Power Electronic Devices

Uncontrollable

Switches

Full Controllable Voltage-Control Devices

Controllable
Half Controllable Current-Control Devices

ON State: Short Circuit

Ideal Switches
OFF State: Open Circuit
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 Power Electronic Devices

Power Diode
Thyristor
Diac & Triac
Gate Turn-Off (GTO) Thyristor
Bipolar Power Transistor (BPT or BJT)
Power MOSFET
Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT)
Static Induction Transistor (SIT)
Static Induction Thyristor (SITH)
MOS Controlled Thyristor (MCT)
Integrated Gate Commutated Thyristor (IGCT) - Modified GTO

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 Power Diode
Power Diode is the simplest, uncontrollable power electronic switch. Power diode is
forward biased (ON) when its current is positive and reverse biased (OFF) when its
voltage is negative.

A Anode

K Cathode

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 Thyristor Anode
A
Thyristor is a controllable three-terminal device. If a current pulse
applies to its gate, Thyristor can be turned on and conduct current
from its anode to cathode provided a positive anode-to-cathode
voltage. However, in order to turn a Thyristor on, gate current Gate
must be above a minimum value called IGT. G
After Thyristor turns on, if its current, i.e., anode
to cathode, reaches above a minimum value called K Cathode
latching current (IL), the gate current is no longer
required. Thyristor will continue to conduct until
its current becomes less than a minimum value
called holding current (IH).

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Thyristor

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 Power MOSFETs
Drain
D
Power MOSFETs are voltage-controlled devices. They are
usually N-channel and of the enhancement type. Most of
power MOSFETs are off when VGS <2v and are on when VGS
>4v. When a power MOSFET is on, there is a small
Gate
resistance, i.e., less than 1, between drain and source and G
when it is off, there is a large resistance (almost open circuit)
between drain and source.
S Source

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 Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT)
IGBTs are equivalent to power transistors which their
bases are driven by MOSFETs. Similar to a MOSFET,
IGBT has a high impedance gate, which requires only a
small amount of energy to switch the device. Like a
power transistor, IGBT has a small on-state voltage.
IGBTs are suitable for switching speeds up to about
20kHz and have replaces BJTs in many applications.
Collector
C

≅
Gate

E Emitter

Overvoltage
Capacitor Phase A

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 Gate Turn-Off (GTO) Thyristors

GTO is turned on by a short-duration gate current if the AK voltage is positive.

Unlike the SCR, the GTO can be turned off with a negative gate current. Negative
gate current must be very large compared to the turn-on current. GTO is suitable for
applications where controls of both turn-on and turn-off of a switch are required.

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 MOS-Controlled Thyristors (MCT)
MCT is a device functionally equivalent to GTO but without the high turn-off gate
current requirement. MCT has an SCR and two Metal-Oxide-Silicon Field-Effect
Transistors (MOSFET) integrated into one device. One MOSFET turns the SCR on and
one MOSFET turns the SCR off. MCT is turned on and off by establishing the proper
voltage from gate to cathode, as opposed to establishing a gate current in the GTO.

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 Device Usage Recommendations

Low voltage, low power : BJT, MOSFET, and TRIAC

Medium power level: IGBT

High voltage, high power: IGCT and SCR

Very high power: SCR

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 Interdisciplinary Nature of Power Electronics

COMPUTER-AIDED
DESIGN

Circuit Theory ANALOG AND

DIGITAL POWER
ELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR
Systems and Control Theory DEVICES

Semiconductor Devices
Simulation and computing POWER
CONVERTER
ELECTRONICS
CIRCUITS
Programming MICROCOMPUTERS AND DEVICES

Power Transfer Systems

Signal Processing
Electronics CONTROL ELECTRICAL
THEORY MACHINES
Electromagnetics
VLSI CIRCUITS

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 Power Electronics Applications
Home appliances: refrigerators, washing machines, automatic door openers, cordless drives,
vacuum cleaners, food warming trays, audio and RF amplifiers.
Electric power systems: electric power quality, power factor correction, VAR compensators,
Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS), High Voltage DC (HVDC), harmonic reduction.
Automotive industry: electric and hybrid electric vehicles, power steering, anti-lock braking,
steer by wire, brake by wire, starter/alternator, air conditioning, electronic ignition system.
Aerospace: aircraft and spacecraft power systems, international space station.
Telecommunications: wireless communications power supplies, Uninterruptible Power Supply
systems (UPS).
Transportation: trains and locomotives, electric and hybrid electric buses, magnetic levitation.
Commercial: electronic ballasts, light dimmers, hand power tools, personal computers, battery
chargers, electric fans.
Medical: fitness machines, laser power supplies, medical instrumentation.
Industrial: movers, machine tools, induction heating, elevators, timers, pumps and
compressors, printing press machinery, dryers, contactors and circuit breakers, modern
industrial automation systems.
Other applications: robotics, computerized control systems, active filters, converters for
integrated circuits, fuel cells, adjustable speed drives, industrial automation systems.
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Typical Applications of Adjustable Speed Drives (ASD)

Pumps, Blowers, and Compressors Variable Speed AC/Heat Pumps

Rolling and Cement Mills Hydro/Pump Storage
Paper and Textile Mills Variable Speed Wind Generation
Subway and Locomotive Propulsion Induction Motor Starter
Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicles Ship Propulsion
Gas Turbine Starter/Generator Computer Peripherals
Machine Tools and Robotics Automotive
Home Appliances Aerospace

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