A Technical Report on

FREEWHEELING DIODES
From

[ POWER ELECTRONICS (PC-EE-504)]

For Continuous Assessment 2(CA 2)

MAULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

(Formerly known as West Bengal University of Technology)

Submitted by

NAME : DIPANJAN MAITY

REGISTRATION NUMBER : 211820101620043
ROLL NUMBER : 18201621023
DEPARTMENT : ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
YEAR : 2022-23
SEMESTER : 5th

INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

CHANDRAKONA TOWN, PASCHIM MIDNAPORE, WEST BENGAL

SESSION 2022-23
INTRODUCTION

THE RISE of the converter frequency in power electronics requires fast power semiconductor
devices with low switching losses during the transient periods. Today, Mos-Bipolar
Transistors such as the (IGBT) present interesting characteristics combining both MOS and
bipolar structures to achieve a voltage driven device with low on-state losses, low switching
losses and a high current density capability. These devices are increasingly used in many
modern converter applications, but their optimum performances are often restricted by the
freewheeling diode reverse recovery characteristics. The freewheeling diode has always been
said to be the weak component in many applications because it reduces the switching speed
of the IGBT during the turn-on transient period. The main two reverse recovery failure modes
in diodes operating under high stress condition are
1- Snappy Recovery.
2- 2- Reverse Recovery
Dynamic Avalanche.One of the most common and catastrophic failure modes in fast diodes is
due to diode snappy recovery. Previous work have shown that under adverse combinations of
high commutating di/dt, large circuit stray inductance, low forward current and low junction
temperature, it is likely that all fast power diodes produce excessive voltage spikes due to
snappy recovery [1]. This in turn can destroy the diode and ultimately cause a circuit failure
due to excessive inrush duty in the recovery period. Experimental results are shown
comparing a desirable soft recovery performance in figure (1-a) to snappy recovery in figure
(1-b). Snappy recovery of fast power PIN diodes has been investigated over the years [2].
These studies have shown that the depletion of the remaining stored charge during the
recovery period results in a current discontinuity (chop-off). This produces a very high dir/dt
and hence a large voltage overshoot which may result in the destruction of the device. The
second type of failure mode, termed as reverse recovery dynamic avalanching occurs at high
di/dtswitching speeds. Normally, the process itself is safe if the device does not exhibit any
non-uniformaties in the recovery current. However, dynamic avalanching can result in the
generation of a hot spot in the silicon die due to non-uniform current crowding leading to the
distruction of the device as shown in figure (1-c). The causes of these hot spots can range
from process to material variations in a single diode silicon chip. To prevent this failure
mode, certain design/process consideration must be taken into account to minimise the effects
of any current non-uniformaties.

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Freewheeling (Flyback) Diode

Definition: Freewheeling diode is used to protect the circuit from unusual

damage caused due to abrupt reduction in the current flowing through the
circuit. It is also known as Flyback diode and forms connection across the
inductor to remove Flyback voltage generated across it.

Freewheeling diodes are also known as kickback diode, clamp diodes,

commutating diodes, suppression diodes, or snubber diode etc.

Here in this article, we will discuss the factors responsible for the need of such
diodes in switching circuits. But first, we must have the basic idea of diodes.

What is a Diode?

A diode is a semiconductor device composed of P and N-type

semiconductor material. It conducts under forward biased condition when the
applied potential exceeds the barrier potential. Thus acts as a closed switch.

While under reverse biased condition, the diode stops conducting and
functions as an open switch.

So a Freewheeling (Flyback) diode operates in the same way that it conducts

in forward biased condition but do not conducts in reverse biased condition.

 What is Flyback?
Flyback is basically defined as an abrupt increase in voltage across the
inductive load when the current through the circuit shows a reduction.

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Need for Freewheeling (Flyback) Diode

Consider the circuit shown below:

As we can see that the circuit shown above is composed of a diode, a switch
and RL load. Also a supply voltage V is provided to it.

Once the switch gets closed so due to applied external potential, the diode in
the circuit gets forward biased and current starts flowing through the load RL.

We know that an inductor is basically a conductive loop of wire that produces

a magnetic field when current flows through it. The inductor holds the energy
in the form of an electromagnetic field.

So, in closed switch condition, the flow of current through the inductor leads to
the generation of the magnetic field, causing it to get fully charged.

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But as the switch in the circuit gets opened as shown in the figure below:

Then this will lead to an interruption in the flow of current through the circuit.
Resultantly this will cause the collapsing of the earlier generated field.

And according to Lenz law, this field sets up a current in the circuit in the
opposite direction, thereby leading to the production of negative potential
across the inductor. This potential is known as Flyback voltage.

