Series Triacs In AC High Voltage Switching Circuits

AN1045/D
Series Triacs
In AC High Voltage
Switching Circuits
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By George Templeton
Thyristor Applications Engineer
APPLICATION NOTE
INTRODUCTION
Edited and Updated
This paper describes the series connection of triacs to
create a high voltage switch suitable for operation at voltages up to 2000 Volts. They can replace electromechanical
contactors or extend their current rating and lifetime. Motor
starters and controllers operating at line voltages of 240
Volts or more require high-voltage switches. Transformer
action and resonant snubber charging result in voltages
much greater than the peak of the line. Triacs can be subjected to both commutating and static dV/dt when multiple
switching devices are present in the circuit. Snubber
designs to prevent static dV/dt turn-on result in higher voltages at turn-off. Variable load impedances also raise voltage requirements.
The benefits of series operation include: higher blocking
voltage, reduced leakage, better thermal stability, higher
dV/dt capability, reduced snubber costs, possible snubberless operation, and greater latitude in snubber design. The
advantages of triacs as replacements for relays include:
winding, and start capacitor voltage. This voltage increases
when triac turn-off occurs at higher rpm.
• Small size and light weight
• Safety — freedom from arcing and spark initiated
explosions
• Long lifespan — contact bounce and burning eliminated
• Fast operation — turn-on in microseconds and turn-off
in milliseconds
• Quiet operation
The triacs retrigger every half cycle as soon as the line
voltage rises to the value necessary to force the trigger current. The instantaneous line voltage V is
TRIGGERING
Figure 1 illustrates a series thyristor switching circuit. In
this circuit, the top triac triggers in Quadrant 1 when the
bottom triac triggers in Quadrant 3. When the optocoupler
turns on, gate current flows until the triacs latch. At that
time, the voltage between the gate terminals drops to about
0.6 Volts stopping the gate current. This process repeats
each half cycle. The power rating of the gate resistor can be
small because of the short duration of the gate current.
Optocoupler surge or triac gate ratings determine the minimum resistance value. For example, when the maximum
optocoupler ITSM rating is 1 A:
V
August, 1999 – Rev. 2
+ IGT Rg ) 2 VGT ) 2 VTM
(1.0)
(1.1)
where VGT, IGT are data book specifications for the triac and
VTM is the on-voltage specification for the optocoupler.
The phase delay angle is
Triacs can be used to replace the centrifugal switch in
capacitor start motors. The blocking voltage required of the
triac can be much greater than the line voltage would suggest. It must block the vector sum of the line, auxiliary
 Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC, 1999
u+ VpeakńImax
+ 750 Vń1 A + 750 Ohm
Rg
Rg
qd
1
ƪ ƫ
+ SIN*1 Ǹ2
V
V LINE
(1.2)
Publication Order Number:
AN1045/D
AN1045/D
IG
IL
G
MEAN
MT1
RG
DESIGN
CAPABILITY
∆I
MT2
6σ
6σ
3σ
3σ
MT2
G
PROCESS WIDTH
MT1
Figure 6.1. Series Switch
Figure 6.2. Designing for Probable Leakage
STATIC VOLTAGE SHARING
Maximum blocking voltage capability results when the
triacs share voltage equally. The blocking voltage can be dc
or ac. A combination of both results when the triac switches
the start winding in capacitor start motors. In the simple
series connection, both triacs operate with an identical leakage current which is less than that of either part operated
alone at the same voltage. The voltages across the devices
are the same only when their leakage resistances are identical. Dividing the voltage by the leakage current gives the
leakage resistance. It can range from 200 kohm to 2000
megohm depending on device characteristics, temperature,
and applied voltage.
Drawing a line corresponding to the measured series
leakage on each device’s characteristic curve locates its
operating point. Figure 3a shows the highest and lowest
leakage units from a sample of 100 units. At room temperature, a leakage of 350 nA results at 920 Volts. The lowest
leakage unit blocks at the maximum specified value of 600
Volts, while the highest blocks 320 Volts. A 50 percent
boost results.
