A snubber design tool for P-N junction reverse recovery using a more accurate simulation of the reverse recovery waveform

Author

Chokhawala, Rahul S. ; Carroll, Eric I.

Author_Institution

Int. Rectifier Corp., El Segundo, CA, USA

Volume

27

Issue

1

fYear

1991

Firstpage

74

Lastpage

84

Abstract

A computer simulation of the inverse recovery current waveform of a p-n junction undergoing forced commutation is presented. A far better simulation is obtained by using the sech (hyperbolic secant) function to model the recovery current as compared with the commonly used exponential function. Published maximum values of the recovery current, recovery time, and snap factor can be used to determine the constants of the sech function. The proposed model and its response are compared with laboratory measurements of devices of various technologies. The application of the simulation to free-wheel diodes and GTO snubber diodes is illustrated

Keywords

choppers (circuits); digital simulation; electronic engineering computing; overvoltage protection; semiconductor diodes; GTO snubber diodes; P-N junction reverse recovery; choppers; computer simulation; free-wheel diodes; hyperbolic secant function; inverse recovery current waveform; recovery time; snap factor; Choppers; Computational modeling; Computer simulation; Equivalent circuits; Inductance; P-n junctions; Protection; Semiconductor diodes; Snubbers; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Industry Applications, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-9994

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/28.67534

Filename

67534