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IGBT-basic know-how - IGBT: how does an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor work?

Today, the IGBT comes very close to being considered an ideal switch. Then again – what is the difference between an IGBT and a MOSFET? What advantages does an IGBT offer and how does it work? In technical communities focusing on power electronics, questions like this one regularly arise: “I have to design an H-bridge to control a motor. Voltage is 320 V, the current is 2 A, switching frequency is 30 kHz. To remain on the safe side, I’m searching for a switch with 600 V blocking capability. I have no idea whether to use MOSFET or IGBT. Any hints as to criteria to do a proper selection?” In this case, there is no simple decision, as some important parameters are missing. For the target set, solutions with 600 V MOSFET as well as using 600 V IGBT come to mind. Important criteria not mentioned in the query, relate to size, efficiency and cost targets. The IGBT, or Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor, became the most used power electronic component in industrial applications. In the meantime it has become a central component in inverters for all types of electric drives, battery chargers, and solar and wind power plants. But why? What is so special about this component? What are the strengths and what challenges have to be handled when using this technology? The answer to these questions lies within the technology itself.

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21/02/2020