Advanced induction heating appliances using high-voltage GaN gate injection transistors

Abstract

Induction heating is a contactless highly-efficient technology with a major social and economic impact due to its benefits in terms of performance, efficiency, safety and control. In order to further develop this technology, advances in power conversion, digital control and magnetic component design are pursued. This paper proposes the use of GaN devices which perfectly matches the voltage and current levels required by home appliances. The recently developed high-voltage gate injection transistors are evaluated with promising results and, unlike other wide bandgap technologies, a potential cost-effective implementation.

Design of power converters for induction heating applications taking advantage of wide-bandgap semiconductors

“…However, several research papers have been published detailing megahertz converters using low-voltage GaN devices (Yamamoto et al , 2013, Sarnago et al , 2014c). With the development of high-voltage GaN devices, new design possibilities are opened and additional higher power/performance converters are under development (Niiyama, 2007, Niiyama et al , 2010, Sarnago et al , 2015a). As an example, Figure 3 shows a 1-MHz 1-kW converter for medical applications of induction heating.…”

Examining the Optimal Use of WBG Devices in Induction Cookers

“…Refs. [17][18][19] use GaN HEMT power switches and design full-flexi high-segment induction cooktops. Ref.…”

“…Ref. [19] implements GIT (Gate There are different research papers about WBG power semiconductors that show that WBG power semiconductors are applied to domestic and industrial induction heating applications. WBG power semiconductors are evaluated in different power electronic systems and compared with Si-based designs in [5], while Si-based switches are compared with WBG power switches in [6].…”

“…Ref. [19] implements GIT (Gate Injected Transistor) GaN HEMT technology in induction cookers at 2.2 kW power and 50 kHz-100 kHz switching frequencies.…”