FUNDAMENTALS OF POWER

ELECTRONICS

Dr M R Abro

05/18/17 1
 Thyristor symbol & three PN
junctions

05/18/17 2
Various Types of Thyristors

05/18/17 3
 Cross section of a
thyristor

Cross section of PNPN Split section of NPN &

structure PNP

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 Thyristor circuit & static
characteristics

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 Two-transistor model of
thyristor

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 The collector current I C of a thyristor related, in genera,
to the emitter current I E and the leakage current of the
collector-base junction, I CBO, as
I C = I E + I CBO (1)
Where, I C / I E

For transistor Q 1 the emitter current is the anode current

I A , ands the collector current I C1 can be found as
I C1 = 1 I A + I CBO1 (2)
Where,
1 is the current gain & I CBO1 is the leakage current for Q 1

Similarly for transistor Q 2 , I C2 is

I C2 = 2 I K + I CBO2 (3)

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Where, 2 is the current gain & ICBO2 is the leakage
current for Q2.
By combining IC1 & IC2, gives
IA = IC1 + IC2 = 1IA + ICBO1 + 2IK + ICBO2 (4)
But, IK = IA + IG

Therefore, equation (4) becomes

2 IG + ICBO1 + ICBO2
IA =
(5)
1 (1 + 2)
The current gain varies with emitter current . A
typical such variation is shown

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Typical variation of current gain with
emitter current

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 Two-transistor transient model of
thyristor
Under transient conditions, the

capacitances of the PN junctions will

influence the characteristics of the

If a thyristor is in a blocking state, a
thyristor.
rapidly rising voltage across the device

would cause high current flow through

the junction capacitors & the current

through capacitor CJ2 can be expressed

d (qJ2) d (CJ2 VJ2) dCJ2
as dVJ2
iJ2 = = = VJ2 +CJ2
dt dt dt dt

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 Typical thyristor switching
characteristics
Turn-on
Delay Rise
Current IMax
VMax Time Time

90%

The maximum switching loss

Voltage & current

in thyristor occur near the

mid-fall time. The total turn-
on losses are given by the
expression:
Loss = Vmax Imax tr/4 joule
Where, tr is the rise time

10% Voltage

Time
05/18/17 11
 Relationship between rate of rise of trigger
pulse & delay and rise times of typical
thyristor

5
Trigger Pulse Rise Time

4
(S)

3
Rise Delay
Time Time
2

0 1 2 3 4 5
Delay & Rise Time (S)

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In case of purely inductive load, the relationship between the
duration of the trigger pulse and the holding current is given
by:
LLL
ttpp L ..IIHH
VVss
Where, tp is a pulse duration, LL is the inductance of the load,
VS is the supply voltage, and IH is the holding current of the
thyristor.

EXAMPLE:
If the supply voltage is 500V and the load inductance is 0.5H, and
taking a typical value of 50mA for the holding current, then

tp = 0.5/500 50 10-3 =50 S

For a given value of a supply voltage and load inductance, the

duration of the trigger pulse required to trigger a thyristor with
a known value of latching current can therefore be calculated.

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 Variation of turn-of time with junction
temperature for a typical inverter
thyristor
Turn-of
15
Turn of time (S)

10

0 25 50 75 100 125
Junction temperature (oC)
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 THYRISTOR

RATINGS

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There
There isis a
a large
large number
number of
of ratings
ratings associated
associated with
with thyristors.
thyristors.
These
These
ratings
ratings are
are in
in terms
terms of
of

1.
1. Voltage
Voltage 2.
2. Current
Current 3.
3. Temperature
Temperature
4.
4. Gate
Gate 5.
5. Power
Power

Normal
Normal symbols
symbols are
are used
used for
for currents
currents && voltages
voltages followed
followed by
by
subscripts,
subscripts, which
which denotes
denotes direction
direction or
or state
state as:
as:

Ist
Ist Subscript
Subscript denote
denote 2 nd Subscript
2nd Subscript (except
(except Gate)
Gate) 3
3rd
rd
Subscript
Subscript
Direction
Direction or
or State
State defines
defines Working,
Working, Repetitive
Repetitive indicate
indicate
Peak
Peak
or
or Non-repetitive
Non-repetitive or
or Max
Max
Value
Value

D
D== Of
Of State
State W
W== Working
Working M
M== Max
Max
F
F== Forward
Forward R
R== Repetitive
Repetitive
R
R== Reverse
Reverse S
S== Non-repetitive
Non-repetitive
T
T== On-State
On-State

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 Anode Voltage Ratings

The main voltage ratings of a thyristor are listed

below:

Crest working reverse voltage VRWM

Repetitive peak reverse voltage V RRM
Non-repetitive peak reverse voltage VRSM
Crest working of-state voltage V DWM
Repetitive peak of-state voltage V DRM
Non-repetitive peak of-state voltage V DSM
Rate of rise of anode to cathode voltage dV/dt

