Electro-Thermal interaction in modern power devices: modeling, simulation and experimental analysis

Abstract

Electro-thermal interaction in power devices is thoroughly analyzed. An accurate compact model has been developed for simulating electrical behavior of IGBT, one of the most important modern power device. This model, in conjunction with a three-dimensional thermal simulator, has been employed in an electro-thermal simulator for multi-cellular power devices. This simulator is suitable for short-circuit and dynamic avalanche applications. After the verification of tool capability, important results regarding electro-thermal instability have been carried out. Electrical and Infrared thermal characterization of power devices has also been addressed, namely the design and realization of two advanced measurement systems for characterization of power devices in switching condition on inductive load (clamped and unclamped cases).