IGBTs for induction heating

Power Electronics / Power Management

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21 February 2007 Power Electronics / Power Management

G. Introvaia, product marketing IGBTs, STMicroelectronics

Thanks to their high efficiency, flameless safe operation and quick reaction time, induction heating (IH) cookers are gaining in popularity. To control the operation of a resonant inverter, STMicroelectronics has introduced a new series of rugged IGBTs with optimal switching and conduction performance, for induction heating cookers, microwave ovens and rice jars.

Figure 1. High performance IGBTs for 600 and 1200 V induction heating applications

STGW30NC120HD

The STGW30NC120HD device housed in TO-247 exhibits switching speeds optimised for IH applications in single switch topology. In an IH cooker, the power switch controls the current provided to the heating coil, generating a high frequency magnetic field around the coil according to Ampere's law. The magnetic field induces an eddy current on the close surface of a conductive object, such as a cooking pot, as a result, the Joule effect warms the pot (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Single switch quasi-resonant topology

The well established PowerMESH technology of ST's IGBTs improves the static losses as the temperature rises and a co-packaged freewheeling diode simplifies circuit design and reduces component count.

Key features include: excellent trade-off between conduction and switching losses; immune to cross-conduction phenomena; small electrical parameter spread; low input capacitance (easier driving); minimal gate charge; optimised companion co-packaged free-wheeling diode.

The STGW30NC120HD was bench- marked against a well-known comparable product in an 1800 W induction cooker (TCL TC18A). Results showed that the performance of ST's 1200 V IGBT is almost aligned with best-in-class competition in terms of case temperature.

Figure 3. Single-plate IC reference design board

HB configuration in multipot systems

In a half bridge topology, as often used in multipot systems, the 600 V Very Fast series is suitable for medium frequency cookers, while a new trend to double the standard working frequency requires a faster device, such as the new Ultra Fast series.

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IGBTs for induction heating

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