Does a Safety Operating Area for FWD (Free Wheeling Diode) exist?

Similar to an IGBT, the FWD has a SOA (Safty Operating Area). Please refer to the following graph which is also shown in the product specifications. It displays an area that indicates the maximum allowed power Pmax. Since Pmax is the product of the voltage VAK applied during reverse recovery and the forward current IF, it limits these two parameters. The design should take into account the SOA and assures that the locus VAKIF stays within the SOA. If power, exceeding Pmax, is applied, FWD may be damaged. In that case, take countermeasures like increasing the gate resistance of the IGBT ON-side, or using a snubber circuit to suppress the surge voltage.

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