(a).

(c).

R5 = 100 , R6 = 100 Vp = 140 V Therefore, Vrms = 140/2 = 99 V Therefore, Gate current = IR5 = IR6 = 99/100 = 0.99 A

(e). Voltage across the lamp

Voltage across the coil

Switch on time = 10 ms

DISCUSSION (i). Thyristor switches have a very fast operation than mechanical switches. Thyristor switches are maintenance free but mechanical switches need maintenance. Thyristor switches are relatively cheaper. Thyristor switches have a relatively higher lifetime than mechanical switches. Thyristor switches are lighter and smaller in size than mechanical switches. Thyristor switches completely eliminate arching when switching but which can occur between the contacts of a mechanical switch.

(ii). The main characteristic of the thyristor switch over the mechanical switch is its faster operation. Therefore thyristor switches are preferred over mechanical switches in applications which need a faster switching operation. Arching is a major problem in the mechanical switches due to presents of contacts and its slower operation. Therefore thyristor switches are preferred in applications that need arc free faster operations. Thyristors are also used in light dimmers and motor speed controllers due to its power controlling characteristics.

(iii). Thyristor can be switched-ON by giving a gate voltage in both DC and AC operations. Forced commutation methods should use to bring the thyristor into switched off mode in DC operation. But in AC operation it will turn off while natural reversal of supply voltage. Therefore in AC operation, two thyristors should use in inverse parallel manner to continuously drive the load.

(iv). In part (e) of the experiment we could see that the mechanical switch (electromagnetic relay) takes 10 ms to operate. But typically the delay time of a thyristor switch is in s range. Therefore a thyristor switch is much faster than a mechanical switch. (v). An overcurrent potentiometer can be used in parallel with the load in the thyristor switched application as in part (b). When the current through the load increases, the current through the overcurrent potentiometer is increased as well. Potentiometer can be adjusted to flow the rated current through the load. When the current through the load increases beyond its rated value the overcurrent potentiometer operates and cut off the current through the thyrister to bring it into turn off position. (v). The turn on of a thyristor by optical means is an especially attractive approach for devices that are to be used in extremely high voltage circuits. A typical application area is in switches for dc transmission lines operating in the hundreds of kV range, which use series connections of many devices, each of which must be triggered on command. Optical firing in this application is ideal for providing the electrical isolation between trigger circuits and the thyristor which floats at a potential as high as hundreds of kVs above ground. The main requirement for an optically triggered thyristor is high sensitivity while maintaining high dv/dt and di/dt capabilities. Because of the small and limited quantity of photo energy available for triggering the trhyristor from practical light sources, very high gate sensitivity of the order of 100 times that of the electrically triggered device is needed.