Title :
A novel gate drive for the MCT incorporating overcurrent protection
Author :
Quek, Danny ; Yuvarajan, S.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, ND, USA
Abstract :
The paper presents a novel gate drive circuit for the MOS controlled thyristor (MCT) used as a power switch in a DC chopper. The control circuit generates gate pulses for the MCT and allows variable duty-cycle operation of the chopper. A Baker´s clamp is used to provide gate pulses of small rise and fall times, and adjustable width. The gate control circuit includes a section for protecting the MCT against overcurrent. A Schmitt trigger with a selected value of hysteresis is used to provide fast protection by blocking the gate pulses to the MCT. Design equations for computing the parameters of the control circuit are given. Experimental waveforms obtained from the control and power circuits of the MCT chopper are presented
Keywords :
MOS-controlled thyristors; choppers (circuits); driver circuits; field effect transistor switches; overcurrent protection; power MOSFET; thyristors; trigger circuits; Baker´s clamp; DC chopper; MCT; MOS controlled thyristor; Schmitt trigger; control circuit; gate drive circuit; gate pulses generation; overcurrent protection; power circuit; power switch; variable duty-cycle operation; Choppers; Clamps; Hysteresis; MOSFETs; Protection; Pulse circuits; Pulse generation; Space vector pulse width modulation; Thyristors; Trigger circuits;
Conference_Titel :
Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting, 1994., Conference Record of the 1994 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Denver, CO
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-1993-1
DOI :
10.1109/IAS.1994.377587
