Thyristor

Thyristor using NPN and PNP transistors

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Libraries:
Simscape / Electrical / Semiconductors & Converters

Description

The Thyristor block provides two ways of modeling a thyristor:

• As an equivalent circuit based on NPN and PNP bipolar transistors

• By a lookup table approximation to the on-state I-V (current-voltage) curve

Representation by Equivalent Circuit

The equivalent circuit contains a pair of NPN and PNP bipolar transistors, as shown in the following illustration.

The P-N-P-N structure of a thyristor is matched by the P-N-P and N-P-N structures of the bipolar transistors, the base of each device being connected to the collector of the other device. To ensure that this circuit behaves like a thyristor, it is necessary to pick suitable parameter values of the NPN and PNP devices, plus external resistors. For example, for the circuit to latch into the on-state, once triggered by a suitable gate current, the total gain of the two transistors must be greater than one. This model structure replicates the behavior of a thyristor in typical application circuits, while at the same time presenting a minimum number of equations to the solver, to improve simulation speed.

Note

It is extremely important that you parameterize the thyristor component correctly before using it in your model. To help you do this, there are two test harnesses in the Simscape™ Electrical™ examples, Thyristor Static Behavior Validation and Thyristor Dynamic Behavior Validation. Follow the help text for these two examples, plus a datasheet for your device, to re-parameterize the thyristor component so that it replicates the required behavior. You can then copy the parameterized component into your model. Take care to model the gate drive circuitry correctly, including circuit series resistance. Connecting a controlled voltage source directly to the thyristor gate gives nonphysical results because it clamps the gate to the cathode voltage when the gate demand is zero.

The model captures the following thyristor behaviors:

• Off-state currents, I_DRM and I_RRM. These are typically quoted for the maximum off-state voltages V_DRM and V_RRM. It is assumed, as is the case for most thyristors, that I_DRM = I_RRM and V_DRM = V_RRM.

• The gate trigger voltage is equal to the Corresponding gate voltage, V_GT parameter value when the gate current is equal to the Gate trigger current, I_GT parameter value.

• The thyristor latches on when the gate current is equal to the Gate trigger current, I_GT. The thyristor does not latch on until the gate current reaches this value. To ensure this is the case, you must set the Internal shunt resistor, Rs parameter correctly. If the resistance is too high, then the gate triggers before the gate current reaches i_GT. If the resistance is too small, then the gate does not trigger.

  You can determine the value of the internal shunt resistor Rs by running the simulation. To see how this can be done, refer to the Thyristor Static Behavior Validation example. Alternatively, if you are using the thyristor in a circuit where there is an external resistor R_GK connected from gate to cathode, then the effect of Rs is usually very small, and it can be set to inf.

• With the thyristor in the on-state, if the gate current is removed, the thyristor stays in the on-state, provided that the load current is higher than the holding current. You do not specify the holding current directly because its value is primarily determined by other block parameters.

  However, the holding current can be influenced by the Product of NPN and PNP forward current gains parameter on the Advanced tab. Reducing the gain increases the holding current.

• The on-state voltage is equal to the On-state voltage, V_T parameter value when the load current is equal to the On-state current, I_T parameter value. This is ensured by the R_on resistance value, which takes into account the voltage drop seen across the PNP and NPN devices.

• Triggering by rate of rise of off-state voltage. A rapid change in anode-cathode voltage induces a current in the base-collector capacitance terms. If this current is large enough, it triggers the thyristor into the on-state. The thyristor initialization routine calculates a suitable value for the base-collector capacitance, so that when the rate of change of voltage is equal to the Critical rate of rise of off-state voltage, dV/dt parameter value, the thyristor triggers on. This calculation is based on the approximation that the required current is v_GT / R_GK where R_GK is the gate-cathode resistance value used when quoting the critical dV/dt value.

• A nonzero gate-controlled turn-on time, primarily influenced by the NPN device forward transit time, TF. You either specify this parameter directly, or calculate an approximate value for TF from the turn-on time.

• A nonzero commuted turn-off time, primarily influenced by the PNP device forward transit time, TF. You can either specify this parameter directly, or set it to be equal to the forward transit time for the NPN transistor.

