Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

THYRISTOR SEMI CONVERTER

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

THYRISTOR SEMI CONVERTER

3.1. Uncontrolled Rectifiers:

The converter is used when the supply is alternating and the motor to be controlled is a D.C.
machine. Besides the individual motor control converters are used for the generator field
control for the Ward Leonard set or they may replace the motor generator set or mercury are
rectifiers set altogether. Although in most cases the thyristor converter is slightly more
expensive it is more efficient over the whole of the speed and load ranges and installation
costs are less.

There are disadvantages when using thyristors to replace a Ward Leonard set. Unlike a
generator which can motor inherently on regenerative braking, the direction of current flow
in the converter cannot be reversed. To overcome this problem where regeneration is
required the converter must be capable of inverting so that the arms of the bridge must be
controlled. For inversion motor field reversal can be used where slow response is
satisfactory. For rapid response or accurate position control two banks of thyristor
converters in back-to-back opposition must be used.

The converter type depends on the power to be handled and how much voltage ripple will
be tolerated. For low powers below 20 kw single-phase circuit are adequate but they
themselves can take different forms. Fig. (3-1) shows the possible configurations for single-
phase uncontrolled rectifiers.

Figure (4.1a) show the half wave case, when the A.C. supply is positive at the dot in the
figure the diode D has virtually zero impedance and the supply voltage appears as a varying
D.C. voltage across the load R load. When the dot becomes negative over the second half
cycle the diode blocks current and appears as infinite impedance so that all the voltage of
the supply appears across the diode and there is zero applied voltage across the load. For the

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

other cases shown the diodes have the same action but are arranged to make better use of
the available voltage.

Fig. (3-1): Single-phase uncontrolled rectifiers (a) half wave circuit; (b) full wave centre-tap
supply circuit; (c) full wave bride circuit.

When the dot positive D1 conducts and when negative over the other half cycle D2
conducts. The waveforms of the voltage are those in Fig.(3-2).

Fig. (3-2) Rectifier voltage waveforms: (a) supply voltage; (b) half wave output Voltage;
(c) centre-tap and full-wave Bridge output voltage.

For higher powers the bridge arrangements can be extended to a three-phase supply or
a multiphase centre-tap. Voltage ripple is also much reduced in magnitude and increased in
frequency. The circuit may be half wave full wave bridge centre-tap or even double star as

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

shown in Fig.(3-3).

Fig.(3-3): Three-phase rectifier circuits:(a) half wave; (b) full-wave bridge; (c) centre-tap;
(d) double star .

With the waveforms as in Fig.(3-4). All these uncontrolled rectifiers give an output D.C.
voltage which has a constant average value

Fig.(3-4) Output voltage waveforms From a 3-phase supply.

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

3.2. Controlled Rectifiers:

The replacement of some or all of the diodes by thyristors will enable the output voltage to
be adjusted. The method of adjustment is phase control and the method of thyristor
commutation is natural or phase commutation. Each thyristor experiences an alternating
voltage from the supply so that it is reversing biased every half cycle and turns off. The
basic circuits with some of the waveforms are shown in Fig.(3-5). No transformers filters
protection or gating circuits are shown.

Fig.(3-5) : controlled converter arrangements. (a) Half-wave controlled ; (b) full-wave half-
controlled single-phase bridge; ( c) full-wave fully controlled single-phase bridge; (d) full-
wave half-controlled three-phase bridge; (e) full-wave fully controlled three-phase bridge;
(f) full-wave fully controlled double bridge.

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

3.2.1. Single-phase half wave converter:

Because only half the available power can be utilized the circuit of Fig.(3-5a) is limited to
fractional horse-power machines. Not shown in an isolation transformer which would be
used and besides isolation voltage matching is achieved. Also the inductance aids converter
commutation and improves the D.C. waveform which aids motor commutation. The
freewheeling diode is needed to dissipate the stored energy in the inductive load when the
thyristor blocks. Without it the thyristor would have to provide the current path and this is
damaging.

This circuit has relatively low average value and for a D.C. machine the average value is the
useful value. It further has a relatively high effective value of current with its inherently
high ripple which causes both heating and motor commutation problems. The firing angle
in fig.(3-5) is the gating or phase angle or the instantaneous point in the A.C. cycle at which
the thyristor is turned on. As the firing angle is increased the output voltage is decreased
and so the motor speed would be reduced. A Circuit to give almost 180o firing range is
shown in Fig.(3-6)

Fig.(3-6) : Half wave converter with 180o firing angle control.

The phase shifting network R1 , R2 , C and D enables a voltage at x to be lagging nearly 90 o

behind the supply voltage and the potential divider provides an adjustable D.C. level. It is
the ramp shape of Vx which is so useful. A particular D.C. bias of x sets the desired speed
because at a particular value of Vx the thyristor will be turned on and the armature will have

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

current flowing through it. An increase of the effective D.C. level of the ramp means that
the thyristor fires earlier in the cycle. This produces a higher average load voltage and a
higher speed.

Although far from perfect the motor armature in the circuit provides simple feedback to
give lower speed regulation than if the motor were in the anode circuit. If an increased load
is applied to the motor the speed will tend to drop and the induced emf. will also tend to
drop. As the voltage Vx which triggers the thyristor is equal to the voltage drops across the
diode the armature resistance drop the gate to cathode voltage drop plus the back emf than
the thyristor will fire earlier in the cycle. A smaller means more power and an increased
speed until ideally the emf is back to the same E and hence the motor is back to the same
speed as before.

