Interpreting MOSFET Module Data Sheet: Is 530A Total or Per MOSFET?

I'm attempting to understand data sheet parameters.
For the data sheet attached, I'm assuming the current through each MOSFET is 265 A and through the entire module is 530 A?
Or Does each MOSFET in the module have 530A flowing through it under maximum operation?

Hello
I see that mosfets are connected in series, then the current is the same for each MOSFET.
Giovanni

The two mosfets are identical, and the data applies to each one individually. It's a half bridge module, so only one of the two mosfets is permitted to be on at any one time. If they are both on you have a dead short across your supply, so you have to design with switching times in mind to avoid cross conduction.
The current needs derating according to the last graph, so you have to do some serious design work around your heatsinking.
Cheers,
Richard

Thank you for your answer
I was wondering if you think the schematic I've attached is correct in terms of current flowing through a six pack module, I used 300A as a example value.
Its for my understanding.

Thank you!

Your jpg is not clear, the current directions are not correct, and the last pair does not make sense. What is your application? They are designed for bridge circuits, hence the need for a load between the the source-drain connection, and the gate drive is more complex since you have two N channel devices, the high side device needs quite a bit of additional circuitry.
If you are not using them in an H bridge, a bit more of an explanation would help.
Cheers,
Richard

The application is an inverter, to output 3 phase AC, and I'm trying to understand how current moves through a six pack Mosfet module.
This is not something I am designing to be used, I am currently trying to get to grips with Mosfet modules.

So my assumption is if you have 300A DC coming in (assuming the appropriate circuitry is already in place), each leg of the inverter will take 100A, represented by the red lines.

Each individual Mosfet will take 100A (blue line) while switching and creating the sine wave for one phase.

To create one of the phases of the the 3 phase AC, terminals U and V would output +100A and -100A respectively, represented by the green lines.

The output of terminals U and V is a sine wave that has a peak to peak of 200A.


Am I along the right lines or am I way off?

Thank you

Better to look at the current in each leg when conducting, and therefore what the total current is, since in a multiphase system the phases overlap.
There is an interesting booklet here https://www.philadelphia.edu.jo/academics/mlazim/uploads/chapter08.pdf
starting at page 408 which is worth looking at.
I suggest you fire up something like LTSpice, build a 3 phase H bridge using any old power fet model (use a p channel device in the top leg to simplify driving it) and see what happens.
Cheers,
Richard

Dear EE_Newbie,

No, the way a 3-phase bridge works is that you turn on just two FETs in two different legs at a time, one on the high side and one on the low side. As your diagram shows, FET 1 and 4 are turned on. Current then flows down through FET 1, out phase U, through the load, into phase V and down through FET 4. The current is not predetermined. Rather, the bus voltage is predetermined. Thus the amount of current that flows is determined by the bus voltage and the load characteristics. For example, if the bus voltage is 300 V and the load is 10 ohms, 30 A will flow. If the load is 1 ohm, 300 A will flow. As Richard points out though, the FETs must be rated for more than 300 A and be properly heat sunk to avoid damaging them.

Note that at the instant in time when FETs 1 and 4 are on, FETs 5 and 6 are off, thus no current flows in the third leg. Also, the load is often inductive, like when driving a motor, so any current will continue to flow even when the switches open back up. In that case, referring to your diagram, the current will continue to flow out of U and into V, but since FETs 1 and 4 are now open, it will find its way back up into the bus through the body diodes of FETs 2 and 3 (yes, against the bus voltage!) until another pair of FETs turns on or the energy of the inductance dissipates.

There is a lot more to it than what I have described (see the reference that Richard mentioned). Hopefully we are helping to get you better oriented to 3-phase bridge operation though.

Enjoy! -JD

Thank you Richard for that link and you're right, time to get LTSpice going!

Thank you for your response and help John.
Your description makes more sense.
Looking forward to doing more reading around this!