Re: BIG solid state devices...

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Daniel McCauley by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <dhmccauley-at-spacecatlighting-dot-com>

Actually the technology has really been here for at least two decades now
and has been used quite extensively in the industry for the same application
type application.

I've designed and worked with many radar transmitters using these solid
state switches to modulate TWT cathodes, etc... at voltages up to 500kV ! !

Dan





> I note the Hitachi MBN1200D33C
>
> http://www.hitachi.co.jp/Div/ise/pdevice/igbt/index-e.htm
>
> http://www.hitachi.co.jp/Div/ise/pdevice/igbt/d-igbt/1200d33c.pdf
>
> switches 3300 volts at 1500 amps with 6 volts of CE drop...  If one were
to
> put 8 in series to run a 21kV firing voltage, you would get about 48 volts
> drop or 48 x 21000 = 1008000 watts (i) of instantaneous power loss.  But
> the system power is 1500 x 21000 = 31500000 watts (i)
>
> So the switching would near 97% efficiency!!!!!  A far cry from our ~50%
> spark gaps.  The reverse diode is almost twice as good!!!  It boggles the
> mind to think what silent (or very quiet), cold running, solid state
> primary gaps could do!!!!
>
> The technology really is here now but the cost are still too high.  But
> they are getting cheaper every day. :-))  I am note sure how much the
> MBN1200D33C sells for but I bet they are a few hundred at least...  But
> there is lots of competition :-)))  I am surprised so much has changed in
> the last year!
>
> A nice high power/voltage (like 5MVA :-)) IGBT application note is at:
>
> http://www.hitachi.co.jp/Div/ise/pdevice/apl/igbt-aple.pdf
>
> Cheers,
>
> Terry
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