Avalanche diodes are rectifier diodes with controlled avalanching allowing power pulse to dissipate in the breakdown region of the reverse volt-ampere curve within a limited period of time.
These diodes are used in DC and AC circuits with frequency of up to 500 Hz, and in general purpose electrical and electronic devices.
Avalanche diodes can eliminate or considerably simplify overvoltage protection circuits in converters, especially in case of a large number of series connected diodes.

The diodes are used in DC and AC circuits with frequency of up to 500 Hz, in general purpose electrical and electronic devices, in low voltage rectifiers for welding and electroplating equipment, in the electrotechnical equipment of ships, in converters of electrically propelled vehicles, and in power supplies of machine tools and automatic production lines.

Thyristors are used in DC and AC converters with an operating frequency of up to 1,000 Hz, in inverting and switching circuits of converter setups for electric locomotives and other types of electrically propelled vehicles, in power rectifiers for electroplating baths, for charging batteries, in high-voltage rectifier-inverter units of DC transmission line substations, and in aircraft de-icing equipment.