End of Chapter 3

Functions and operational principle of ACDC Converter (Rectifier) and

DCDC Converter ( CHOPPER)

Function of ac-dc converter (rectifier)
Is to process of converting alternating current (or alternating
voltage) into pulsating direct current (or pulsating direct voltage) is known
as rectification.
Rectification is accomplished with the help of diodes. Circuits which
provide rectification are called rectifier circuits.
Rectifier circuits can provide either half-wave rectification or full-
wave rectification.
Principle operation of rectifier :
Principles
A rectifier is basically a thresholding non linear component : below a given
voltage, no (or a very small) current will flow, then, this value beeing
exceeded, conduction occurs.
Altough almost all rectifiers have a threshold of 0 volts (what do not mean,
at least for high vacuum valves, that their voltage drop is small at full load),
it exists a special category of rectifiers, the gaz filled diodes, for which
behaviour is far more complex.
For those components, below the trigger voltage, no conduction occurs, then,
after that, chain ionisation begins (tube will glow!). As soon as the discharge
is started, voltage drop at the tube terminals is almost constant (internal
impedance is very low).
The tube will switch off only when voltage will fall below the extinction
threshold, which is different from the ignition threshold! Gaz filled diodes
must never be used with a capacitive load, except when explicity
mentionned in the data sheet (in which case maximum value for the
capacitor should never be exceeded) : internal impedance is so low that
charge current at start up will destroy the tube (the same phenomenon can
occur will silicon diodes).
Notation We will use the following symbol for all rectifiers (except gaz
filled ones), regardless of the technology :

For a mains supply, three basic schemas can be used (wave at load terminals
is indicated to the right) :
Monophased rectifying :

Biphased rectifying :

Graetz brige rectifying :

If we denote internal impedance of rectifier plus that of windings (see article
on transformers) by and if the load can be modelled as a pure
resistance , instantaneous value of voltage at load terminals is :

where is the unloaded transformer voltage. An elementary computation
shows that mean value of is :

Previous schemas can be generalised to multiphased current : here is an
example of triphased rectifying, used in high power applications :

In the following, the number of phases will be denoted by n, and this will be
a parameter of all formula. An amateur will probably not be using
hexaphased current, however, it will appear in the following that filtering is
easier when number of phases increases. Purist audiophile can try to
reconstruct multiphase waves with an onduler.









Function of DCDC Converter ( CHOPPER)
A dc chopper is the equipment that can be used as a dc transformer to
step up or step down a fixed dc voltage.
The chopper can also be used for switching- mode voltage regulators
and for transferring energy between two dc resources.
However, harmonics are generated at the input and load side of the
chopper, and these harmonics can be reduced by input and output filters.

A chopper can operate on either fixed frequency chopper or variable
frequency. A variable-frequency chopper generates harmonics of variable
frequencies and a filter design. A fixed frequency chopper is normally
used. A chopper circuit uses a fast turn off as a switch and requires
commutation circuitry to turn it off.
The circuits are the outcome of meeting certain criteria:
(1) reduction of minimum on-time limit,
(2) high frequency of operation,
(3) reliable operation.








Principle operation of chopper
Principle of chopper have two step which is down and up
- Step-down choppers.
- Step-up choppers.
- In step down chopper output voltage is less than input voltage.
- In step up chopper output voltage is more than input voltage.


Principle Of Step-down Chopper


A step-down chopper with resistive load.
The thyristor in the circuit acts as a switch.
When thyristor is ON, supply voltage appears across the load
When thyristor is OFF, the voltage across the load will be zero.

V
i
0
V
0
Chopper
R
+

V
dc
v
0
V
V/R
i
0
I
dc
t
t
t
ON
T
t
OFF
verage value of output or load voltage.
verage value of output or load current.
Time interval for which SCR conducts.
Time interval for which SCR is OFF.
Period of switching
dc
dc
ON
OFF
ON OFF
V A
I A
t
t
T t t
=
=
=
=
= + = or chopping period.
1
Freq. of chopper switching or chopping freq. f
T
= =
Average Output Voltage
.
duty cycle
ON
dc
ON OFF
ON
dc
ON
t
V V
t t
t
V V V d
T
t
but d
t
| |
=
|
+
\ .
| |
= =
|
\ .
| |
= =
|
\ .























2
0
Average Output Current
RMS value of output voltage
1
ON
dc
dc
ON
dc
t
O o
V
I
R
t V V
I d
R T R
V v dt
T
=
| |
= =
|
\ .
=
}
2
0
2
But during ,
Therefore RMS output voltage
1
.
.
ON
ON o
t
O
ON
O ON
O
t v V
V V dt
T
t V
V t V
T T
V d V
=
=
= =
=
}
2
2
Output power
But
Output power
O O O
O
O
O
O
O
P V I
V
I
R
V
P
R
dV
P
R
=
=

=
=


Principle Of Step-up Chopper


Step-up chopper is used to obtain a load voltage higher than
the input voltage V.
The values of L and C are chosen depending upon the
requirement of output voltage and current.
When the chopper is ON, the inductor L is connected across
the supply.
The inductor current I rises and the inductor stores energy
during the ON time of the chopper, t
ON
.
When the chopper is off, the inductor current I is forced to
flow through the diode D and load for a period, t
OFF
.
The current tends to decrease resulting in reversing the polarity
of induced EMF in L.
Therefore voltage across load is given by:-
A large capacitor C connected across the load, will provide a
continuous output voltage
+

V
O
V
Chopper
C
L
O
A
D
D
L I
+
. .,
O O
dI
V V L i e V V
dt
= + >
Diode D prevents any current flow from capacitor to the source.
Step up choppers are used for regenerative braking of dc
motors