IXYS Announces New 6.5kV Thyristor Device With Higher Current Rating
IXYS Corp. announced that its wholly owned UK subsidiary, Westcode Semiconductors Ltd., has developed a higher current rating for the smallest devices in their 6.5kV thyristor family. The new 6.5kV device has a nominal RMS current rating of 890A, 20% more than the prior product. The improved product is encapsulated in the same 34mm (1.39") pole face hermetic pressure contact package, using Westcode’s advanced power technology.
According to the company, the improved devices incorporate the same advanced processing as that used in all of Westcode’s medium voltage thyristors, such as what is described as innovative gate architecture for improved turn-on characteristics and enhanced di/dt capability and improved dynamic performance with reduced tq and recovery time. These properties make these devices well suited for medium voltage applications, particularly where series operation of the devices is required. Typical applications include high power dc drives, soft-starts, utility applications such as HVDC, static VAR compensators, excitation and transfer switches.
"The new devices, which have an improved thermal resistance, are offered alongside our established lower current rated devices as a higher performance option," explained Frank Wakeman, Marketing & Technical Support Manager at Westcode. "The increased current rating allows for the design of more compact systems where an operational current rating would have required a larger package device to have been used, thereby reducing material usage, weight and system cost."
The devices are available in two voltage classes and two package options: K0443LC600 & K04336LC650, which are rated at 6.0 & 6.5kV, respectively, and housed in a 26mm (1") thick package, and K0443LG600 & K0433LG650 rated at 6.0 & 6.5kV, respectively, and housed in a 35mm (1.38") thick package.
