Pulsed transformer base drives for high-efficiency high-current low-voltage switches

Author

Prest, Rory B. ; Van Wyk, Jacobus D.

Author_Institution

Fac. of Eng., Rand Afrikaans Univ., Johannesburg, South Africa

Volume

3

Issue

2

fYear

1988

fDate

4/1/1988 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

137

Lastpage

146

Abstract

An overview of the literature on base drives is followed by a description of a novel transformer-coupled base drive circuit that is particularly suitable for high-current transistor switches. It has the advantages of very low component count and cost, small size and high efficiency with no driver transistors being rated at full base current. The operation of the main transistor in deep saturation results in low conduction losses, and the dynamic characteristics of the switch are shown to be suitable for inverter applications. A simple mathematical model is proposed and experimental results on a drive for 350 A 100 V switch are given.<>

Keywords

invertors; power transistors; switches; transformers; 100 V; 350 A; dynamic characteristics; high-current transistor switches; high-efficiency high-current low-voltage switches; inverter applications; low conduction losses; pulsed transformer base drives; transformer-coupled base drive circuit; Circuit faults; Costs; Driver circuits; Inverters; Mathematical model; Pulse transformers; Switches; Switching circuits;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Power Electronics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8993

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/63.4343

Filename

4343