And this Flyback voltage across the inductor has significantly greater value
than actually applied potential by the external source.

This leads to a flow of high current through the circuit. Resultantly causing a
high reverse voltage to set up across the switch as well as the diode, that may
lead to damaging of the devices in the circuit.

The voltage spike across the inductor is given as:

V = L di/dt

: di/dt is the rate of change of current across the inductor and

L denotes the inductance of the coil.

Thus it can be said that voltage across the inductor and current flowing
through the circuit holds the relation of direct proportionality.

So, due to this reason, a free-wheeling diode is connected across the inductor
to avoid the damage in the circuit.

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Energy Stored within Magnetic Field

Once an inductance carries a current, then the energy stored within the magnetic
field is given through the following equation.

W = LI2/2

From the above equation, ‘W’ is a magnetic field, ‘L’ is an inductor and ‘I’ is current.

If the supply in an inductor ‘L’ is provided through a mechanical switch then it can be
controlled by open the switch to zero immediately. The energy stored within the
magnetic field can be dissipated in the form of a spark beyond the switch contacts.

Here this spark will show that there is an extremely high voltage which is enough to
collapse the adjacent air. The voltage which is self-induced within an inductance can
be comparative to the time of current change, so once the switch is opened then
there is no current and high voltage can be induced within the inductance.

This voltage comes into view beyond the switch terminals. If this appeared voltage is
high then a curve appears & lets the flow of current continuously until the energy
stored in the magnetic field can be dissipated like heat within the arc.

Sparking beyond a switch does not cause instant damage, however once
a switching component such as IGBT, SCR is used then unexpected breakdown can
be occurred until unless some steps are used to dissolve the energy stored. So this
can be attained through a freewheel diode or flyback diode.

flyback diode.

Freewheeling Diode Circuit

For a better understanding of the freewheeling diode working, let us consider the
following circuit. When the switch (S) is closed in the circuit, current (I) flows
throughout the circuit (V/R). Therefore, the stored energy within the inductor is
(LI2)/2.

Once this switch is not closed, then the flow of current will decay unexpectedly to
zero from the stable value I = (V/R). Because of this unexpected decay of current, a
high reverse voltage equivalent to L (di/dt) will come into view across the terminals
of the inductor & the switch & diode.

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 Freewheeling Diode Circuit

This will lead to flashing across the contacts of the switch. If this reverse voltage
surpasses the Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV) of the diode, then there is a chance to get
damage. To keep away from such incidences, a freewheeling diode (flyback diode) is
allied across the inductive load

Working of Freewheeling (Flyback) Diode

The figure below represents a circuit with a freewheeling diode:

It is clear from the figure that the freewheeling diode is connected directly
across the inductor. The presence of Flyback diode gives an alternate path to
the current, produced due to Flyback voltage at the inductor.

Under normal operating conditions when the switch is closed, the external
potential reverse biases the freewheeling diode present in the circuit. And so
the freewheeling diode plays no such crucial role under normal or steady-state
condition.

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But in the presence of FD when the switch is opened, the voltage across the
inductor forward biases the freewheeling diode.

Due to small resistivity offered by FD, current in open switch condition now
flows through the part of a circuit comprising of the freewheeling diode, R and
L. This resultantly leads to the protection of switching device present in the
circuit.

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Advantages

The advantages of a freewheeling diode include the following.

 In rectifier, it decreases the harmonics, sparking & arching across the switch so that
it decreases the voltage spike within an inductive load.
 This diode enhances the load current of different circuits like inverter, chopper &
rectifier
 This diode protects the silicon-controlled rectifiers from damage in different circuits
from the extreme reverse voltage creates through the Inductive Load.
 By using this diode, the input power factor can be enhanced for converters or phase-
controlled rectifiers.
 This diode maintains the average o/p voltage & ripple components within the output
for different circuits.

Applications

The applications of freewheeling diode include the following.

 A freewheeling diode is mainly used in the power circuits to drive the inductive load.
 Used to protect switching devices
 These diodes are used in relay drivers, H-bridge motor drivers, full-wave rectifiers,
etc.
 It is used in forward switching power supply, converter technology, unidirectional
Half Wave SCR Circuit, BUCK circuit, etc.
 These diodes are generally used once inductive loads are deactivated through
semiconductor devices: within H-bridge motor drivers, relay drivers, etc.

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REFERENCE :-
1- https://electronicscoach.com/freewheeling-diode.html
2- https://www.watelectronics.com/freewheeling-diode-flyback-diode/
3- https://www.elprocus.com/freewheeling-or-flyback-diode-circuit-working-functions/
4- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/freewheeling-diode

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