Figure 3b shows the same two triacs at rated TJmax. The
magnitude of their leakage increased by a factor of about
1000. Matching between the devices improved, allowing
operation to 1100 Volts without exceeding the 600 Volt rating of either device.
Identical case temperatures are necessary to achieve
good matching. Mounting the devices closely together on a
common heatsink helps.
A stable blocking condition for operation of a single triac
with no other components on the heatsink results when
turn leads to greater leakage. If the rate of heat release at the
junction exceeds the rate of removal as temperature
increases, this process repeats until the leakage current is
sufficient to trigger the thyristor on.
DC blocking simplifies analysis. A design providing
stable dc operation guarantees ac performance. AC operation allows smaller heatsinks.
The last term in the stability equation is the applied voltage when the load resistance is low and the leakage causes
negligible voltage drop across it. The second term is the
thermal resistance from junction to ambient. The first term
describes the behavior of leakage at the operating conditions. For example, if leakage doubles every 10°C, a triac
operating with 2 mA of leakage at 800 Vdc with a 6°C/W
thermal resistance is stable because
dI MT
dT J
@ @
dT J
dP J
dP J
dI MT
t1
2 mA
10°C
@ @
6°C
W
800 V
+ 0.96
Operating two triacs in series improves thermal stability.
When two devices have matched leakages, each device sees
half the voltage and current or 1/4 of the power in a single
triac. The total leakage dissipation will approach half that
of a single device operated at the same voltage. The additional voltage margin resulting from the higher total blocking voltage reduces the chance that either device will operate near its breakdown voltage where the leakage current
increases rapidly with small increments in voltage. Higher
voltage devices have lower leakage currents when operated
near breakdown. Consequently, the highest breakover voltage unit in the pair will carry the greatest proportion of the
burden. If the leakage current is large enough to cause significant changes in junction temperature, (∆TJ = φJC PD),
the effect will tend to balance the voltage division between
the two by lowering the leakage resistance of the hotter
unit. If the leakage mismatch between the two is large,
nearly all the voltage will drop across one device. As a
result there will be little benefit connecting two in series.
Series blocking voltage depends on leakage matching.
Blocking stability depends on predictable changes in leakage with temperature. Leakage has three components.
(2.0)
Thermal run-away is a regenerative process which occurs
whenever the loop gain in the thermal feedback circuit
reaches unity. An increase in junction temperature causes
increased leakage current and higher power dissipation.
Higher power causes higher junction temperature which in
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AN1045/D
HIGH
LOW
∆IL
LOW
HIGH
(a)
100 V/
100 nA/
(b)
25°C
100 µA/
100 V/
125°C
Figure 6.3. Leakage Matching versus Temperature
Surface Leakage
from 70 to 150°C. Actual values measured 0.064 at 125°
and 0.057 at 150°.
Deviations from this behavior will result at voltages and
temperatures where leakage magnitude, current gain, and
avalanche multiplication aid unwanted turn-on. Sensitive
gate triacs are not recommended for this reason.
Passivation technique, junction design, and cleanliness
determine the size of this component. It tends to be small
and not very dependent on temperature.
Diffusion Leakage
Measurements with 1 volt reverse bias show that this
component is less than 10 percent of the total leakage for
allowed junction temperatures. It follows an equation of the
form:
I
T e*(qvńkT)
DERATING AND LEAKAGE MATCHING
Operation near breakdown increases leakage mismatch
because of the effects of avalanche multiplication. For
series operation, devices should be operated at least 100
Volts below their rating.
(2.1)
and doubles about every 10°C. Its value can be estimated
by extrapolating backward from high temperature data
points.
20
18
PERCENT (SAMPLE SIZE = 100)
Depletion Layer Charge Generation
This component is a result of carriers liberated from
within the blocking junction depletion layer. It grows with
the square root of the applied voltage. The slope of the leakage versus applied voltage is the mechanism allowing for
series operation with less than perfect leakage matching.
