Power Avalanche Diodes – Series Overview, Specifications, Datasheets

What is Power Avalanche Diode?

Avalanche diodes differ from standard rectifier diodes in that avalanche diode operation is possible in avalanche breakdown mode. Such diodes have controlled avalanche formation.

Typically, an avalanche diode is characterized by the value of breakdown voltage V_BR, that describes the minimum value of the start of avalanche breakdown.

The avalanche diode is also characterized by the breakdown energy parameters: the maximum permissible shock peak power dissipation P_RSM and/or the energy loss during avalanche breakdown.

Avalanche diodes are allowed to operate for a long time interval in the area of electric avalanche breakdown on the reverse branch of the current-voltage curve:

The essence of avalanche formation is that when a diode is subjected to a reverse voltage greater than the breakdown voltage, the reverse current increases very rapidly.

In a standard non avalanche diode, current is concentrated at individual points of the p-n junction and a local thermal breakdown occurs - a standard rectifier diode fails.

In an avalanche diode, the reverse current is evenly distributed across the surface of the p-n junction, due to which the diode is able to dissipate a power pulse.

Thus, avalanche diodes are effectively used to protect electric circuits from pulse voltage overloads.

Power Rectifier Avalanche Diodes are typically used in various power rectifiers, such as welding and electroplating equipment, uncontrolled or semi-controlled rectifier bridges, to prevent the detrimental effects of switching overvoltages.

All disk-type (capsule type) avalanche diodes presented on this site have a standard press-pack type ceramic housing. They are pressed with a relatively high force into heat-sinks which also serve as electrical contacts to the diode terminals.

Avalanche diodes available on AS ENERGI^TM website have the following parameter ranges: the forward current rating I_FAV ranges from 320A to 5000A, and the range of reverse blocking voltage V_RRM is from 400V to 6000V.

Today, Power Avalanche Diodes are a key component in high-power rectifiers, soft starter, power supplies, AC/DC switching, aluminum smelting and other metal refining as well as trackside supply.

See also articles: Standard Rectifier Diodes, Phase Control Thyristors (PCT), Fast Thyristors, Fast Switching Thyristors, Thyristor Modules – Series Overview.

Series of Power Avalanche Diodes:

Avalanche Diodes DL series AS ENERGI^TM

Power Avalanche Diodes DL series AS ENERGI^TM are available with forward current I_FAV ratings from 320A to 5000A and reverse blocking voltages V_RRM from 400V to 6000V.

Features of avalanche diodes: low on-state voltage, self protected against transient over-voltages; guaranteed maximum avalanche power dissipation.

