Novel 13.5 kV Multichip Thyristor with an Enhanced DI/DT for Various Pulsed Power Applications

Starting with the 4.5 kV fast switching thyristor 5SPYY 4500L from ABB Semiconductor [1] a novel highly compact multichip device has been developed in collaboration between ISL and ABB Switzerland. This device consists of three switching wafers and one diode wafer stacked in series and assembled in one housing. The blocking capability of the multichip thyristor is 13.5 kV and the maximum pulsed current is higher than 120 kA. A detailed electrical characterisation of the device will be given in the paper. Based on this multichip device a pulsed power supply unit has been designed in a very compact manner. This unit consists of a high energy density 50 kJ-capacitor, the novel multichip thyristor as a closing switch, a multichip diode as a crowbar switch and a coaxial cable serving as a connector to the load. Due to the application of multichip devices and due to a very sophisticated design the size of the realized pulsed power supply is much smaller than that of similar units known today [2]. The electrical behaviour of this ultra compact pulsed power supply module with its extremely reduced overall height will be presented. Finally some applications for the multichip switches and the complete pulsed power supply unit will be discussed.