Predictable diffusion processes determine this leakage. At
temperatures between 70 and 150°C it is given by:
i
T e * kTE
(2.2)
+
1 di
i dT J
550 V
14
TJ = 25°C
12
10
8
6
4
2
where E = 1.1 eV, k = 8.62E – 5 eV/k, T = degrees Kelvin,
and k = 8.62 x 10 – 5 eV/k.
It is useful to calculate the percentage change in leakage
current with temperature:
A
650 V
16
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
Figure 6.4. Normalized Leakage (Mean = 1.0)
+ kTE2 + 0.08 + 8%
°C
Figure 4 shows the leakage histogram for a triac sample
operated at two different voltages. The skewedness in the
high-voltage distribution is a consequence of some of the
sample operating near breakdown.
The coefficient A was evaluated on 3 different die size
triacs by curve fitting to leakage measurements every 10°
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AN1045/D
HEATSINK SELECTION
Low duty cycles allow the reduction of the heatsink size.
The thermal capacitance of the heatsink keeps the junction
temperature within specification. The package time
constant (Cpkg RθJA) is long in comparison with the thermal
response time of the die, causing the instantaneous TJ to
rise above the case as it would were the semiconductor
mounted on an infinite heatsink. Heatsink design requires
estimation of the peak case temperature and the use of the
thermal derating curves on the data sheet. The simplest
model applies to a very small heatsink which could be the
semicondutor package itself. When θSA is large in comparison with θCHS, it is sufficient to lump both the package and
heatsink capacitances together and treat them as a single
quantity. The models provide good results when the heatsink is small and the thermal paths are short.
Model C, Figure 5 is a useful simplification for low duty
cycle applications. Increasing heatsink mass adds thermal
capacitance and reduces peak junction temperature. Heatsink thermal resistance is proportional to surface area and
determines the average temperature.
Solving equations (2.0) and (2.3) for the thermal resistance required to prevent runaway gives:
θ JA
@@
t A 1V
i
(3.0)
where θJA is thermal resistance, junction to ambient, in
°C/W, A = 0.08 at TJ = 125°C, V = rated VDRM, and i =
rated IDRM.
θJA must be low enough to remove the heat resulting
from conduction losses and insure blocking stability. The
latter can be the limiting factor when circuit voltages are
high. For example, consider a triac operated at 8 amps
(rms) and 8 Watts. The allowed case temperature rise at 25°
ambient is 85°C giving a required θCA (thermal resistance,
case to ambient) of 10.6°C/W. Allowing 1°C/W for θCHS
(thermal resistance, case to heatsink) leaves 9.6°C/W for
θSA (thermal resistance, heatsink to ambient). However,
thermal stability at 600 V and 2 mA IDRM requires θJA =
10.4°C/W. A heatsink with θSA less than 7.4°C/W is
needed, given a junction to case thermal resistance of
2°C/W.
The operation of devices in series does not change the
coefficient A. When matching and thermal tracking is perfect, both devices block half the voltage. The leakage current and power divide by half and the allowed θJA for
blocking stability increases by 4.
q SA
+ 32.6 A(*0.47)
(3.1)
where A = total surface area in square inches, θSA = thermal
resistance sink to ambient in °C/W.
Analysis of heatsink thermal response to a train of periodic pulses can be treated using the methods in
ON Semiconductor application note AN569 and Figure 6.
