Power Electronics

Bridge Topologies in Electric Power Conversion

Prof. Giovanni GRIVA
Politecnico di Torino
e-mail: giovanni.griva@polito.it

Bridge Topologies
AC/DC Conversion (Rectifiers)
DC/AC Conversion (Inverters)
DC/DC Conversion (Choppers)
AC/AC Conversion (Cycloconverters)
Multi-phase Conversion
2

Bridge Topologies
AC/DC Conversion (Rectifiers)
DC/AC Conversion (Inverters)
DC/DC Conversion (Choppers)
AC/AC Conversion (Cycloconverters)
Multi-phase Conversion
3

To introduce the different conversion types

and their operating principles
a circuit made with ideal switches is used.
An ideal switch closes and opens in a null
time and it has no power losses
it also makes no difference as regards the
sign of current and the sign of voltage across
its terminals.
4

P
A

N
B

Converter

Supply

P
A
u

Load
+
C
v

N
B

u = 2 U sen t
6

P
N

A
u

+
C
v

2 t
7

P
N

A
u

+
C
v

2 t
8

P
N

A
u

+
C
v

2 t
9

A
u

P
N

+
C
v

D
-

2U

Vm

2 2 U
Vm =

t
10

Average value of load voltage

1
Vm =

2U sen(t)dt

2U

=
cos(t)]0
[

2U
2 2
=
1 + 1] =
U
[

11

Fourier analysis of load voltage

4
2 4
v( t) = 2U
cos (2t) +
cos (4t) +
3
15
4

cos (6t)+.....

35
We apply to the load the average value (desired)
plus harmonics (undesired)
We can need to filter the harmonics with a
lowpass filter (LPF)
12

P
A
u

N
B

LPF
13

Since the load current always flows from

node + of the supply to node + of the load
current in P and N has always the same
direction.
Thus we can replace the ideal switches with
ideal diodes.
The converter scheme becomes:

14

C
C
A

B
D
D C

single-phase Graetz bridge

15

Direct Current (DC) Applications:

- electrolysis (very high currents)
- electric vehicles and DC drives
- DC electric power transportation
- electric energy storage (accumulators)
- electronic circuits (supply and bias circuits)
16

Bridge Topologies
AC/DC Conversion (Rectifiers)
DC/AC Conversion (Inverters)
DC/DC Conversion (Choppers)
AC/AC Conversion (Cycloconverters)
Multi-phase Conversion
17

Load

Converter
A

Supply
C

N
v

N
P

18

Now P switches and N switches are

closed so that across nodes A-B we
obtain an AC periodic voltage.

19

P
N

C
U

P
v

D
T/2

T
t
20

P
N

C
U

P
v
U

B
P chiusi

D
T/2

T
t
21

P
N

C
U

P
v
U
-U

D
T/2
N chiusi

T
t
22

When P switches are closed

N switches MUST be open and vice-versa.
To obtain an AC periodic voltage, P switches
and N switches need to be closed for the same
duration of time.
The circuit seen previously can be drawn
as follows:
23

C
N

P
U
N

24

Now we consider how to implement the

switches using electronic components.

Thus we consider the nature of the load.

If the load is resistive, then the current is

proportional to the voltage
25

C
P

iR

U
N

R
v

26

C
P

iR

U
N

R
v

D
v
iR
P
closed

N
closed

27

While P switches are closed their current has

always the same sign (up to down);
while N switches are closed their current has
always the same sign (up to down).

If the load is R-L, then:

28

C
P

iRL

29

C
P

v
iRL
P
closed

iRL

D
N
closed

t3

t4
t

t1

t2
30

While P switches are closed their current has

both signs in different times:
up to down in t2,
down to up in t1;
while N switches are closed their current has
both signs in different times:
up to down in t4,
down to up in t3.
The switches need to be closed and opened
on command and need to be bidirectional.
31

C
A

single-phase
Full bridge or
H bridge
BJT

MOSFET
D

AC side
(Load)

DC side
(Supply)

