Turn-off thyristor is a kind of power semiconductor device which is controlled by gate. GTO not only has the advantages of ordinary thyristor (high withstand voltage, large current, strong surge resistance and low price), but also has the advantages of GTR (strong self-turn-off ability, no need to turn off the circuit and convenient use). It is a high-power switching device for high voltage and large capacity occasions. It is widely used in electric locomotive inverter, dynamic reactive power compensation of power grid and high power DC chopper speed regulation.
Turn-off thyristor (GTO), also known as gate turn-off thyristor or gate thyristor, is a derivative device of thyristor. Its main feature is that the gate plus positive pulse signal triggers the lamp to turn on, and the gate plus negative pulse signal triggers the lamp to turn off, so it belongs to a fully controlled device.
The turn-off thyristor not only retains the characteristics of high withstand voltage and large current of ordinary unidirectional thyristor, but also has self-turn-off ability, short turn-off time, high working frequency and convenient use. It does not need complex commutation circuit, but it requires high pulse power of turn-off pulse signal and high rate of negative current rise at the gate. Turn-off thyristor is an ideal high-voltage and high-current switching device, which is widely used in chopping speed regulation, frequency conversion speed regulation, inverter power supply and other fields.