For example:
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AN1045/D
θCA
Pd
CPKG
Pd θCA
θCA
ton
CPKG
TC
TC
TA
TA
(b.) Equivalent Circuit For
(a)
(a.) Standard Thermal Analogue For a Thyristor
in Free Air
In Circuit (B):
The steady state case temperature is given by
+
)
(5.0)
T CSS
P d q CA
T A in °C
where Pd = Applied average power, watts
θCA = Case to ambient thermal resistance, °C/W
TA = ambient temperature, °C
The package rises toward the steady state temperature exponentially with time constant
t + q CA
(5.1)
C PKG, seconds
In terms of measurable temperatures:
DTCpk
(5.3)
r(t on)
DTCSS
+
In model (b.) this is
(5.4)
r(t on)
Solving 5-4 for the package capacitance gives
(5.5)
where Cpkg = HM, Joules/°C
H = Specific heat, calories/(gm S °C)
M = Mass in grams
and 1 Calorie = 4.184 Joule
1 Joule = 1 Watt S Sec
+ (1 * e*tonńt)
+ (θCA In*(1ton* r(ton))
C PKG
Use simplified model C when
tt t
tt DTCSS
pk
t on
DT C
The case temperature rise above ambient at the end of
power pulse is:
(5.2)
where
DTC pk +
DTCpk + DTCSS(1 * e*tonńt)
CPKG
Pd
* TA
pk
DTCSS + TCSS * TA
TC
TA
To account for thermal capacity, a time dependent factor r(t) is
applied to the steady state case-to-ambient thermal resistance. The package thermal resistance, at a given on-time,
is called transient thermal resistance and is given by:
R qCA (t on)
(c.) Simplified Model
+ r(ton) qCA
(5.6) T C
where r(ton) = Unitless transient thermal impedance
coefficient.
+ PCd ton ) TA
PKG
Figure 6.5. Transient Thermal Response For a Single Power Pulse
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TC
AN1045/D
+ (1 * e*180ń150) + .6988
R (t on ) Tp) + (1 * 1 *183ń150) + .7047
Assume the case temperature changes by 40°C for a
single power pulse of 66.67 W and 3 s duration. Then from
equation (5.6):
C pkg
R (T p)
+ (66.7 Watts)40°C(3 seconds) + 5 Joules
°C
Then from Figure 6:
delta TC = (1.111 + 46.225 + 1.333 – 46.61) 30 = 61.8°C
If the ambient temperature is 25°C, TC = 87°C.
The heatsink thermal resistance can be determined by
applying dc power, measuring the final case temperature,
and using equation (5.0).
TC
COMPENSATING FOR MAXIMUM
SPECIFIED LEAKAGE
* TA + 175-25 + 30°CńW
5
PD
Identical value parallel resistors around each triac will
prevent breakdown resulting from mismatched leakages.
Figure 7 derives the method for selecting the maximum
allowed resistor size. A worst case design assumes that the
series pair will operate at maximum TJ and that one of the
triacs leaks at the full specified value while the other has no
leakage at all. A conservative design results when the tolerances in the shunt resistors place the highest possible resistor across the low leakage unit and the lowest possible
resistor around the high leakage unit.
This method does not necessarily provide equal voltage
balancing. It prevents triac breakover. Perfect voltage sharing requires expensive high-wattage resistors to provide
large bleeder currents.
The application requires a 3 s on-time and 180 s period at
66.7 W. Then
P avg
+ (66.7 W) (3ń180) + 1.111 W
Nth
PULSE
N+1
PULSE
Pd
ton
tp
PAVG
0
DT C
(N
IDRM (T2)
) 1) + [PAVG ) (Pd * PAVG) r (ton ) tp) ) Pd r (ton)
* Pd r (tp)]qCA
VS
I1
V1
T1
+ RV1 S)RR1 2 ) DRI1LR)1RR22
Let R1 = R (1 + p) and R2 = R (1 – p) where
R = Nominal resistor value
p = 0.05 for 5% tolerance, etc.
