Broadcom: Solid-State PV Relays for Leakage Current Monitoring and Load Switching

Online, On Demand

Overview

Inrush current prevention and insulation resistance measurement are key parts of protection circuitry used in the high voltage inverter systems found in industrial motor and power generation systems. Within these systems, photovoltaic MOSFET relays offer key advantages over traditional mechanical relays, with their fast turn on and turn off speed, high operating temperature, compact size and compliance to regulatory standards.

In many industrial applications using servos and inverters, MOSFET load switching is used either in protection circuitry or general high voltage load switching. These MOSFETs can be driven by photovoltaic drivers such as the new ACPL-K308U. Alternatively, customers can choose an integrated solution in which both the photovoltaic driver and the MOSFET are combined together in a compact package as in the ASSR-601J.

Insulation resistance measurement is used to detect the leakage current between equipment chassis and system ground, for example in transformer-less solar inverter systems or other types of battery management systems. In the case of a solar panel array, these systems are usually not grounded, leading to DC leakage current between the individual solar panel and the ground. To avoid electric shocks, it is important to measure the system insulation resistance to a predefined level and then feedback this signal to the controller to safely shut down the system if needed.
We will talk about the basics of both photovoltaic drivers and photo-MOSFET relays and the Broadcom portfolio summarizing key features, benefits and target applications.

In addition we will highlight the key advantages of photo-MOSFET relays over electronic mechanical relays.

Key Takeaways:

• Discover the key advantages of photo-MOSFETs versus electronic mechanical relays (EMRs)
• Learn the basics and benefits of Broadcom Photo MOSFET solutions
• Identify the different applications in which leakage current monitoring and load switching is required

Speaker 

Saeed Safari, Field Application Engineer, Industrial Products, Broadcom Inc.

Safari has been a field application engineer for industrial products (e.g., isolators, encoders, fiber optics) at Broadcom since 2017. He has been instrumental in setting many new designs and initiatives that helped grow Broadcom's industrial product business in Europe. His power electronics experience includes the design of direct SiC AC/AC converters for power distribution networks, and DC/DC and AC/DC power electronic converters for the automotive industry. Safari holds a Ph.D. in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Nottingham, U.K.

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