Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced that it will launch new standard-isolation (6.0kVrms) and high-isolation (10.2kVrms) modules in its 4.5kV/1,200A XB Series of high-voltage insulated-gate bipolar transistors (HVIGBTs). These new high-capacity power semiconductors achieve high moisture resistance for more efficient and reliable inverters used in large industrial equipment, such as railcars, operating in diverse environments including outdoors.
The new modules use IGBT elements that incorporate Mitsubishi Electric’s proprietary relaxed field of cathode (RFC) diode and carrier-stored trench-gate bipolar transistor (CSTBT) structure. New structures for electric field relaxation and surface charge control enabled Mitsubishi Electric to reduce the chip’s termination region size by about 30% while also achieving about 20 times greater moisture resistance than existing products. In addition, the module reduces total switching loss by approximately 5% compared to previous models, and reverse-recovery safe-operating area (RRSOA) tolerance is about 2.5 times greater than that of compared to previous models.
As a result of improving the efficiency and reliability of inverters in large industrial equipment operating in environments where conditions can vary, such as outdoors, the modules will contribute to carbon neutrality.
Product Features
- Improved moisture resistance for stable inverter operation. A new electric field relaxation structure and surface charge control structure in the chip termination region reduce the chip’s termination region size and significantly improve moisture resistance to ensure stable inverter operation in high-humidity environments.
- More efficient and reliable inverters. IGBT elements incorporating the proprietary RFC diode and CSTBT structure reduce total switching loss to realize more efficient inverters. The proprietary RFC diode expands RRSOA tolerance to improve inverter reliability by preventing damage from reverse-recovery current7 and reverse voltage8 during switching.
- Dimensional compatibility with existing products simplifies inverter design. By maintaining the same external dimensions as existing products9 for easy replacement, the new module simplifies and shortens the process of designing new inverters.
Power semiconductors that efficiently convert electricity are increasingly in demand as key devices
contributing to decarbonization. Power semiconductor modules for large industrial equipment are used in
inverters and other power-conversion devices within power-related systems, including railcar drive systems, power supplies and DC power transmitters. These modules must also offer robust moisture resistance for stable operation in harsh environments where temperature and humidity fluctuate widely, such as outdoors. Chips used in power semiconductors are divided into an active region that converts and outputs power and a termination region that stabilizes voltage. In high-humidity environments, a chip structure with a wide termination region is required to prevent voltage degradation due to moisture. However, this results in a tradeoff because the active region must be correspondingly narrower, making it difficult to achieve both high power and low-loss performance as well as moisture resistance.
If you want more information or if you have any questions about this product, please contact Nijkerk Electronics!