IGBT operating frequency
Energy Saving Products BU
July 2013
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What is the best operating frequency?
It’s the lowest frequency compatible with the application’s
requirements for performance and cost
Operation at higher frequencies:
- increases component losses
switching losses in semiconductors, RMS losses in capacitors, copper and core
losses in inductors
- increases cost of components
more advanced semiconductors, better quality reactive components, more
expensive thermal management
- increases complexity of design
EMI qualification is more difficult, PCB layout and thermal management require
special attention and advanced simulation tools
The advantage of operation at high frequency:
- Smaller capacitors and inductors: higher power density has become a
requirement in many applications (SMPS, UPS, PFC, welding).
Equipment is smaller and lighter. More power out of the same form factor.
In some applications high frequency is a requirement:
Induction heating, video displays, surgical equipment.
Operation over 18kHz may be required to eliminate acoustical noise.
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The magic of the Current-v-Frequency curve
A picture is worth a thousand words
Sapplication: surface-mounted buck converter operating at a given
ambient temperature: As frequency goes up, output current goes down.
Inductors and capacitors become smaller.
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The balance between conduction and switching losses
Some IGBTs are better at lower frequency, some at higher frequencies
The IRGR4045 (trench) has much superior conduction characteristics than the
other two IGBTs: at low frequency it can carry much more current. Its current-
carrying capability degrades more rapidly as frequency increases, a sign of higher
switching losses. Die sizes are approximately the same
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What is the frequency limit of an IGBT?
The limit is the frequency at which an alternative solution becomes
more cost-effective
At low frequency the IGBT delivers more current than a super-junction MOSFET, while the
FET performs better at higher frequencies. The cross-over in this case is around 38kHz.
Below 38kHz, the IGBT would be the device of choice, above it would be the FET.
This curve does not take into consideration some important factors, like price and diode
performance.
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What is the frequency limit of the technology?
The IGBT is a minority carrier device. Its frequency performance is
intrinsically inferior to an equivalent majority carrier device
For more details, please follow the link to appnote AN-983, Sections
1, 2 and 3 AN-983
See also AN-990 Section 5: AN-990
Our IGBTs are being used in industrial PFCs (over 1 kW) at
frequencies over 66kHz
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