Figure 6.6. Steady State Peak Case Temperature Rise
Using equation (5.3), the theoretical steady state case
temperature rise is:
R(t on)
IDRM (T1)
R1
V1
and
R2
∆IL
Where ∆ TC (N + 1) = maximum rise above ambient
Pd = applied average power within a pulse
PAV G = average power within a period
r(ton + tp) = time dependent factor for sum of ton
and tp
r(ton) = time dependent factor for ton
r(tp) = time dependent factor for tp
T CSS
I2
T2
R
* VS (1 ) p)
x 2 VDRM
DI (1 * p2)
L
Worst case becomes:
* TA + (66.7 W) (30°CńW) + 2000°C
and
+ R (3 s) + (40°C measured rise)ń2000 + 0.02
IDRM (T1) = 0; IDRM (T2) = Spec. max. value
∆IL = Spec. Max. Value
Figure 6.7. Maximum Allowed Resistor for Static
Voltage Sharing
From equation (5.4) and (5.1):
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AN1045/D
COMPENSATION FOR PROBABLE LEAKAGE
Theoretically there would be no more than 3.4 triacs per
million exceeding the design tolerance even if the mean
value of the leakage shifted by plus or minus 1.5 sigma.
Real triacs have a leakage current greater than zero and less
than the specified value. Knowledge of the leakage distribution can be used to reduce resistor power requirements. The
first step is to statistically characterize the product at maximum temperature. Careful control of the temperature is critical because leakage depends strongly on it.
The process width is the leakage span at plus or minus 3
standard deviations (sigma) from the mean. To minimize
the probability of out of spec parts, use a design capability
index (Cp) of 2.0.
Cp
+ (design DI)ń(process width)
Cp + (12 sigma)ń(6 sigma)
SELECTING RESISTORS
Small resistors have low voltage ratings which can
impose a lower constraint on maximum voltage than the
triac. A common voltage rating for carbon resistors is:
Rated Power (W)
1/4 Watt
1/2
1
2
(4.0)
Figure 2 and Figure 7 describe this. Substituting delta IL
at 6 sigma in Figure 7 gives the resistor value. The required
power drops by about 4.
Series resistors are used for higher voltage.
ACTUAL TRIAC
I
Rmin
Maximum Voltage (V)
250 Volts
350
500
750
Let V DRM
IDRM
MODEL
TRIAC
E
E
Rmax
+ VDRM
R max
VMT2 – 1
ǒ Ǔ
+ E RmaxRmax
) Rmin
+ VIDRM
min
1
min
) IImax
R min
+ VIDRM
max
(8.0)
VDRM
(a) Equivalent Circuit
(b) Model
Figure 6.8. Maximum Voltage Sharing Without Shunt Resistor
OPERATION WITHOUT RESISTORS
Table 1. Normalized leakage and voltage boost factor.
(Mean = 1.0)
Figure 8 derives the method for calculating maximum
operating voltage. The voltage boost depends on the values
of Imin and Imax. For example :
ǒ ) Ǔ+
1
131 mA
683 mA
1.19
A 19 percent voltage boost is possible with the 6 sigma
design. Testing to the measured maximum and minimum of
the sample allows the boost to approach the values given in
Table 1.
(1
) 0.835ń1.228) + 1.68
Voltage (V)
550
650
550
550
550
550
TJ (°C)
25
25
100
125
125
150
150
Rshunt
—
—
—
—
1.5M
1.5M
510K
Sample Size
100
100
16
16
16
16
16
Maximum
1.31
5
1.59
1
1.18
7
1.22
8
1.12
3
1.34
6
1.18
6
Minimum
0.72
9
0.68
1
0.84
0
0.83
5
0.92
0
0.82
0
0.87
7
Sigma
0.116
0.17
2
0.10
6
0.113
0.05
5
0.13
2
0.08
4
Sample Boost
1.55
1.43
1.71
1.68
1.82
1.61
1.74
6 Sigma Boost
1.18
1.00
1.22
1.19
1.50
1.12
1.33
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550
AN1045/D
COMPENSATING FOR SURFACE LEAKAGE
Triacs can tolerate very high rates of voltage rise when
the peak voltage magnitude is below the threshold needed
to trigger the device on. This behavior is a consequence of
the voltage divider action between the device collector and
gate-cathode junction capacitances. If the rise-time is made
short in comparison with minority carrier lifetime, voltage
and displaced charge determine whether the device triggers
on or not. Series operation will extend the range of voltage
A small low power shunt resistance will provide nearly perfect low temperature voltage sharing and will improve high
temperature performance. It defines the minimum leakage
current of the parallel triac-resistor combination. The design
method in Figure 8 can be used by adding the resistor current
to the measured maximum and minimum leakage currents of
the triac sample. This is described in Table 1.
