AC-DC THYRISTOR CONVERTERS

The process is called rectification.

Fixed output voltage: switch is a diode
Variable output voltage: switching element is a
thyristor.
Three important angles;
Delay angle
Firing angle
Conduction angle

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Introduction to Power Electronics

SINGLE PHASE HALF-WAVE

CONTROLLED RECTIFIER
It uses a single thyristor.
T is turned on during the positive half cycle
at a delay angle.
During the ve half-cycle T is off.
The larger the delay the smaller is the
average load voltage.

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Introduction to Power Electronics

Thyristor turns on when VAC >0 and Gate

Current is applied. [positive]
By delaying [Delay Angle or Firing Angle]
when Gate Current is applied we control
the Output Voltage:
VL

VL
IL

IL

~
IG
R Load
R Load
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Introduction to Power Electronics

Average load Voltage and Current

From the output waves we can derive the
expressions for both average load voltage
and current.

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Introduction to Power Electronics

Root-mean-square load Voltage

and Current
The square root of the average value of
the square of the time-varying voltage
gives the RMS value

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Introduction to Power Electronics

EXAMPLE
Consider a Controlled Half-wave Rectifier with a Resistive Load.
Sketch a well labeled circuit and the voltage waveforms across the
load and thyristor.
(3)
For a peak supply voltage of 200V and load resistance of 1 k,
compute the power delivered to the load if the firing angle is 60.
(3)
Find the firing angle required to produce an average voltage of 50 V
across a 100 load resistor if the ac supply is 120 V at 50 Hz. What
is the power absorbed by the resistor and the convertor power
factor?
(7)
Derive an expression for root-mean-square load voltage for this
converter.
(4)

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Introduction to Power Electronics

SINGLE PHASE FULL-WAVE

CONTROLLED RECTIFIERS
In the half-wave controlled rectifier, full use
is not being made of the AC supply
voltage.
Only the positive half-wave.
With full-wave both half-cycles are used.

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Introduction to Power Electronics

FULL-WAVE CIRCUIT
CONFIGURATIONS

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Introduction to Power Electronics

CONT

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Introduction to Power Electronics

SINGLE-PHASE FULL-PHASE HALFCONTROLLED BRIDGE WITH RESISTIVE LOAD

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FORMULAE FOR THE CONVERTER

Average load voltage and current
Root-mean-square load voltage and
current

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11

FORMULAE FOR THE CONVERTER

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12

HALF-CONTROLLED BRIDGE
WITH HIGHLY INDUCTIVE LOAD

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EXPLANATION
The inductance is high enough to cause continuous steady load current.
+ve half-cycle: T1 is on at a delay angle and current flows to the load
through the path T1, load and D1.
The supply voltage passes through zero and reverses, if this was a resistive
load T1 would turn-off.
However, due to inductive stored energy the load voltage reverses in order
to keep the load current flowing, D2 is forward biased and conducts and
clamps the bottom of the load to virtually zero.
Energy stored in the load inductance keeps load current flowing through the
path of D2, T1 and the load.
At delay angle ( +), T2 is fired.
T1 is reverse biased and turn off and load current flows through T2, load
and D2.
Once again the supply voltage passes through zero and load inductive
energy forward biases D1 to keep load current flowing.
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14

FORMULAE

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15

HALF-CONTROLLED BRIDGE WITH FLYWHEEL DIODE AND HIGHLY INDUCTIVE LOAD

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EXPLANATION
Although the half-controlled bridge has a fly-wheel diode action built
in, it uses one of the thyristors in the fly-wheeling path.
If a third diode is used, connected as shown above, then when the
load voltage attempts to reverse, this diode is reverse biased and
the inductive stored energy circulate the load current in the closed
path of the load and third diode.
The advantage of this method is that at mains voltage zero the
conducting thyristor turns off instead of hanging on for fly-wheel
diode action resulting in reduced thyristor duty cycle.

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FULL-WAVE FULLY CONTROLLED BRIDGE

WITH HIGHLY INDUCTIVE LOAD AND
CONTINOUS CURRENT FLOW

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FORMULAE

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19

EXAMPLE
Consider a full-wave, fully controlled bridge rectifier with a highly
inductive load, continuous current flow and a firing delay angle of
90;
Sketch a detailed circuit diagram.
(2)
Show the source and load voltage and current waveforms indicating
the conducting devices.
(4)
A 240V, 50 Hz supply feeds a highly inductive load of 50 ohm
resistance through a thyristor bridge that is fully controlled with
continuous current. Calculate the load current, power and power
factor for a firing angle delay of ( /4 ).
(5)

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QOUTES OF THE DAY

Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you
must be without one, be without the strategy.
Norman Schwarzkopf
(U.S. Army officer who commanded Operation Desert Storm, b.1934)

When you're prepared, you're more

confident. When you have a strategy,
you're more comfortable.
Unknown
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