Type	IF(AV)M (TC, °C)	VRRM	IFRMS	IFSM	I2t	VF0	rF	Tvj max	Rth(j-c)	Fm	W	Package	Dimensions ØDxØdxH	Data sheet
	A (°C)	V	A	kA	kA2·s	V	mΩ	°C	°C/W	kN	kg		mm	PDF
DL123-320	320 (113)	400-1600	770	5.5	151	0.90	0.830	150	0.075	5-7	0.07	PD21	42x19x14
DL133-500	500 (113)	400-1600	785	12	720	0.85	0.410	150	0.040	9-11	0.18	PD32	54x33x20
DL233-500	500 (110)	1000-2400	785	12	720	0.89	0.350	160	0.036	9-11	0.18	PD32	54x33x20
DL333-500	500 (123)	1000-1800	785	12	720	0.87	0.366	150	0.040	9-11	0.18	PD32	54x33x20
DL243-500	500 (120)	2000-2800	785	13	845	1.00	0.800	150	0.027	14-16	0.24	PD42	60x37x20
DL243-630	760 (110)	3600-4400	1190	9	405	1.10	0.700	160	0.027	14-16	0.24	PD42	60x37x20
DL243-800	880 (110)	2800-3400	1380	11	605	1.00	0.500	160	0.027	14-16	0.24	PD42	60x37x20
DL243-1000	1100 (110)	2000-2600	1727	14	980	0.85	0.300	160	0.027	14-16	0.24	PD42	60x37x20
DL343-630	630 (100)	2800-3600	989	12	720	1.00	1.070	150	0.027	14-16	0.24	PD42	60x37x20
DL153-800	800 (90)	4400-6000	1256	12	720	1.31	0.740	150	0.020	22-26	0.55	PD53	75x50x26
DL153-1000	1000 (100)	3800-5000	2500	18	1620	1.30	0.540	175	0.020	22-26	0.55	PD53	75x50x26
DL153-1250	1250 (115)	2200-3200	2095	26	3380	1.10	0.350	175	0.020	22-26	0.55	PD53	75x50x26
DL153-1600	1600 (100)	2200-3200	2515	27	3645	0.95	0.320	175	0.020	22-26	0.55	PD53	75x50x26
DL153-2000	2000 (100)	1600-2000	3140	30	4500	1.00	0.030	175	0.020	22-26	0.55	PD53	75x50x26
DL253-1250	1250 (100)	3200-4500	1962	28	3920	1.32	0.440	175	0.018	22-26	0.55	PD53	75x50x26
DL253-1600	1600 (110)	2200-3600	2500	32	5120	0.90	0.189	175	0.018	22-26	0.55	PD53	75x50x26
DL253-2000	2000 (101)	1000-1800	3140	30	4500	0.95	0.220	175	0.018	22-26	0.55	PD53	75x50x26
DL253-2500	2500 (100)	1600-2800	-	36	-	0.88	0.130	175	0.018	22-26	0.55	PD53	75x50x26
DL353-1600	1600 (100)	2200-3400	2512	26	3300	1.05	0.330	175	0.018	22-26	0.55	PD53	75x50x26
DL553-1600	1600 (85)	2800-4200	2512	30	13000	0.92	0.210	160	0.018	22-26	0.60	PD53	75x50x26
DL553-2000	2000 (85)	1600-3800	3140	33	13000	0.84	0.170	160	0.018	22-26	0.60	PD53	75x50x26
DL553-2500	2500 (85)	1600-3600	3925	36	13000	0.80	0.110	160	0.018	22-26	0.60	PD53	75x50x26
DL653-2000	2000 (85)	3400-3800	3140	33	13000	1.00	0.175	160	0.018	24-28	0.80	PD54	75x51x35
DL653-2500	2500 (85)	3400-3600	3925	36.3	13000	0.96	0.110	160	0.018	24-28	0.85	PD54	75x51x35
DL563-3200	3200 (100)	1800-3400	5024	46	20000	0.88	0.093	160	0.013	27-33	0.71	PD63	87x60x26
DL173-2500	2500 (103)	3200-4400	3925	40	8000	1.35	0.205	175	0.011	40-50	1.2	PD73	107x75x26
DL173-3200	3200 (100)	2400-3200	5000	45	10125	1.10	0.124	175	0.011	40-50	1.2	PD73	107x75x26
DL173-4000	3860 (100)	1600-2400	6060	50	12500	1.00	0.080	175	0.011	40-50	1.2	PD73	107x75x26
DL173-5000	5000 (84)	1000-1800	7850	60	18000	0.60	0.125	175	0.0085	40-50	1.5	D.F3	107x80x26
DL273-3200	3200 (103)	3000-3600	5024	42	8800	1.05	0.200	175	0.0085	40-50	1.5	D.F3	107x80x26
DL573-3200	3200 (100)	2400-3800	5024	40	25000	0.90	0.110	160	0.010	45-50	1.3	PD73	107x75x26
DL573-4000	4000 (100)	1600-3800	6280	50	25000	0.87	0.090	160	0.010	45-50	1.3	PD73	107x75x26
DL573-5000	5000 (100)	1200-1800	7850	60	25000	0.80	0.045	160	0.010	45-50	1.3	PD73	107x75x26
DL673-3200	3200 (100)	3400-3800	5024	40	25000	0.90	0.110	160	0.011	45-50	1.62	PD74	107x75x35
DL673-4000	4000 (100)	3400-3800	6280	50	25000	0.87	0.090	160	0.011	45-50	1.62	PD74	107x75x35

Avalanche Diodes ABB Power Grids (Hitachi Energy)

Avalanche Diodes 5SDD series ABB Power Grids (Hitachi Energy) are available with forward current I_FAV ratings from 600A to 2700A and reverse blocking voltages V_RRM from 1100V to 5000V.

Features of avalanche diodes: low on-state voltage, avalanche reverse characteristics, high operational reliability, suitable for parallel operation.

