IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) and MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors) are power electronic devices used in various applications, including inverters and UPSs. However, some critical differences between the two devices make them better suited for different applications
IGBTs
- Advantages:
- High current handling capability
- Low on-state voltage drop
- Good thermal performance
- Robust construction
- Disadvantages:
- High switching losses
- Slow switching speed
MOSFETs
- Advantages:
- Low switching losses
- Fast switching speed
- Small size
- Disadvantages:
- Lower current handling capability
- Higher on-state voltage drop
- Poor thermal performance
Applications
- IGBTs: IGBTs are typically used in applications where high current handling capability and low on-state voltage drop are essential, such as heavy Duty inverters/UPSs. They are also used in applications requiring high thermal performance, such as electric vehicles and industrial drives.
- In the 5KVA and above capacity inverter/UPS category, the reliability of the Inverter/UPS will be more compared to the MOSFET-based Inverter/UPS.
- MOSFETs: MOSFETs are typically used in applications with low switching losses and fast switching speeds, such as switching power supplies and motor control, which are essential. They are also used in applications where small size is essential, such as Inverter/UPS having 100VA to 4 KVA to be safer.
In inverter/UPS manufacturing
IGBTs are the preferred choice for inverter and UPS manufacturing because they offer a good balance of performance and cost.
They have high current handling capability, low on-state voltage drop, and good thermal performance.
This makes them ideal for high-power and efficient applications, like Heavy Duty UPS and online UPS.
MOSFETs can also be used in inverter and UPS manufacturing having a small capacity of up to 4KVA. This is because MOSFETs have lower current handling capability and higher on-state voltage drop than IGBTs. However, MOSFETs have lower switching losses and faster switching speeds than IGBTs. This makes them ideal for applications where a high switching frequency is required, especially in High-frequency inverters/UPS
Ultimately, whether to use IGBTs or MOSFETs in inverter and UPS manufacturing depends on the application’s specific requirements. If high power and efficiency are required, then IGBTs are preferred. MOSFETs may be a better option if a low capacity inverter/UPS to maufacture.