Online transistor selection tool eases power management design

International Rectifier (IR) announces the availability of a new online Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) selection tool that enables design optimization in a wide range of applications including motor drives, uninterruptable power supplies (UPS), solar inverters, and welding.

The new IGBT Selection Tool evaluates application conditions including bus voltage, switching frequency, and short circuit protection requirements. Located at mypower.irf.com/IGBT, the online tool provides an estimate of losses and suggests parts that can function within the given constraints. The tool also provides pricing for each part to enable designers to consider the effects of device choice on system cost.

IGBT selection requires evaluation of many parameters that cannot be simplified into a single metric. As switching losses can be traded for conduction losses, for example, calculating operating losses requires both operating frequency and bus voltage parameters, in addition to operating current. Also, the requirement of some motor drive inverters for minimum short circuit withstand time comes at the expense of higher losses.

IR offers a wide selection of IGBTs offering various tradeoffs in switching speed as well as devices designed for applications that do not have minimum short circuit requirements. The new selection tool helps designers make use of IR’s broad IGBT portfolio and weigh the performance tradeoffs.

For more information, contact International Rectifier, 233 Kansas St., El Segundo, CA 90245. Phone: (310) 252-7105.