Diotec Semiconductor AG

Professional food service counters are equipped with remote cooling systems that use chillers driven by variable frequency drives to provide on-demand cooling and energy efficiency. The AC drive system consists of several key components, including an inverter stage, typically using IGBTs, a DC bus and an input rectifier. Refrigerated counters in large grocery stores can require several kilowatts (kW) of input power from a 400V three-phase supply. This is where our PW4516 power diode comes in.

While an inline three-phase bridge is not powerful enough for several kW, a power module is often too expensive (and oversized) for such a need. The PW4516 from Diotec Semiconductor is a 45A / 1600V power diode in a TO-247-2L package. Six of these parts, screwed or clamped to a heatsink, are used for a low-cost three-phase input capable of 15 kW or more. Forward voltage drop per diode is typically 1V at 45A, and reverse leakage is typically less than 1µA at 1600V, all at 25°C. Both help save energy during operation. And the forward surge current rating of 300 A at 10 ms provides ample safety margin for inrush currents during power-up.