A new high current IGBT has been developed for high current applications working at very low frequencies.
This new device can be used as a solid state high current relay with the great advantage of a very reduced power dissipation in conduction, considering the highly contained value of voltage drop (V
CEsat) at the maximum current level (over 100A at 100C).
Furthermore, the ISOTOP with its high currents and insulation capabilities improves thermal performance and allows safer operation.
Analysing more in detail the rapidly expanding market of aluminium welding, which is mainly dedicated to shipyards and automotive clusters, it is clear the new
STGE200NB60S will give customers the possibility to greatly limit power losses.
At least two IGBTs must be inserted in the secondary stage in order to invert the polarity of the electrical field at the extremes of the gun, avoiding the natural trend of aluminium to passivate, making the welding process impossible. A schematic for the secondary stage of an aluminium welder is depicted below. The low power consumption becomes fundamental to increase the duty cycle of the machine, decreasing also the heatsink dimension and the overall weight of the end equipment.
The possibility to bring high currents in an insulated package makes the use of only one power dissipator possible for all power stages also reducing the cost of the solution.