Surging
Ideas
TVS Diode Application Note
PROTECTION PRODUCTS
Calculating Transient Energy
This application note explains how to calculate the
transient energy which is
absorbed
by a suppression
element. An approximation technique is employed for
transient current impulse waveforms, assuming the
clamping voltage is almost constant during the surge
impulse.
In the case of transients which are internal to the
circuit, such as those created by inductive switching,
the energy of the transient waveform may be readily
calculated. Transients which are external to the circuit
are more difficult to quantify. In this case an approxi-
mation technique may then be used to estimate the
energy which is absorbed by the suppression element.
The energy which is absorbed by the suppression
device is given by:
tp
SI97-02
E=
鈭?/div>
VcIpdt
0
= KV
C
L
P
t
P
Where
E = Energy (Joules)
Vc = Clamping Voltage (Volts)
Ip = Peak Pulse Surge Current (Amps)
tp = Impulse Duration
K = Constant
K values for the most common surge current wave-
forms are given in Figure 1. For complex waveforms
such as a double exponential impulse, the waveform
may be divided into two parts to calculate the total
energy.
Example Calculation
A typical waveform representative of lightning induced
transients is shown in Figure 2. It is a 10/1000碌s
double exponential impulse as defined by Bellcore
1089. To calculate the energy absorbed by an LC01-6
first divide the waveform into two parts with part 1
being the section of the waveform from 0 to 10碌s and
part two the section from the peak to 1000碌s (the
50% decay point). From the LC01-6 data sheet, the
maximum clamping voltage at 100A is 15V.
Therefore:
Part 1 : E1 = KVcIptp = 0.5*15*100*10x10
-6
= 7.5mJ
Part 2 : E2 = KVcIptp = 1.4*15*100*1x10
-3
= 2.1J
E = E1 + E2 = .0075 + 2.1 = 2.11J
Revision 9/2000
1
Figure 1 - Energy Waveforms/Form Factor Constants
Figure 2 - Double Exponential Impulse
Waveform
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