3.2.2. Single-phase full-wave converter:

The bridge has the advantage over the centre-tapped supply circuit because for the same
D.C. voltage output the centre-tapped converter has twice the A.C. voltage to block.
Compared with the previous half-wave circuit this one shown in fig.(3-5b) and (3-5c) has
a much improved form factor. Therefore less de rating of the motor is required. The motor
drives controlled in this manner vary from 1 to 20 KW. In the half-controlled circuit of
fig.(3-5b) where no inversion can take place the first circuit has a freewheeling diode added
whereas the second circuit has inherent freewheeling. In the fully controlled bridge of
Fig.(3-5c) inversion and so regenerative braking is possible but if the bridge is not to be
doubled then the polarity of the motor field winding must be reversed. Where regeneration
is not required only the half –controlled circuits would be used.

A practical circuit is shown in fig.(3-7). The phase angle for conduction adjustment is
o
controlled by the resistances R1 in the gate circuit. Only a 90 range of firing angle is
provided. Fig.(3-8) shows the form of the applied voltage and current the motor.

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

Fig.(3-7) A practical half Controlled converter circuit

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

Fig. (3-8) Applied voltage and current to the motor fed from half controlled converter.

As a phase angle α equal to 1 in fig.(3-8), the resistance R1 has been set so that one of the
thyristors fires at every half cycle. For the case of steady motoring conditions and hence
a constant motor induced emf Eb the current I(t) form the supply rises slowly because of
armature and line inductance. This inductance prolongs conduction after the voltage across
the terminals becomes negative until the current becomes zero and the terminal voltage
becomes equal to Eb.

Because of the back emf Eb , current will only flow from the supply while the thyristors are
fired between α1 and α2 as shown in fig.(3-8).

The remaining conduction between α2 and 2 is due to the stored energy 0.5 Li2. A path for
this current is provided by the freewheeling diode.
If √ is the source voltage, then the average output voltage with triggered
at α can be found from the wave symmetry as:
√
∫ (3-1)

The expression for the load current can be calculated by solving the transient
equation;

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

(3-2)

The solution of the equation is;

(3-3)
√

Where :

A = Constant can be determined form the condition i (t) = 0 at t

There two condition to consider.
First, when the current is discontinuous
(3-4)

(3-5)
√ √

Second, when the current is continuous

(3-6)

–
√ √

(3-7)
Regulation of speed would then be expected to be greater for the discontinuous range than
for the continuous range. For the speed to become independent of the load velocity
feedback must be used. As the induced emf is proportional to the speed a signal
proportional to this voltage could be used for feedback. To measure this actual voltage is
impossible. The next best thing is to take the applied voltage and subtract from it a voltage
equal to the IRa drop and this is possible because a voltage across any resistance in the line
is proportional to the armature resistance drop. The non-steady state circuit operation with
phase control does add to the difficulties.

3.2.3. Three-phase controlled converters:

Fig.(3-5d), (3-5e) and (3-5f) show some but not all of the arrangements which are used
from a few KW up the hundreds of KW for (d) and (e) and up to the 2000KW mark for (f).

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

It is this arrangement which competes with the Ward Leonard set replacing the A.C. driving
motor and the D.C. generator and eliminating all the moving parts except the final motor
drive.

Figure (3-5f) allows reversal of rotation and regeneration. For the fastest response both
bridge are fired at once but this does require the addition of inductors to limit the bridge
circulating current. This condition is armature current forcing which is more rapid than field
current forcing because of the difference in circuit inductance.

Foe high voltage (600 V is a high voltage for a D.C. machine) two bridges can be used in
series for sharing. Where inversion is not required then one of those bridges can be
uncontrolled. With a free firing diode bridge the equipment operates at reduced kVAr.
Further all the bridge arrangements shown in Fig.(3-9) are to be seen to be high voltage
versions of Fig.(3-5b), (3-5e) and (3-5f). The two secondaries are phase displaced by 30 o.
This results in a higher power factor and a lower harmonic distortion of the current drawn
from the supply. The boxed rectifiers in the figure represent three-phase converters

(a)

(b)
Fig.(3-9) High voltage converters. (a) Series bridges half-controlled;

(b) series bridges fully controlled.

3.3. Experimental 1-phase Semi Converter Circuit:

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

Fig. (3-10) Schematic representation of experimental circuit.

Fig. (3-11) Experimental circuit of 1-phase semi-converter.

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

Fig. (3-12) Experimental circuit of 1-phase semi converter with resistive load.

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

Fig. (3-13) Matlab/ Simulink representation of experimental circuit.

A resistive load as shown in figure (3-13) the forward current path is provided by thyristors
T1 and D1, also the return current path is provided through T2 and D2.

Single phase semi-converter with a resistive load:

The instantaneous input voltage is

√ (3-8)

For the configuration depicted by figure (3-13); at least two devices must conduct to make
a path of current to delivered power to the load and the expression for the rms output phase
voltage depend on the range of the delay angles

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

Fig. (3-14) Simulation input voltage waveform

Fig. (3-15) Experimental input voltage waveform

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

For α = 85 o

Fig. (3-16) Simulation output voltage waveform for firing angle α = 85 o

Fig. (3-17) Experimental output voltage waveform for firing angle α = 85 o

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

For α = 120 o

Fig. (3-18) Simulation output voltage waveform for firing angle α = 120 o

Fig. (3-19) Experimental output voltage waveform for firing angle α = 120 o

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Thyristor Semi converter Chapter Three

For α = 135 o

Fig. (3-20) Simulation output voltage waveform for firing angle α = 135 o

Fig. (3-21) Experimental output voltage waveform for firing angle α =135 o

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