Robust and inexpensive HV switch for discharge applications and for the generation of damped sinusoidal oscillations in connection with fast high voltage FDA free-wheeling diodes
High peak current capability
Extremely high di/dt without compromises in reliability and life expectancy due to a large number of single SCR’s with individual gate drive
Very overload tolerant
Easy firing by a simple TTL trigger pulse (2-5 V)
Very compact and light weight
Various cooling options
Note: Unlike classical disc thyristor switches with very limited dv/dt and di/dt capabilities, the fast Behlke thyristor switching modules are made of a very large number of smaller thyristor dies (type depending up to 1000 single thyristors), connected in parallel and in series, so that the extreme dv/dt and di/dt is efficiently splitted to uncritical values for the the single thyristors. Every single thyristor is fired by its own highly synchronized and isolated gate driver. This makes a very short gate wiring possible and avoids so the dangerous hot spots known from classical thyristor switch designs. Behlke thyristor switches can safely be operated at the highest physically possible di/dt and dv/dt rates and at the highest possible peak currents without any measurable descent of the life expectancy. Behlke thyristor switches are truly gate controlled and do not draw firing energy from the high voltage load circuit. This allows a safe switching from almost 0 V (sufficient snap-in current provided) to the maximum operating voltage without any restriction. The switches are isolated for at least 150% of the maximum operating voltage, so that high-side switching applications can be realized without big effort. In order to save costs and built volume, especially in low side switch applications (e.g. crowbar circuits), all Behlke thyristor switches can also be made with an optionally available asymetrical isolation, e.g. 200 kV for the plus pole and 30 kV for the minus pole. Special isolation voltage requirements can be fulfilled by customized isolation voltage ratings for every thyristor switch model regardless to its operating voltage. The "regular" isolation voltage options range from 40 kV to 200 kV (option ISO-40, ISO-80, ISO-120 and ISO-200). An individual "medical certification" according to the European safety standards is available on request. In order to connect several Behlke thyristor switches in parallel, they are equipped with a synchronization I/O. This synchronization I/O ensures the synchron firing and inhibits the trigger input of the other switching modules, if one switch is off due to a fault condition, e.g. due to over-temperature. All Behlke thyristor switches are optionally available with a grounded cooling flange (option GCF), with nickel plated copper cooling fins (option CF), with CHARThite cooling fins (option CF-GRA), with ceramic cooling fins (option CF-CER), with water cooling (option ILC), direct liquid cooling for non-conductive coolants (option DLC) or with ceramic cooling surface (option CSS).
