ELG4139: DC to AC Converters

Converts DC to AC power by
switching the DC input voltage (or
current) in a pre-determined
sequence so as to generate AC
voltage (or current) output.
IDC
+
VDC

Iac

+
Vac

Square Wave Converter

S1,S2 ON; S3,S4 OFF

SQUARE-WAVE
INVERTER

for t1 < t < t2

vO

T3

T1
D1
+ VO -

VDC

S1

D3

VDC

+ vO

IO
T4

T2
D2

t1

S4

D4

VDC

S3

S2

S3,S4 ON ; S1,S2 OFF

for t2 < t < t3

EQUIVALENT
CIRCUIT
S1

vO

S3

S1
VDC

S4

t2

S3
t2

+ vO

S2

S4

S2
-VDC

t3

Harmonics Filtering
DC SUPPLY

INVERTER

(LOW PASS) FILTER

LOAD

L
+
vO 1

BEFORE FILTERING
vO 1

+
C

vO 2

AFTER FILTERING
vO 2

Output of the inverter is chopped AC voltage with zero DC component. It

contain harmonics. An LC section low-pass filter is normally fitted at the
inverter output to reduce the high frequency harmonics. In some applications
such as UPS, high purity sine wave output is required. Good filtering is a must.
In some applications such as AC motor drive, filtering may not required.

Fourier Series for Harmonics Analysis

Fourier Series
ao
an
bn

Harmonics of Square Wave

f ( v ) d

(" DC" term)

0
2

f (v) cosn d

0
1

Vdc

(" cos" term)

=t

-Vdc

f (v) sinn d

(" sin" term)

Inverse Fourier

ao

1
f (v) ao an cos n bn sin n
2
n 1
where t

an

1
Vdc d Vdc d 0
0

Vdc

cosn d cosn d 0
0

Vdc
bn
sin n d sin n d
0

Half-Bridge Inverter
S1 ON
Vdc S2 OFF

Vdc

S1

VC1
-

V +
o

G
+
VC2
-

RL
S2

Vdc
2

S1 OFF
S2 ON

Also known as the Inverter Leg!

Both capacitors have the same value. Thus the DC link is equally
spilt into two. The top and bottom switch has to be complementary.
Meaning, If the top switch is closed (ON), the bottom must be OFF,
and vice-versa.

Single Phase Full Bridge

LEG R

VRG
Vdc
2

LEG R'

+
Vdc
2

S1

Vdc

S3
Vo -

R'

VR 'G
Vdc
2

Vdc
2

+
Vdc
2

S4

S2

Vdc
2
Vo

Vdc

Vo V RG VR 'G
G is " virtual groumd"

Vdc

Single phase full bridge is built from two half-bridge leg. The switching in the
second leg is delayed by 180 degrees from the first leg.

Three Phase Inverter

+Vdc
+
Vdc/2
G

S1

S3

S5

+
Vdc/2

iR

iY

S4

B
iB

S6

S2

ia
ZR

ib

ZY

ZB

Each leg is
delayed by 120
degrees

Pulse Width Modulation

h( x) if ( k ( x) c ( x) 1 if ( k ( x) c ( x) 1 0) )
1
t1 t2

Modulating Waveform

1
M1

Sinusoidal modulating
waveform, vm(t)

Carrier, vc(t)

Carrier waveform

Regular sampling waveform, vs (t )

Vdc
2
0

t'1
t0 t1 t 2

t3 t 4 t 5

t'2

v pwm

Vdc
2

Regular sampling PWM

Triangulation method (Natural sampling). Amplitudes of the triangular wave

(carrier) and sine wave (modulating) are compared to obtain PWM
waveform. Analogue comparator may be used. Basically an analogue
method. Its digital version, known as REGULAR sampling is widely used in
industry.

Typical Configuration with 3-Wire DC Source

Load current may not reverse at the
same instants as does the load
voltage.
Current may lead or lag the output
voltage due to the presence of
capacitance and/or inductance in
the load circuit.
Diodes D1 and D2 in antiparallel
with each transistors permit load
current to flow if necessary.
For positive voltage we should turn
on the transistor connected to the
positive half, and for negative
voltage we should turn on the
transistor connected to the negative
half.

In the leading current case, the

output current reverses its direction
at tx. Output voltage reverses its
direction at T/2. Therefore, from tx
to T/2 the output current will flow
through D1.

In the lagging current case, the

output current reverses its direction
at tY. Output voltage reverses its
direction at T/2. Therefore, from T/2
to tY the output current will flow
through D2.

From the curves, it may be seen that the thyristors may start to conduct
at different instants in the half cycle, depending on the nature of the
load. To ensure that the thyristors will begin to conduct when required,
each must be gated continuously throughout the half
cycle.

