IGBTs or integrated gate bipolar transistors to
give them their full name are semiconductor components with highly specific
uses. They are similar in a way to power transistors but have significant
differences in the way they are controlled. Power transistors are controlled by
the amount of current flowing across their base in contrast to IGBTs which are
controlled by the voltage applied to their gate. The characteristics of the
IGBT make them more of a combination of a power transistor and a MOSFET (metal-oxide
semiconductor field effect transistor).
The IGBT is most commonly used in applications
where high frequency power switching is needed. One of the reasons why the IGBT
works well for this purpose is that only a tiny amount of current is needed
applied to its gate. The current is only very small because of high impedance
at the control gate. IGNTs are not only able to be switched much more rapidly
than other types of semiconductor but they also have other desirable
characteristics, especially the fact that they can be used at high voltages.
High power, high frequency devices work by
turning the current on and off rapidly with the help of a switching device.
Apart from IGBTs, other switching components include MOSFETS and bipolar
transistors. An oscillating device is used to control the IGBT or other type of
switch.
One common application of IGBTs is in a high
voltage electric motor. The voltage used by the motor is converted from DC to
AC with the IGBT controlling the frequency at which the AC is provided. There
are three different types of motors which may have IGBTs incorporated into
their control device. These are
• A three phase induction type motor
• A three phase brushless motor with sinusoidal
BEMF
• A three phase brushless motor with
trapezoidal BEMF
The motor drive may be either of a sinewave or
squarewave type. Sinewaves are preferred where RF interference might be a
nuisance, although squarewave drives are actually the more efficient of the
two.
Of the three motor types, the first one, the
induction motor tends to have a sinewave type drive, although there are high
and low pulses in any wave phase noticeable.
The other two types of motor use magnets
instead of rotors that are found in induction motors. These motor types are
somewhat more expensive than induction motors, but more efficient. The main
difference between the two types of brushless motor is the type of wave
produced by their drives: some are trapezoidal, others are sinewave.
In all these motors, there are three phases
involved and six transistors. MOSFETs tend to be the preferred choice at lower
voltages, say 200 volts or less, but for higher voltages, the IGBTs are
preferred. IGBTs can handle voltages of up to 1200 volts.
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