Replacement of thyristors with commutation circuits in choppers and inverters by GTOs

Recently GTO-thyristors for high power have become available. Conditions for applications of GTOs are examined with respect to the type of converters, the switching behaviour, the snubber circuits (with losses and with energy regeneration) and the gating circuits. Results from a new test circuit are given, demonstrating that very high efficiencies can be achieved with GTOs.