Characterization of High-Frequency High-Current Reverse Blocking Triode Thyristors for Trapezoidal Current Waveforms

The switch-on and switch-off losses of reverse blocking triode thyristors, commonly called SCRs, cannot be neglected when operated at high repetition rates and high rise of on-state current di/dt. One way to show these effects on the device rating is to plot peak allowable on-state current versus di/dt, with repetition rate, case temperature, and duty cycle as the parameters. To help the user select a suitable heat sink, a second set of curves should be presented showing the energy dissipated by the device as functions of peak on-state current, di/dt, and pulse width.