ǒǓ
SERIES dV
dt s
and load conditions where a static dV snubber is not
dt
ǒǓ
needed.
Figure 10 graphs the results of measurements on two
series connected triacs operated without snubbers. The
series connection doubled the allowed step voltage. However, this voltage remained far below the combined 1200 V
breakover voltage of the pair.
dV
dt s
The series connection will provide twice the
capability of the lowest device in the pair (Figure 9).
Dynamic matching without a snubber network depends
on equality of the thyristor self capacitance. There is little
variation in junction capacitance. Device gain variations
introduce most of the spread in triac performance.
The blocking junction capacitance of a thyristor is a
declining function of dc bias voltage. Mismatch in static
blocking voltage will contribute to unequal capacitances.
However, this effect is small at voltages beyond a few volts.
The attachment of a heatsink at the high-impedance node
formed by connection of the triac main-terminals can also
contribute to imbalance by introducing stray capacitance to
ground. This can be made insignificant by adding small
capacitors in parallel with the triacs. Snubbers will serve
the same purpose.
MAXIMUM STEP VOLTAGE (V)
800
700
600
500
400
V
300
u
ń
dV
10 kV ms
dt
f = 10 Hz
pw = 100 µs
200
100
0
0
EXPONENTIAL STATIC dv/dtS (V/ µs)
10,000
9
8
7
6
5
4
20
40
60
80
TJ (°C)
100
120
140
160
Figure 6.10. Step Blocking Voltage VS
TJ (Unsnubbed Series Triacs)
ǒǓ
Exponential dV
dt s
1
3
than 2 kV/µs showed that turn-on of the series pair can
2
R
occur because of breakdown or dV . The former was the
C
dt
limiting factor at junction temperatures below 100°C. Performance improved with temperature because device gain
aided voltage sharing. The triac with the highest current
gain in the pair is most likely to turn-on. However, this
device has the largest effective capacitance. Consequently
2
1000
9
8
7
6
5
4
tests performed at 1000 V and less
R
C
1
it is exposed to less voltage and dV . At higher temperadt
R = 270 kΩ
C = 1000 pF
Vpk = 1000 V
3
tures, rate effects dominated over voltage magnitudes, and
the capability of the series pair fell. dV performance of the
dt
2
series devices was always better than that of a single triac
alone.
100
0
15
30
45
60
75
90
TURNOFF
105 120 135 150
JUNCTION TEMPERATURE (TJ) °C
Process tolerances cause small variations in triac turn-off
time. Series operation will allow most of the reapplied
blocking voltage to appear across the faster triac when a
dynamic voltage sharing network is not used.
Figure 6.9. Exponential Static dV/dt, Series
MAC15-8 Triacs
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AN1045/D
The triacs were mounted on a temperature controlled
hotplate. The single pulse non-repetitive test aids junction
temperature control and allows the use of lower power
rated components in the snubber and load circuit.
CL
15K
G2
13K
S1
2W
15K
2W
11
Ω
2W
–
100 V
20 µF
200 V
MT1
G2
MT2 T2
G2
2.2 Meg
910
1/2W
S1
+
MOC3081
PUSH TO
TEST
S4B
(a) Triac Gate
Circuit
270K
2W
2.2 Meg
G1
G1
T1
MT1
CL
Rs
Cs
MT2
1N4001
G1
MOC3081
+
MT1, T2
510
910
S4A
PEARSON 301X
1 – PROBE
270K
2W
LL
S2
Hg
RELAY
Cs
TRIAD C30X 50H, 3500 Ω
Figure 11 describes the circuit used to investigate this
behavior. It is a capacitor discharge circuit with the load
series resonant at 60 Hz. This method of testing is desirable
because of the reduced burn and shock hazard resulting
from the limited energy storage in the load capacitor.