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 VDSM

VDRM
VDWM

VRWM
VRRM

Thyristor voltage ratings in relation to

typical supply voltage waveform
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Current Ratings

The important current ratings are listed as below:

Continuous on-state current IT

Mean on-state current IT(AV)
Repetitive peak on-state current ITRM
Non-repetitive surge-on state current ITSM
Surge current capability for fusing I 2t
Repetitive peak reverse current IRRM
Rate of rise of forward current di/dt

05/18/17 19
 Total dissipation of thyristor
plotted against mean-on-state
current
35

Conduction
angle = 180O
Total dissipation (W)

25 120O
90O
60O DC
30O
15

0 5 10 15
Mean on-state current (A)
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 Temperature Ratings
Max RMS surge current (A)

Duration of surge (S)

Surge current plotted against duration of surge
for thyristor BTX48
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 Gate Ratings

The main gate ratings are:

Peak forward gate voltage v FGM

Peak reverse gate voltage VRGM
Peak forward gate current I FGM
Peak reverse gate current I RGM

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 Power Ratings

Forward leakage power loss

Forward Conduction Loss
Reverse leakage power loss
Gate power loss
Switching loss

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 CONSTRUCTION
&
COOLING SYSTEMS OF
THYRISTORS

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Types of the construction of thyristors

Transistor type
thyristor

Base for
heat sink

Cathode Anode Gate

Planar type thyristor

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Messa type or stud type

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Disc type thyristor with cooled heat
exchanger

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 COOLING
Heat
power Heat flows from junction to
input at the case, to the sink, to the
junctions surroundings & the total
thermal resistance will be
Air
the series addition of the
individual thermal
resistances of each section.
The total thermal resistance
from junctionto
surroundings is:
RJA = RJC + RCS + RSA
TJ RJC TC RCS TS RSA TA

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 Cooling

TJ = PA (RJC + RCS + RSA) + TA

Electrical analog of heat transfer
Where,
PA = Average power loss in device.
RJC = Thermal resistance from junction to
case
RCS = Thermal resistance from case to sink
RSA = Thermal resistance from sink to
ambient
TA = Ambient temperature

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Example :

A thyristor has a thermal resistance of 0.82 C/W

between its virtual junction and the heat transfer
system and 1.96 C/W between the heat transfer system
and the ambient temperature heat sink. What will be
the permitted power loss in the thyristor if the junction
temperature is to be kept below 132C for an ambient
temperature of 28 C ?

Solution :

TJ = PA (RJC + RCS + RSA) + TA

132 = 28 + PA (0.82 + 1.96)

PA = 37.4 W

05/18/17 30
 Types of cooling

Heat Sinks &

Cooling
The heat sink is provided on the thyristor
to increase the surface area & to remove
the heat from the case of the device
Copper or aluminum are utilized as the
material of heat sink
The ability of heat sink to transfer heat
mainly depends on: Low
Lowweight
weight
the material of the heat sink
Contact between case & sink High thermal
High thermal
conductivity
conductivity
Area & volume of sink
Good storage
Good
heat storage
capability
heat capability
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Types of Cooling

1. Natural Convection
2. Forced Air Cooling
3. Vapour Phase Cooling
4. Liquid Cooling

05/18/17 32
 Cooling & Heat Sinks

The natural cooling or the forced cooling is

used to reduce the thermal resistance of the
heat sink
The contact area between the case & the heat
sink is extremely important to minimize the
thermal resistance
The device must be mounted properly on the
heat sink
The device may be cooled by heat pipes
partially filled with low-vapor pressure liquid
In high power applications, the device is more
efectively cooled by liquids normally, oil or
05/18/17 33
water
 Heat Sink Types

Various types of The heat sink with

high power heat heat pipe
sinks

05/18/17 34
 Thyristor Turn-on Methods

Thyristor can be turned-on by the following

ways:

Thermal or temperature
Light
High Voltage
dv/dt
Gate turn-on

05/18/17 35
 Thyristor Turn-off Methods

Thyristor can be turned-off by the following

ways:
Natural Commutation

Forced Commutation

Load Commutation

Gate Turn-off

Other commutation methods:

Opening the line switch (S )
1
Increasing the load impedance (R)

Shunting the load current in parallel to thyristor that is

short circuiting the device (S3)

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Thyristor Turn-off Methods

SCR with RLC load Turn of thyristor

05/18/17 37
 Protection of Thyristors

Over Voltage Protection

dv/dt Protection
Over Current Protection
di/dt Protection
Gate Protection

05/18/17 38
Snubber Circuit & Gate Protection

Snubber Circuit

Gate protection of thyristor

05/18/17 39
Series & Parallel Operation of
Thyristors

Thyristors (a) in series (b) in parallel

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 THANKS

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