Resistors Gmin1 and Gmin2 improve numerical robustness at large forward and reverse voltages. Their values influence the off-state currents by no more than 1% at the maximum off-state forward and reverse voltages.

Note

Because this block implementation includes a charge model, you must model the impedance of the circuit driving the gate to obtain representative turn-on and turn-off dynamics. Therefore, if you are simplifying the gate drive circuit by representing it as a controlled voltage source, you must include a suitable series resistor between the voltage source and the gate.

Representation by Lookup Table

If using the lookup table representation, you provide tabulated values for anode-cathode current as a function of anode-cathode voltage when in the on state. The main advantages of using this option are simulation speed and ease of parameterization. To further simplify the underlying model, this representation does not model:

• Device triggering due to rate of rise of off-state voltage

• Commuted turn-off time

The turn-on delay is represented by an input gate-cathode capacitor, the value of which is calculated so that the delay between gate voltage rising and the device starting to turn on is equal to the value specified by the Turn-on delay time parameter. The turn-on rise time for the load current is implemented by ramping nonlinearly between zero and the current determined by on-state current-voltage profile over a time period specified by the value of the Turn-on rise time parameter. Note that the resulting turn-on current profile is an approximation to an actual device.

Thermal Port

You can expose the thermal port to model the effects of generated heat and device temperature. To expose the thermal port, set the Modeling option parameter to either:

• No thermal port — The block does not contain a thermal port and does not simulate heat generation in the device.

• Show thermal port — The block contains a thermal port that allows you to model the heat that conduction losses generate. For numerical efficiency, the thermal state does not affect the electrical behavior of the block.

For more information on using thermal ports and on the Thermal Port parameters, see Simulating Thermal Effects in Semiconductors.

Variables

To set the priority and initial target values for the block variables before simulation, use the Initial Targets section in the block dialog box or Property Inspector. For more information, see Set Priority and Initial Target for Block Variables.

Use nominal values to specify the expected magnitude of a variable in a model. Using system scaling based on nominal values increases the simulation robustness. Nominal values can come from different sources. One of these sources is the Nominal Values section in the block dialog box or Property Inspector. For more information, see System Scaling by Nominal Values.

Examples

Thyristor Static Behavior Validation

Validation of the static behavior of the Thyristor block against its mask values. Mask values are closely related to datasheet values, and the thyristor block uses these values to calculate the coefficients of the equations used to model it.

• Open Model

Thyristor Dynamic Behavior Validation

Validation of the dynamic behavior of the Thyristor block against its mask values. Mask values are closely related to datasheet values, and the Thyristor block uses these values to calculate the coefficients of the equations used to model it. Double-click on each of the test subsystems for further information on the tests.

• Open Model

Assumptions and Limitations

• This block does not model temperature-dependent effects. This block is simulated at the temperature specified by the Measurement temperature parameter value. All parameters must be quoted for this temperature.

• If you use the equivalent circuit representation:

  • In sensitive gate circuits (that is, where there is no external gate-cathode resistor R_GK), you must set the value of the Internal shunt resistor, Rs parameter to ensure correct triggering. If the internal shunt resistance is too high, then the thyristor triggers for currents less than i_GT. If the internal shunt resistance is too low, the thyristor does not trigger for an input current of i_GT. For details on using simulation to determine the acceptable internal shunt resistance value, see the Thyristor Static Behavior Validation example.

  • Triggering by exceeding the breakover voltage is not modeled.

  • Numerically the thyristor can be demanding to simulate, given the very small gate currents in comparison to the load current, and also the very steep current gradients during switching. However, for most typical thyristor-based circuits, you can use the default simulation parameters. In some cases you may need to tighten the Absolute Tolerance and Relative Tolerance parameters on the Solver tab of the Configuration Parameters dialog box, to ensure convergence. In such cases, changing the default value of Absolute Tolerance from auto to 1e-4 or 1e-5 is usually sufficient, because it prevents adaptive changing of this parameter during simulation.