S3
Rs
CL
VCC
1.5 kV
510
MT1, T1
S1 = GORDES MR988 REED WOUND
WITH 1 LAYER AWG #18
LL = 320 MHY
CL = 24 µFD, NON-POLAR
(c) Load Circuit
REVERSE S4 AND VCC TO
CHECK OPPOSITE POLARITY.
(b) Optocoupler Gate Circuit
Figure 6.11. ǒdVǓ cTest Circuit
dt
suggest that the reverse recovery charge is less than 2
micro-coulombs. Recovery currents cannot be much
greater than IH or IGT, or the triac would never turn-off.
Recovery can be forward, reverse, or near zero current
depending on conditions.
Snubber design for the series switch has the following
objectives:
Snubberless turn-off at 1200 V and 320 milli-henry
resulted in 800 V peak and 100 V/µs. Although this test
exceeded the ratings of the triacs, they turned off successfully.
Snubberless operation is allowable when:
1. The total transient voltage across both triacs does not
exceed the rating for a single device. This voltage
depends on the load phase angle, self capacitance of
the load and triac, damping constant, and natural resonance of the circuit.
• Controlling the voltage peak. Resonant charging will
magnify the turn-off voltage.
• Controlling the voltage rate. Peak voltage trades with
voltage rate.
• Equalizing the voltage across the series devices by
providing for imbalance in turn-off charge.
Designs that satisfy the first two objectives will usually
provide capacitor values above the minimum size. Select
the snubber for a satisfactory compromise between voltage
2. The total ǒdVǓ across the series combination does
dt c
not exceed the capability of a single device.
Maximum turn-off voltage capability and tolerance for
variable loads requires the use of a snubber network to provide equal dynamic voltage sharing. Figure 12 and
Figure 13 derives the minimum size snubber capacitor
allowed. It is determined by the recovery charge of the
triac. Measurements in fast current crossing applications
and dV . Then check the capacitor to insure that it is suffidt
ciently large.
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VMT2-1
AND
IMT2
C2
Q+∆
Q
∆Q
T2
VS
T1
Q
Q2
The hazard of thyristor damage by dl overstress is
dt
greater when circuit operating voltages are high because dl
φ
C1 Q
1
+ C(1 ) p);
ǒǓ
dI
dt c
V2
Worst case:
C2
dl CAPABILITY
dt
C1
VDRM
dt
t
∆Q
IRRM
VMT2-1
+ C(1 * p);
Q1
+ 0;
is proportional to voltage. Damage by short duration transients is possible even though the pulse is undetectable
when observed with non-storage oscilloscopes. This type
of damage can be consequence of snubber design, transients, or parasitic capacitances.
A thyristor can be triggered on by gate current, exceeding
(dv/dt)c
Q2
ǒǓ
+ DQ
its breakdown voltage, or by exceeding its dV
where C = Nominal value of capacitor
and p = 0.1 for 10% tolerance, etc.
∆Q = Reverse recovery charge
dt s
ty. In the latter case, a trigger current is generated by charging of the internal depletion layer capacitance in the device.
This effect aids turn-on current spreading, although dam-
Note that T1 has no charge while T2 carries full
recovery charge.
age can still occur if the rate of follow on dl is high. Repetidt
For the model shown above,
VS
C
capabili-
+ QC11 ) QC22 + C(1Q*1 p) ) QC(11 *)Dp)Q
tive operation off the ac line at voltages above breakdown is
a worst case condition. Quadrant 3 has a slightly slower
gated turn-on time, increasing the chance of damage in this
direction. Higher operating voltages raise power density
and local heating, increasing the possibility of die damage
due to hot-spots and thermal run-away.
y 2 VDRM *DQVS(1 ) p)
Figure 6.12. Minimum Capacitor Size for Dynamic
Voltage Sharing
Snubber designs for static, commutating, and combined dV
dt
stress are shown in Table 2. Circuits switching the line or a
charged capacitor across a blocking triac require the addition
of a series snubber inductor. The snubber must be designed
R
RE1
L
NON-INDUCTIVE
5K
200W
for maximum dV with the minimum circuit inductance. This
T106-6
1K
2W
CARBON
0–6 kV
1/2A
60 Hz
dt
contraint increases the required triac blocking voltage.
