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Comments on Case temperature of MOSFET

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Case temperature of MOSFET

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Homework problem

A MOSFET has a power dissipation of $P_{d} = 10\text{W}$. The MOSFET is mounted on a heatsink. There is an isolation pad between the MOSFET case and the heatsink. We are given the thermal resistances: -

Junction to case: $R_{th,jc}= 1.7 \: \frac{°\text{C}}{\text{W}}$

Isolation pad: $R_{th,cs}= 1.3 \: \frac{°\text{C}}{\text{W}}$

Heatsink to ambient air: $R_{th,sa}= 2.0 \: \frac{°\text{C}}{\text{W}}$

The ambient temperature around the MOSFET is 25°C. What is the temperature of the MOSFET case?

My attempt

The scenario must look something like this: -

Image alt text

Here I have represented the thermal resistances as resistors, the dissipated power as a current source, and the temperatures as potentials. From this I calculate the following: -

$$P_d = \frac{T_c-T_a}{R_{th,cs}+R_{th,sa}} \Leftrightarrow$$$$T_c = P_d(R_{th,cs}+R_{th,sa})+T_a = (10\cdot 3.3)°C + 25°C = 58°C$$

So the case must be 58°C.

Is my thought process/calculations correct or have I misunderstood something? Moreover, are calculations like these useful/used when designing circuits or are they only good for "back of the envelope" calculations?

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1 comment thread

Is this homework? Can you provide a link to the datasheet for the MOSFET? (2 comments)
Is this homework? Can you provide a link to the datasheet for the MOSFET?
Elliot Alderson‭ wrote over 2 years ago

Is this homework? Can you provide a link to the datasheet for the MOSFET?

Carl‭ wrote over 2 years ago

Elliot Alderson‭ Yeah this is homework. Should I include it in the title? The values are given by my instructor and are not found in a particular datasheet.