What is IGBT，briefly speaking
2024-11-13 11:38:10
IGBT stands for "Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor".
It is the core device for electrical energy conversion, transmission, and control in electrical equipment. Using IGBT for power conversion can improve the efficiency and quality of electricity consumption. It has the characteristics of high efficiency, energy savings, and green environmental protection. It is a key supporting technology to solve the problem of energy shortages and reduce carbon emissions.
In the 1980s, B. Jayant Baliga, who was working at General Electric Company, invented the IGBT in order to solve the increasingly pressing problem of motor drive efficiency at the time.
Around 1985, the first high-quality product was successfully launched and was soon used in lighting, home appliances, medical equipment, and other products. After decades of continuous application and improvement, IGBTs have now become the most important in the field of electronic power switching devices.
With the continuous development of technology, IGBT has been developed to the seventh generation, and the mainstream products on the market are the fourth-generation products.
IGBT is a fully controlled voltage-driven power semiconductor device composed of a BJT (Bipolar Junction Transistor) and a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor).
Internal structure, equivalent circuit, and component symbols of the IGBT
The IGBT uses the gate area of the MOSFET to control the bipolar current in the BJT device, combining the advantages of the high input impedance of the MOSFET and the low conduction voltage drop of the BJT.
As a high-speed switching device, IGBT has the characteristics of low conduction voltage drop, high withstand voltage, and fast switching.
As a power device, compared to MOS tubes, IGBT is more suitable for working scenarios with high voltage (above 600 V), high current (above 10 A), and lower frequency (1–20 kHz).
1. According to the packaging method
(1) IGBT single tube: generally refers to the packaging of a single IGBT chip. The current is usually below 50 A and is suitable for consumer, industrial, home appliance field, etc. 
(2) IGBT module: It is also the most common form and is composed of multiple IGBT chips, drive circuits, protection circuits, radiators, connectors, shells, etc. into a module. It has greater power and stronger heat dissipation capacity and is suitable for high-voltage and high-power fields, such as new energy vehicles, photovoltaics, high-speed rail, etc.
Production process of the IGBT module
Internal structure of the IGBT module
2. According to the voltage level
(1) Low-voltage IGBT: refers to IGBT devices with a voltage level of less than 1000 V, such as the common 650 V used in home appliances, new energy vehicles, industrial frequency conversion, and other fields.
(2) Medium voltage IGBT: refers to IGBT devices with voltage levels in the range of 1000-1700V. For example, 1200V is used in photovoltaics, induction cookers, inverter welding machines, UPS power supply，home appliances, industrial inverters, and new energy vehicles, and 1700V is used in photovoltaic and wind power fields.
(3) High-voltage IGBT: refers to IGBT devices with voltage levels of 3300 V and above. For example, 3300V and 6500V are used in high-speed trains, high-speed rail, smart grids, and industrial motors.
Wide range of IGBT applications
Foreign countries: Infineon, Fuji Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, Semikron, onsemi, Toshiba, and STMicroelectronics
China: BYD, STARPOWER, CRRC, Silan, CR MICRO, YJ, MACMIC, and NCEPOWER
1. With the guidance of national policies, fields such as new energy, energy conservation, and environmental protection are becoming the key development directions of the power electronics market.
2. The rapid development of emerging technologies such as 5G and the Internet of Things will drive technological innovation and product upgrades in the power electronics industry.
3. With the transformation and upgrading of the domestic economic structure, the demand for high-value-added power electronic products will continue to grow.Tags:
2000+
30,000,000
2800+
15,000 ㎡
