DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF MCTS UNDER INDUCTIVE LOAD CONDITIONS

PMOS-controlled thyristors (PMCTs) were tested in a single-switch configuration under inductive-load hard-switching conditions. The transient current and voltage waveforms during the turn-on and turn-off transitions were observed for 50 A/1000 V devices. The experimental waveforms are given for the anode current, the inductor current, the anode-to-cathode voltage, and the gate-to-anode drive voltage. These waveforms were obtained for periodic gate drive voltage at 6.5 kHz. The test circuit was operated at power levels of up to 370 W. The measured turn-on time was 0.255 mus at an anode-to-cathode voltage of 270 V and the measured turn-off time was 1.6 mus at an anode current of 16 A. The measured storage time was 1 mus. The measured input capacitance of the MCT was 13.5 nF and the output capacitance was 66.7 nF. It was found that the input and output capacitances of PMCTs are approximately linear.