University of Sargodha Department of Electrical Engineering & Technology

EXPERIMENT#02
STUDY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF POWER TRANSISTORS
Objective:
• To learn about power transistors and their operation

Theory:
Power transistors are devices that have controlled turn-on and turn-off characteristics.
These devices are used a switching device and are operated in the saturation region resulting in
low on-state voltage drop. They are turned on when a current signal is given to base or control
terminal. The transistor remains on so long as the control signal is present. The switching speed of
modern transistors is much higher than that of Thyristors and are used extensively in dc-dc and
dc-ac converters. However, their voltage and current ratings are lower than those of thyristors and
are therefore used in low to medium power applications.

Power transistors are classified as follows

• Bipolar junction transistors (BJTs)
• Metal-oxide semiconductor filed-effect transistors (MOSFETs)
• Insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs)

Power BJT:

Power BJT
Power BJT is a three-terminal device with very large current and power handling capacity and
offer high voltage resistance in off state. The construction of a power BJT is slightly different than
that of a normal logic transistor. It has an extra lightly doped (n-) region called as collector drift
region in addition to (base contact, emitter contact and collector contact with N, P and N region
depending upon the configuration of BJT). The inclusion of a lightly doped (n-) layer increases
the voltage blocking capacity of transistor which is needed is fast switching application in efficient
power control.

Types of BJT:
There are two types of power BJT as shown in the figure:

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Power and Industrial Electronics Lab
University of Sargodha Department of Electrical Engineering & Technology

Symbolic diagram for Transistor types

1. NPN transistor:
NPN transistors are the transistors in which base is positive and collector and emitter are both
negative. NPN transistors are more commonly used and preferred over PNP transistors.
2. PNP transistor:
PNP transistors are the transistors in which base is negative and collector and emitter are
positive

Note: An easy way to identify the difference between the two types is by the arrow that you can
see. The direction in which the arrow points is negative, and the other side is positive.

OPERATION:
To understand the operation of power BJT without stressing the brain much, think of BJT as two
diodes connected in series. Just like this.

Illustration of NPN and PNP transistor

Power BJT operates in four regions:
1. Cutoff region-Both BE, and CE junction must be reversed biased.
2. Active region-BE junction must be forward biased and CB reverse biased
3. Quasi-saturation region-Both forward biased.
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Power and Industrial Electronics Lab
University of Sargodha Department of Electrical Engineering & Technology

4. Hard-saturation region-Both forward biased.

NOTE: Quasi saturation region is a new region in Power BJT due to lightly doped (n-) drift region
as discussed earlier. If the BJT is to be operated in high switching frequency, they operate in this
region. It provides low resistance to voltage in on state than active region. Since it does not get
into deep saturation we can turn on and off power BJT very quickly. This feature is not found in
logic transistor, hence power BJT are the best suitable option for power control.

V-I characteristics of NPN transistor

In power handling and control purposes, power BJT are generally used in cutoff for off state and
quasi-saturation for on state to act as a switch. This switching is very quick that results in low
voltage drops which is desired characteristic for power electronics components.
APPLICATIONS OF POWER BJT
1. SMPS (Switch mode power supply) commonly used in computers.
2. Final audio amplifier in stereo systems.
3. Power amplifiers.
4. DC to AC inverters.
5. Relay and display drivers.
6. AC motor speed controllers.
7. Power control circuits.
CONCLUSION & COMMENTS:

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Power and Industrial Electronics Lab