Chapter 19 - IGBT Applications: Other

Abstract

The insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is being used for a large variety of applications that do not fit into the previous chapters. Smart homes are being enabled with improved communication systems and power management using IGBTs. The IGBT is used to control heating in printing and copying machines to fix the toner. Inductive power transfer systems using IGBTs are used for stage lighting and embedded electric vehicle chargers. The power supply for airport security scanners uses IGBTs to regulate the x-ray tube voltage for high-quality imaging. Pulse power supplies utilize IGBTs to generate very high voltages for ion implantation and particle accelerators. The European Council for Nuclear Research Large Hadron Collider uses IGBTs for the bumper magnets in the Low Energy Ion Ring. The IGBT is used to generate high electric fields for sterilization of food and for treatment of water. The desalination of water is performed using IGBT-based motor drives. They are used in power supplies for heating the oil pipes during extraction of petroleum from the ground. Standby power generators used in emergencies use IGBTs in their inverters. NASA has made use of IGBTs for the space shuttle main engine thrust control, the orbital maneuvering system, and power distribution network. It is used for the many DC–DC converters and DC–AC inverters inside the International Space Station.