard rectifier diodes with extremely high ruggedness to resist single dynamic events as well as continuous stress. One of the first products is the DMA50P1600HB, a diode phase-leg in a TO-247 package, with a reverse voltage of 1,600V and a current rating of 50A. Compared to the predecessor DSP45, the new input rectifier diode has a reduced forward voltage drop, better thermal conductivity and increased current surge capability by over 20%. This performance advantage is demonstrated during the commutation conditions in the input sections of AC line powered products.

“Compared to our standard predecessor diodes and competitor technologies like Mesa diodes, these new products define a new benchmark in input rectifier technology,” stated Dr. Elmar Wisotzki, Director of Technology for IXYS Germany. “With the superior commutation robustness of the new products we are one step ahead on the market and complement our existing inverse diode technology, which is well established in the market for decades.”

The diode product range starts with several phase-leg configurations in TO-247. Single diodes and products in other package styles are in planning.