IGBT
GTO
32

Since the switches are bidirectional, the supply

current can be
- positive (current in switches up to down)
- negative (current in switches down to up)
The difference between the single-phase
inverter and the single-phase rectifier
is in the way the switches are driven.
A filter on the load (inductance) makes the load
current almost sinusoidal (triangular actually).
33

Applications
AC machine drives
High frequency heating

34

Bridge Topologies
AC/DC Conversion (Rectifiers)
DC/AC Conversion (Inverters)
DC/DC Conversion (Choppers)
AC/AC Conversion (Cycloconverters)
Multi-phase Conversion
35

The bridge topology is used again

36

DC side
(Load)

LPF

DC side
(Supply)

Converter
C

L
um

N
V

u
B

P
D

37

P switches and N switches are alternately

closed periodically for different durations
of time

38

P on

P on
N
on

tP=

2
3

1
3

P on
N
on

t
DP=tP/T

T =tN

DN=tN/T=1-DP
Duty cycle
39

Thus, voltage u is:

40

DP=tP/T
u
V

DN=tN/T=1-DP

um
t

-V
um = V*DP - V*DN = V*(2DP-1)
41

If switches are controlled with a duty cycle

different from 0.5
we obtain a DC component on the load voltage
Such component (um) can be varied by
regulating the duty cycle
With a low-pass filter we can reject the
harmonics caused by the switching frequency
(fsw=1/T)
Switching frequency can be high (range of kHz)
42

Applications
DC machine drives

43

Regulation of the duty cycle is referred to as

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
The duty cycle can vary in time
In particular it can vary sinusoidally
If P and N switches are closed for the same
duration of time on the fundamental period, we
obtain an AC output (inverter).
An example follows (R-L load)
44

500V

0V

-500V
V(10,20)
50V

0V

SEL>>
-50V
20ms

22ms

24ms

26ms

28ms

30ms

32ms

34ms

36ms

V(IL1)
Time

45

Bridge Topologies
AC/DC Conversion (Rectifiers)
DC/AC Conversion (Inverters)
DC/DC Conversion (Choppers)
AC/AC Conversion (Cycloconverters)
Multi-phase Conversion
46

The bridge topology is used again

47

+ L
+

N v
a

u=

2 U sen( 1t )

vR

48

By keeping P switches closed, the output

voltage will be u.
By keeping N switches closed, the output
voltage will be -u.

49

+ L
+

N v
a

u
va

u=

2 U sen( 1t )

vR

-u
50

+ L
+

N v
a

u
va

vR

N
t
T2

NP N P N P N

P N

P N P N PN
51

+ L
+

N v
a

u
va

vR

N
t
T2

NP N P N P N

P N

P N P N PN
52

A phase control is used (the switching time is

controlled with varying the switching delay
respect to zero crossings of the supply
voltage).
A low-pass filter can be used on the load.
P and N switches need to stand both positive
and negative voltages and also need to be
bidirectional for the current.

53

va

filtered load voltage (vR)

vR

2
T2 =
2
54

Applications:
AC machine drives
On-board electric plants

55

Bridge Topologies
AC/DC Conversion (Rectifiers)
DC/AC Conversion (Inverters)
DC/DC Conversion (Choppers)
AC/AC Conversion (Cycloconverters)
Multi-phase Conversion
56

Bridge topologies are modular

the same structure can be repeated:
leg (branch)

57

C
Ai

C
Ai

N
D
AC side
(Load/
Supply)

DC side
(Supply/
Load)

Leg
for phase i
or neuter
58

C
A1
A2
A3

3-phase
inverter
or rectifier
bidirectional
power flow

D
AC side
(Load/
Supply)

DC side
(Supply/
Load)
59

C
A1
A2
A3

3-phase
rectifier
(uncontrolled)
unidirectional
power flow

D
AC side
(Supply)

DC side
(Load)
60

C
A1
A2
A3

3-phase
rectifier
(controlled)

bidirectional
power flow
(bipolar voltages)

D
AC side
(Supply)

DC side
(Load)
61

AC side
(Supply)

3-phase
4-quadrant
rectifier
(controlled)
DC or AC side
(Load)

or 3~ / 1~
cycloconverter
62