Type	IF(AV)M (TC=85°C)	VRRM	IFSM	VF0	rF	PRSM	Tvj max	Rth(j-c)	Rth(c-h)	Fm ±10%	Package	Replacement AS ENERGITM	Data sheet
	A	V	kA	V	mΩ	kW	ºC	K/kW	K/kW	kN			PDF
5SDA 06D3807	690	3800	7.0	1.10	1.01	50	160	40	10	11	D	ADA 600-38-D-07
5SDA 06D4407		4400										ADA 600-44-D-07
5SDA 06D5007		5000										ADA 600-50-D-07
5SDA 07D3206	790	3200	7.6	1.01	0.72	50	160	40	10	11	D	ADA 700-32-D-06
5SDA 07D3806		3800										ADA 700-38-D-06
5SDA 08D2905	910	2900	9.2	0.93	0.52	50	160	40	10	11	D	ADA 800-29-D-05
5SDA 08D3205		3200										ADA 800-32-D-05
5SDA 09D2004	1020	2000	11.5	0.87	0.39	50	160	40	10	11	D	ADA 900-20-D-04
5SDA 09D2304		2300										ADA 900-23-D-04
5SDA 09D2604		2600										ADA 900-26-D-04
5SDA 10D1703	1140	1700	13.5	0.83	0.30	50	160	40	10	11	D	ADA 1000-17-D-03
5SDA 10D2003		2000										ADA 1000-20-D-03
5SDA 10D2303		2300										ADA 1000-23-D-03
5SDA 11D1102	1310	1100	15.0	0.74	0.25	50	160	40	10	11	D	ADA 1100-11-D-02
5SDA 11D1402		1400										ADA 1100-14-D-02
5SDA 11D1702		1700										ADA 1100-17-D-02
5SDA 14F3807	1410	3800	17.5	1.13	0.44	50	160	20	5	22	F	ADA 1400-38-F-07
5SDA 14F4407		4400										ADA 1400-44-F-07
5SDA 14F5007		5000										ADA 1400-50-F-07
5SDA 16F3206	1620	3200	20.5	1.03	0.32	50	160	20	5	22	F	ADA 1600-32-F-06
5SDA 16F3806		3800										ADA 1600-38-F-06
5SDA 19F2905	1870	2900	23.5	0.95	0.23	75	160	20	5	22	F	ADA 1900-29-F-05
5SDA 19F3205		3200										ADA 1900-32-F-05
5SDA 21F2604	2110	2600	26.0	0.89	0.17	75	160	20	5	22	F	ADA 2100-26-F-04
5SDA 21F2904		2900										ADA 2100-29-F-04
5SDA 21F3204		3200										ADA 2100-32-F-04
5SDA 24F1703	2350	1700	29.0	0.84	0.13	75	160	20	5	22	F	ADA 2400-17-F-03
5SDA 24F2003		2000										ADA 2400-20-F-03
5SDA 24F2303		2300										ADA 2400-23-F-03
5SDA 27F1402	2700	1400	31.0	0.79	0.09	100	160	20	5	22	F	ADA 2700-14-F-02
5SDA 27F1702		1700										ADA 2700-17-F-02
5SDA 27F2002		2000										ADA 2700-20-F-02

Air-cooled and Water-cooled heat-sinks for disc type rectifier diodes

The operation of semiconductor devices at high currents and high reverse voltages is accompanied by high power in the p-n junction of the silicon chip.

Air and water heat sinks are used for cooling power rectifier diodes.

The heat sink is characterized by the value of power dissipation and the area of the cooling surface and is selected on the basis of the required heat dissipation at the operating power of the diode.

In disk-type rectifier diodes, the necessary compression of the press contacts is provided only if they are assembled with heatsinks.

To keep electrical losses to a minimum and heat dissipation to a maximum, the necessary clamping force Fm must be provided during assembly.

Range of values of axial force on diode Fm, i.e. diode compression force, is from 10 to 100 kN depending on package diameter (housing type) and is specified in datasheet.

Heatsinks are used for disc (tablet type) semiconductors with сontact surface diameter from Ø19 mm to Ø100 mm.

See for more information about heatsinks for disc type rectifier diodes:
"Air-cooled heatsinks O series", "Air heatsink SF series", "Water heatsink SS series".

Installation recommendations for disc type power rectifier diodes:

The reliability of heat transfer and electrical contact between the mating surfaces of the diode and the cooler over the entire temperature range is ensured by appropriate torque (clamping force).

Before assembly you should perform visual inspection (1) contact surfaces for mechanical damages and wipe (2), soaked with alcohol (toluene, gasoline, acetone).

After inspection, fix the current contacts (leads), install a pin to fix the alignment of the structure.

To improve the parameters of heat transfer it is recommended to lubricate (3) a thin layer of silicone thermal conductive paste before the assembly, which is not a mandatory condition for installation.

Install the diode (3), the second part of the cooler, the fiberglass insulator and the thrust washer.

To thread the traverse (4) and evenly tighten the nuts. Make sure no misalignment and evenness of the contact surfaces.

When the parts are sufficiently clamped but moveable, we recommend placing the cooler on a flat surface and checking the tolerance for parallelism of the overall adjacent plane of the surfaces (5).

Clamp each nut in turn (about a quarter turn) to the stop (6). The amount of deflection of the traverse determines whether the achieved clamping force corresponds to the required one.

After installation, the fasteners (nuts and washers) must be additionally secured against corrosion.

Tips and recommendations for power diodes:

The power diodes should not be operated for long periods of time at their limit load for all parameters. In this case, the safety factor is determined by the required degree of reliability of the device.

Replace a failed power diode with a diode that matches the parameters of the one being replaced.

Supercooling must be provided when operating in an environment with an elevated ambient temperature.

Periodic cleaning of power diodes and coolers to remove dust and contaminants is recommended to ensure proper heat dissipation.

Inductive current dividers (often twisted toroidal wire) should be used to equalize currents between power diodes connected in parallel. The most popular connection methods are closed circuit, common coil circuit, or power diode. The efficiency of current dividers in this case is determined by the cross section of the magnetic wire.

Prevention of voltage unbalance when power diodes are connected in series is achieved by using shunt resistors connected in parallel with each diode. Voltage equalization in transient conditions is provided by connecting capacitors in parallel to each diode.

It is strictly forbidden to touch power diodes under high voltage during operation.