MCT 4333

Power Electronics
Power Diodes

Department of Mechatronics Engineering

Content
Diode characteristics,
Power Diode types,
Seriesconnected diode
parallel-connected diodes,
diodes with RC and RL loads,
diodes with LC and RLC loads,
freewheeling diodes.

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Diode Characteristics

Reverse
Leakage
Current

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Diode Characteristics
Shockley Diode Equation:

I D I s (e

VD / nVT

ID =
VD=
Is=
n=

1)

current through the Diode, Amp;

Diode voltage with Anode positive;
Leakage (reverse saturation) current (10-6 to 10-15), A;
empirical const., emission coefficient or ideality factor
(1.1 to 1.8 for silicon diode)
kT
VT
q

VT= Thermal voltage,

At 25OC VT=25.7mV
Find the saturation current, diode current, etc. using
above equation.
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Diode Characteristics
Reverse recovery characteristics
Reverse recovery time, trr
Due to charge in
depletion layer, ta
Due to charge
storage in
semiconductor
materials, tb

During trr, the diode behaves as a short circuit, not

capable of blocking reverse voltage, allowing reverse
current flow, and then suddenly disrupting current.
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Power Semiconductor Diode

Power Diode Types:

1. General purpose diode
2. Fast recovery diode
3. Schottky diode
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General purpose diodes

Suitable for low frequency operation: up to 1KHz.

High reverse recovery time, 25s

Diffusion type:
Current ratings from: <1A to nKA
Voltage rating: 50V to 5KV
Alloyed type:
Current ratings from: 400A
Voltage rating: 1500V
Most cost effective and rugged

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Fast Recovery Diodes

Suitable for dc-dc converter, where speed
of recovery time is often of critical
importance.
low reverse recovery time, <5s
Current ratings from: <1A to n100A
Voltage rating: 50V to 3KV
Diffusion type but recovery time controlled
by platinum or gold diffusion

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Schottky Diodes
Made by the contact of metal and
semiconductor.
No charge storage in the junction.
No minority carrier in rectifying actions
Low forward voltage and high Leakage
current, vice versa.
Current ratings from: 1A to 400A
Voltage rating: up to 100V
Ideal for high current low voltage dc supplies.

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Series-Connected Diodes
In High voltage applications, when single
diode cannot meet the voltage rating,
multiple diodes are connected in series to
increase reverse blocking capabilities.

Same type of diodes do not share the

same reverse voltage due to
mismatches in their reverse v-i
characteristics. Voltage sharing
networks are needed to equalize the
voltage sharing.

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Series-Connected Diodes
Forcing equal voltage sharing by connecting resistors
across each diode, then leakage current will vary through
the diodes but shared by the diode and resistor.

I s I s1 I R1 I s 2 I R 2
VD1
VD 2
I s1
Is2
R1
R2
VD1 VD 2 VS
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Series Connected Diodes

Voltage sharing under transient conditions (due to

mismatch in reverse recovery times). Rs limits the rate
of rise of the blocking voltage.

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Parallel-Connected Diodes
In High power applications, diodes
are connected in parallel to increase
current carrying capabilities.
They must have the same forward
voltage drop.
They should be mounted on the same
heat sink or cooled equally.
A current sharing network is
necessary to equalize the current
sharing of each diodes.

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Parallel-Connected Diodes
Current sharing by series
resistors is not practical due
to power loss.
Mutually coupled inductors is
the best option to equalize the
current sharing.

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Diodes with RC Load

Assuming ideal diode
with trr=0; VD=0

Vs t RC
i (t ) e
R
vc (t ) Vs (1 e

),

dv
Vs

dt t 0 RC
Current does not change the polarity
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Diodes with RL Load

Vs
tR
i (t ) (1 e L )
R
vL (t ) Vs e

Vs
di

dt t 0 L
Energy stored in the inductor = 0.5 Li2.
An attempt to open the switch will
transfer the energy to the switch and
diode in the form of high reverse voltage.
A diode is needed to overcome this
situation.
Current does not change the polarity
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Diodes with LC Load

i (t ) Vs

C
sin 0t I P sin 0t
L

0 1
di
dt t 0

LC
Vs

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Diodes with RLC Load

R

Three cases:
1)

i (t ) ( A1 A2t )e st

2)

i (t ) A1e s1t A2 e s2t

3)

i (t ) et ( A1 cos(r t ) A2 cos(r t ))

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Free Wheeling Diode

Dm:
The diode is used to provide
path for current to continue
through an inductive load
when conducting switch
closes.

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Conclusions
Diode Characteristics, recovery time,
Diode types
Series and parallel connected diodes with
protecting network
Diode with RC, RL, LC and RLC loads
Freewheeling diode, trapped energy.
Related problems

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