  • The leakage currents are approximated by the diodes D1 and D2, as shown in the equivalent circuit. This approach assumes that the leakage via the two transistors is small in comparison. This assumption is not valid for values of v_GT that are significantly smaller than the typical forward voltage drop of 0.6 V.

• If you use the lookup table representation:

  • Triggering by exceeding the breakover voltage or by rate of change of off-state voltage is not modeled.

  • Commutated turn-off time is not modeled. Check that your circuit does not violate the stated commutated turn-off time for the thyristor.

  • When you specify a turn-on rise time, the resulting current-time profile is an approximation.

Ports

Conserving

G — Gate port

electrical

Electrical conserving port associated with the gate.

A — Anode port

electrical

Electrical conserving port associated with the anode.

K — Cathode port

electrical

Electrical conserving port associated with the cathode.

H — Thermal port

thermal

Thermal conserving port.

Dependencies

To enable this port, set Modeling option to Show thermal port.

Parameters

Modeling option — Whether to enable thermal port

No thermal port (default) | Show thermal port

Whether to enable the thermal port of the block and model the effects of generated heat and device temperature.

Main

I-V characteristics defined by — Thyristor representation

Fundamental nonlinear equations (default) | Lookup table

Represent the thyristor either by using an equivalent circuit based on NPN and PNP bipolar transistors or use a lookup table approximation to the on-state I-V curve.

On-state voltage, V_T — On-state Anode-Cathode static voltage

1.2 V (default)

The anode-cathode static voltage drop when in the on-state, and the current flowing is equal to the on-state current I_T.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter.

On-state current, I_T — On-state static load current

1 A (default)

Static load (or equivalently anode) current that flows when the anode-cathode voltage is equal to the on-state voltage V_T.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter.

Vector of on-state voltages, V_T — Vector of on-state voltages

[.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25] V (default)

The vector of on-state voltages, to be used for table lookup. The vector values must be strictly increasing, and the first value must be greater than zero. The values can be nonuniformly spaced.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Lookup table for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter.

Vector of corresponding currents, I_T — Vector of corresponding currents

[.015, .22, .75, 1.4, 2, 2.75, 3.45] A (default)

The vector of currents corresponding to the on-state voltages vector values, to be used for 1D table lookup. The two vectors must be of the same size.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Lookup table for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter.

Off-state current, I_DRM — Off-state anode current

0.01 mA (default)

The off-state anode current I_DRM that flows when the anode-cathode voltage is equal to the off-state voltage V_DRM.

Corresponding off-state voltage, V_DRM — Off-state anode-cathode voltage

400 V (default)

The anode-cathode voltage V_DRM applied with the thyristor in the off-state when quoting the off-state current I_DRM

Holding current — Holding current

1 mA (default)

This is the minimum current for which the thyristor remains in the on-state. For the Lookup table option, the latching current is assumed equal to the holding current, so this is also the maximum current for which the thyristor remains in the off-state.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Lookup table for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter.

Measurement temperature — Device simulation temperature

25 degC (default)

Device simulation temperature. You must specify all block parameter values for this temperature.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter.

Gate Triggering

Gate trigger current, I_GT — Critical gate current

3 uA (default)

Critical gate current i_GT required to turn the transistor on, resulting in a gate voltage equal to the corresponding gate voltage v_GT. You must set the value of the Internal shunt resistor, Rs parameter on the Advanced tab to ensure that the gate triggers at i_GT, and not for currents less that i_GT.

Corresponding gate voltage, V_GT — Gate-cathode voltage

0.6 V (default)

Gate-cathode voltage v_GT when the gate current is equal to the gate trigger current i_GT.

Test voltage, V_D — Test supply voltage

12 V (default)

Supply voltage used when quoting values for v_GT and i_GT.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter.

Test load resistor — Test load resistor

120 Ohm (default)

Load resistor used when quoting values for v_GT and i_GT.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter.

dV/dt Triggering

Critical rate of rise of off-state voltage, dV/dt — Critical rate of rise of off-state voltage

150 V/us (default)

If the anode-cathode voltage increases faster than this rate, the thyristor will experience a parasitic turn-on due to capacitive effects.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter.