MT1
*S1
G
QTY = 6 TO 16 MKP1V130
dV
dt c
ǒǓ
Both
320
0.4
320
ǒǓ
Table 2. Snubber Designs
Type
L (mh)
dV
dt s
MT2
C
G
RL Ohm
8
0
8
Rs Ohm
1820
48
48
Cs (µf)
0.5
0.5
0.5
Damping Ratio
1.14
0.85
.035
Vstep (V)
1200
1200
750
Vpk (V)
1332
1400
1423
tpk (µs)
768
29.8
1230
dV (V/µs)
dt
4.6
103
MT2
1.3
Vci
V
C
µFD
L
µHY
R
Ω
dl/dt
A/µs
Rejects
Tested
1000
4.06
3.4
5.7
100
0/100
1900*
1.05
7.9
5.7
179
0/195
1500
0.002
0.3
10
3000
3/10
* Open S1 to test breakover dl/dt
Note: Divide Rs and dV by 2, multiply Cs by 2 for each triac.
dt
Figure 6.13. dl/dt Test Circuit
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PEARSON
411 I
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turn-on. Alternatively, a large triac capable of surviving the
surge can be used.
Ideally, turn-on speed mismatch should not be allowed to
force the slower thyristor into breakdown. An RC snubber
across each thyristor prevents this. In the worst case, one
device turns on instantly while the other switches at the
slowest possible turn-on time. The rate of voltage rise at the
+ V2LIRs, where VI is the maxidt
T2
slower device is roughly dV
lpk
IH1
∆
Q
∆Q
mum voltage across L. This rate should not allow the voltage to exceed VDRM in less than Tgt to prevent breakover.
But what if the thyristors are operated without a snubber, or
if avalanche occurs because of a transient overvoltage
condition?
The circuit in Figure 13 was constructed to investigate
this behavior. The capacitor, resistor, and inductor create a
pulse forming network to shape the current wave. The initial voltage on the capacitor was set by a series string of
sidac bidirectional breakover devices.
Test results showed that operation of the triac switch was
safe as long as the rate of current rise was below 200 A/µs.
This was true even when the devices turned on because of
breakover. However, a 0.002 µf capacitor with no series
limiting impedance was sufficient to cause damage in the
Q3 firing polarity.
Circuit malfunctions because of breakover will be temporary if the triac is not damaged. Test results suggest that
there will be no damage when the series inductance is sufficient to hold dl/dt to acceptable values. Highly energetic
transients such as those resulting from lightning strikes can
cause damage to the thyristor by I2t surge overstress.
Device survival requires the use of voltage limiting devices
IH2
T1
DQ
ωt = 0
ŕ
for turn-off at I
DQ +
t1
t2
H
t2
I pk SINwt dt
I
+ pk
w (cos wt1 * cos wt2)
t1
+ Ipk Sinwt1
I H1
thus t 1 + 1 Sin *1
w
I pk
Worst case : I H2 + 0; f 2 + wt 2 + p
I H1
I pk
DQ + w
in the circuit and dV limiting snubbers to prevent unwanted
Ǹ ǒ Ǔ ȣȧȤ
) cos[SIN*1 IIH1
])
pk
ȡȧ )
Ȣ
I pk
DQ + w
(1
1
I
*
I H1
2
I pk
Figure 6.14. Forward Recovery Charge for Turn-Off at lH
dt
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