Single-Phase Half-Bridge Inverter

(Rashid, Prentice Hall)

3-wire DC source

Consists of 2 choppers, 3-wire DC source

Transistors switched on and off alternately
Need to isolate the gate signal for Q1 (upper device)
Each provides opposite polarity of Vs/2 across the load

Q1 on, Q2 off, vo = Vs/2

Peak Reverse Voltage of Q2 = Vs

Q1 off, Q2 on, vo = -Vs/2

Waveforms with Resistive Load

Output Voltage

rms value of the output voltage, Vo

2
Vo
To

1
2

V
Vs

0 4 dt 2

To
2

2
s

Fourier Series of the Instantaneous Output Voltage

ao
vo an cos(nt ) bn sin(nt )
2 n 1
ao , an 0
0

Vs
1 Vs
bn
sin(nt )d (t ) sin( nt ) d (t )
2
2
0

2Vs
bn
n 1,3,5,...
n

2Vs
vo
sin(nt )
n 1,3,5,.. n

Load Current for a Highly Inductive Load

Transistors are only switched on for a quarter-cycle, or 90

Performance Parameters
Harmonic factor of the nth harmonic (HFn)

Von
HFn
Vo1

for n>1

Von = rms value of the nth harmonic component

V01 = rms value of the fundamental component
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): Measures the closeness in
shape between a waveform and its fundamental component
1

1
THD
( Von2 ) 2
Vo1 n 2,3,...

Performance Parameters
Distortion Factor (DF): Indicates the amount of HD
that remains in a particular waveform after the
harmonics have been subjected to second-order
attenuation.
1
2
1 Von 2
DF
2
Vo1 n 2,3,... n

DFn

Von
Vo1n 2

for n>1

Lowest order harmonic (LOH): The harmonic

component whose frequency is closest to the
fundamental, and its amplitude is greater than or equal
to 3% of the amplitude of the fundamental component.

Single-Phase Full-Bridge Inverter

Consists of 4 choppers and a 3-wire DC source

Q1-Q2 and Q3-Q4 switched on and off alternately
Need to isolate the gate signal for Q1 and Q3 (upper)
Each pair provide opposite polarity of Vs across the load

Q1-Q2 on, Q3-Q4 off, vo = Vs

+ Vs -

Q3-Q4 on, Q1-Q2 off, vo = -Vs

- Vs +

When the Load is Highly Inductive

Turn Q1-Q2 off Q3-Q4 off

Turn Q3-Q4 off Q1-Q2 Off

Load Current for a Highly Inductive Load

Three-Phase Inverter

Design Constraints of a Pure Sine wave Inverter

Quantity

Details

Voltage

Convert 12VDC to 120 VAC

Power

Provide 300 W continuous

Efficiency

> 90% efficiency

Waveform

Pure 60 Hz sinusoidal

Total Harmonic
Distortion

< 5% THD

Physical Dimensions

8 x 4.75 x 2.5

Cost

$175.00

Required Components for Design

12 V DC Input
from vehicle battery)

PWM Control
Circuit

Half-bridge
Converter

Transformer

Low-pass
Filter

Full-bridge
Inverter

Sinusoidal PWM
Controller

120 VAC,
60 Hz, 300 W
Output

PWM Controller
Produces two complementary
pulses to control half-bridge
transistors.
Problem:
Voltage may drop when
the input voltage is
decreased.
Solution:
A feedback network may
be added for voltage
regulation.

Half-Bridge Converter
Chops the 12 VDC to produce
a 12 V, 100 kHz, square pulse
Problem:
IRF740A MOSFETs has an
Rds(on) = 0.55, resulting in
high power losses.
Solution:
Choose IRF530 MOSFETs
with an Rds(on) = 0.16

Full-bridge Inverter
Converts 170 VDC to a
120 Vrms, 60 Hz, sine
wave
IRF740A MOSFETs
Vdss = 400 V
Id = 10 A
Rds(on) = 0.55

Software Flow Diagram

(Dr. Yaroslav Koshka)

Initialize all
variables

no
Count0 = 300 (300 duty cycles)

yes

300 duty cycle

values?

Output 1 = high, Output 2 = low

duty cycle table (increment pointer)

Output 1 = low, Output 2 = high

Decrement Count0 by 1

Duty cycle and sampling period timer

no
no

Has duty cycle been

reached?

yes

One Sampling
Period?

ye
s

Low-pass Filter
2nd order L-C filter
Filters to retain a 60
Hz fundamental
frequency
Few components
Handle current
Wind inductor (fine
tune)

PCB Layout

Case Study: Solar System Using Inverters

Stand Alone; Simple Grid Tied; Grid Tie with Battery

Solar Schoolhouse and San Mateo College

Simple Grid-Connected System

Utility

Solar Array
Inverter

Distribution
Panel

Subpanel

Solar AC in from
Inverter

Lightning surge
arrestor

Stand Alone Residential System

Solar Array

Charge
Controller

Battery

DC to AC Inverter

Distribution Panel
AC

Distribution Panel
DC

Small Stand
Alone
System
(to power an
office)

Solar Array

Charge
Control

Storage:
Battery
Fuel Gauge

Inverter DC to
AC