Test gate-cathode resistor, R_GK — Test gate-cathode resistor

1000 Ohm (default)

Gate-cathode resistor used when quoting the critical rate of rise off off-state voltage.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter.

Time Constants

NPN device forward transit time parameterization — NPN device forward transit time parameterization

Derive approximate value from gate-controlled turn-on time (default) | Specify directly

Select one of the following options:

• Derive approximate value from gate-controlled turn-on time — The block calculates the NPN device forward transit time based on the values for the gate-controlled turn-on time and corresponding gate current that you specify.

• Specify directly — Provide the value directly by using the NPN device forward transit time parameter.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter.

Gate-controlled turn-on time — Gate-controlled turn-on time

2 us (default)

Time for the gate to turn from the off to the on state when a gate current is applied.

Corresponding gate current — Test gate current

10 mA (default)

The gate current used when quoting the gate-controlled turn-on time. The gate current and turn-on time are used to calculate an approximate value for the NPN device forward transit time on the assumption that all of the input charge is used to raise the gate voltage to the corresponding gate voltage v_GT. The default value is 10 mA.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter and Derive approximate value from gate-controlled turn-on time for NPN device forward transit time parameterization.

NPN device forward transit time — Mean forward transit time

0.3 us (default)

Mean time for the minority carriers to cross the base region from the emitter to the collector of the NPN device [1].

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter and Specify directly for NPN device forward transit time parameterization.

PNP device forward transit time parameterization — PNP device forward transit time parameterization

Set equal to NPN device forward transit time (default) | Specify directly

Select one of the following options:

• Set equal to NPN device forward transit time — The block uses the NPN device forward transit time value.

• Specify directly — Provide the value directly by using the PNP device forward transit time parameter.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter.

PNP device forward transit time — Mean forward transit time

0.3 us (default)

Mean time for the minority carriers to cross the base region from the emitter to the collector of the PNP device [1].

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by parameter and Specify directly for PNP device forward transit time parameterization.

Turn-on delay time — Time delay

0 s (default)

Time delay before the device starts to turn on following a step in current on the gate from zero to the value specified by the Gate current for turn-on delay time parameter.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Lookup table for the I-V characteristics defined by.

Gate current for turn-on delay time — Gate current for turn-on delay time

1 mA (default)

The gate current used when measuring the turn-on delay time.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Lookup table for the I-V characteristics defined by.

Turn-on rise time — Turn-on rise time

0 s (default)

Time it takes for the thyristor to turn on fully following the turn-on delay event.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Lookup table for the I-V characteristics defined by.

Advanced

Internal shunt resistor, Rs — Gate-Cathode shunt resistance

87 kOhm (default)

Gate-cathode shunt resistance. It is important to set this parameter value to ensure that the gate triggers at i_GT, and not for currents less that i_GT. For details, see the Thyristor Static Behavior Validation example. If you are using the thyristor in a circuit where there is an external gate-cathode resistor R_GK, then usually the effect of Rs is small, and it can be set to inf.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by.

Internal series gate resistor, Rg — Resistance associated with gate connection

10 Ohm (default)

Resistance associated with the gate connection. A typical value is of the order of a few ohms, and its impact on static and dynamic characteristics is small. Therefore, its precise value is not important, but its presence helps avoid numerical simulation issues if the gate is driven directly by a voltage source. You can specify any positive value.

Product of NPN and PNP forward current gains — Product of NPN and PNP forward current gains

10 (default)

This is the product of the NPN forward gain BF_NPN and the PNP forward gain BF_PNP. The value must be greater than one for latching to occur. The smaller the value, the larger the latching current becomes. However, latching current is primarily set by other block parameters, and the total gain has only a small effect.

Dependencies

This parameter is visible only when you select Fundamental nonlinear equations for the I-V characteristics defined by.

References

[1] G. Massobrio and P. Antognetti. Semiconductor Device Modeling with SPICE. 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, 1993.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced in R2010b

R2019b: Thermal network simlog paths

From R2019b forward, it is possible to model the thermal network of this block either internally or externally.

As a result, the simlog paths corresponding to the thermal network have changed. If you have a script that programmatically access the simlog, you have to manually update it to reflect these changes.