PRE-LAB

1. IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) are often preferred over MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-
Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors) in power devices for several reasons:
ADVANTAGES EXPLANATION
Higher Current and IGBTs can handle higher currents and voltages compared to MOSFETs,
Voltage Handling: making them suitable for high-power applications.

Low Saturation Voltage: IGBTs have a lower saturation voltage drop compared to MOSFETs,
resulting in lower power losses and higher efficiency.
Better Thermal Stability: IGBTs typically exhibit better thermal stability under high-power
operation compared to MOSFETs.
Simpler Drive Circuitry: IGBTs require simpler drive circuitry compared to MOSFETs, reducing
control complexity.
Cost-Effectiveness : In many cases, IGBTs offer a cost-effective solution for high-power
applications compared to MOSFETs.

2. Feedback diodes are paired with each IGBT in an inverter for freewheeling or anti-parallel diode
operation. This is necessary because during the switching of the IGBT, it creates a path for the flow of
current in one direction, but when the IGBT turns off, the current needs a path to flow in the opposite
direction. The diode allows this current to continue circulating through the load without interruption,
ensuring smooth operation and minimizing voltage spikes. This pairing is applied in all circumstances
where IGBTs are used in inverter circuits, particularly in applications like motor drives, uninterruptible
power supplies (UPS), and renewable energy systems.

3. Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) techniques are applied in inverters to control the output voltage by
varying the width of the pulses applied to the switching devices (such as IGBTs or MOSFETs). The
purpose of applying PWM in inverters is to:

Regulate Output Voltage: PWM allows precise control of the output voltage, enabling the generation
of sinusoidal or quasi-sinusoidal waveforms necessary for driving AC loads.
Reduce Harmonic Distortion: By adjusting the pulse width, PWM techniques can minimize harmonic
distortion in the output waveform, improving the quality of power delivered to the load.
Enhance Efficiency: PWM control enables the inverter to operate at optimal efficiency by minimizing
switching losses and maximizing power transfer to the load.
Enable Voltage Regulation: PWM facilitates voltage regulation, ensuring stable output voltage under
varying load conditions.
4. Dead time typically occurs during the switching transitions of the inverter, where both the high-side
and low-side switches (IGBTs or MOSFETs) are turned off to prevent shoot-through current, which can
damage the devices. Dead time is necessary to ensure that both switches are not conducting
simultaneously. One method to deal with the dead-time issue is to implement a dead-time
compensation technique, where a small delay is introduced in the control signals to ensure that the
dead time is effectively accounted for. This can be achieved through software-based control
algorithms or hardware-based delay circuits.