A new class of low saturation voltage IGBTs specifically optimised for switching frequencies ranging from 50Hz to 20kHz has been announced by Infineon. Applications for the devices are said to include inverters for photovoltaic and welding systems.
The L5 family is based on the company's TRENCHSTOP 5 thin wafer technology, with the intrinsically low conduction losses further reduced by optimisation of the carrier profile.
With a typical VCE(sat) value at 25°C of 1.05V, the parts are said to increase efficiency by 0.1% in an NPC 1 topology or by up to 0.3% in an NPC 2 topology when replacing predecessor TRENCHSTOP IGBTs.
TRENCHSTOP 5 technology is said to reduce total switching losses to as little as 1.6mJ at 25°C, contributing to higher efficiency, improved reliability and smaller dimensions.
The L5 IGBT family is being released in the industry standard TO-247 3pin package. But, for applications requiring extended efficiency enhancement, Infineon can also supply the L5 in the TO-247 4pin Kelvin-Emitter package. This is said to provide a further 20% reduction in switching losses.
The L5 family is available as a single IGBT in 30A and 75A variants and packaged with the company's ultrafast Rapid 1 and Rapid 2 silicon diodes. The TO-247 4pin Kelvin-Emitter package will be available in a 75A format.
Author
Graham Pitcher
Source: www.newelectronics.co.uk