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Topic 2 Power Control Systems

The document discusses different methods of controlling electrical power including using switches, rheostats, transformers, relays and breakers. It also discusses electronic switches such as diodes, transistors, thyratrons and thyristors. Key semiconductor devices for industrial use are described including shockley diodes, thyrectors, DIACs, SCRs, TRIACs, SUS, SBS, UJTs and PUTs.

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24 views7 pages

Topic 2 Power Control Systems

The document discusses different methods of controlling electrical power including using switches, rheostats, transformers, relays and breakers. It also discusses electronic switches such as diodes, transistors, thyratrons and thyristors. Key semiconductor devices for industrial use are described including shockley diodes, thyrectors, DIACs, SCRs, TRIACs, SUS, SBS, UJTs and PUTs.

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Miscrits TRE
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TOPIC 2: Power Control System

Solid-state device is an electronic device in which electricity flows


through solid semiconductor crystals such as silicon, germanium and
gallium arsenide, rather than through vacuum tubes.

Guide Book in Electronics Engineering by Ronnie Villamor Page | 1


https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/a-review-on-power-semiconductor-devices/
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/
Primary Methods of Controlling Electrical Power
By using manual switches and rheostats
By using variable reactance and transformers
By using relays and breakers
By using electronic switches such as diodes, transistors, thyratrons and
thyristors.

Definition of Terms
Switch is a device that completes or breaks the path of the current or
send it over a different path
The most obvious Rheostat is a device that can limit the amount of current flowing in a path
difference between a without opening the circuit. Current limiting function is done by shifting the
potentiometer vs. movable contact of the rheostat, which in turns varies the resistance of the
rheostat is the
number of terminals; device.
potentiometers have Reactance is the opposition to the flow of alternating current. If reactance
three (input and 2
outputs) while
is made variable, then alternating current can be effectively controlled.
rheostats have two Examples of these devices are saturable reactor and magnetic amplifier.
(1 input, 1 output).
Transformer is an electrical device which, by electromagnetic induction,
controls, transforms electric power from one circuit to another.
Relay is an electromechanical device which controls electrical power by
completing or breaking the path of the current or by sending it over to a
different path. The opening and closing of the circuit is controlled by an
electromagnetic coil.
Breakers or Circuit Breakers are similar to relays, but are normally used
to automatically interrupt or break circuits having abnormalities such as
overloads.

Electronic Switches
Thyratron – a gas filled triode uses as an electronic switch. The controlled
current passes through its cathode then to the plate, which is controlled at
the grid.
Ignitrons – mercury-containing electron tube functioning as a rectifier. It
has the highest single-device current capacity rating and can withstand
overloads better.
Thyristors – are semiconductor devices used to electronically control
power. The silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) is the most popular thyristor.
Guide Book in Electronics Engineering by Ronnie Villamor Page | 2
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/a-review-on-power-semiconductor-devices/
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/
Industrial Electronic Devices

Shockley Diode
A four-layer diode
A dual terminal pnpn device
A unilateral or unidirectional breakover device

Thyrector
A silicon diode exhibiting very high resistance up to a certain voltage, beyond which the device
switches to a low-resistance conducting state
Viewed as a two zener diodes connected back-to-back in series
Used to support voltage surges and transients

Symbol

Guide Book in Electronics Engineering by Ronnie Villamor Page | 3


https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/a-review-on-power-semiconductor-devices/
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/
DIAC – diode AC
A two-terminal, bilateral, three-layer semiconductor device that exhibits negative resistance when
applied voltage exceeds the breakdown value.
A gateless TRIAC
Used a trigger larger thyristors

SCR – Silicon-Controlled Rectifier


A three-terminal four-layer device
A thyristor (most popular power controller)
Gated Shockley diode
Semiconductor equivalent of a thyratron

Guide Book in Electronics Engineering by Ronnie Villamor Page | 4


https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/a-review-on-power-semiconductor-devices/
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/
TRIAC – Triode AC
A bidirectional triode thyristor
Two SCRs connected back to back in parallel
Gated DIAC

SUS – Silicon Unilateral Switch


A unilateral or unidirectional break-over device
A four-layer or Shockley diode with a gate
Low-voltage, low-current device

SBS – Silicon Bilateral Switch


A bilateral or bidirectional break-over device
Two SUSs connected back to back in parallel
Low voltage, low-current device

Guide Book in Electronics Engineering by Ronnie Villamor Page | 5


https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/a-review-on-power-semiconductor-devices/
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/
UJT – Unijunction Transistor or Double-Based Diode
A semiconductor device consisting of a thin silicon bar on which a single pn junction acting as an
emitter is formed near one end. Two-bases are providing each an ohmic connection made to one
end of the bar.

PUT – Programmable UJT


A four-layer pnpn device
Programmable in as sense that RB1 and Rb2 are external and can be selected approximately

LED – Light Emitting Diode


A semiconductor device that emits light when forward biased
Generally uses Gallium Arsenide Phosphide (GaAsP) or Gallium Phosphide
Light is produced as the electron and hole recombine and release energy

Guide Book in Electronics Engineering by Ronnie Villamor Page | 6


https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/a-review-on-power-semiconductor-devices/
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/
Photodiode
A semiconductor device of which the reverse saturation current increases as light strikes into its
opening
The energy of photons is transferred to the atomic structure which in turn increases the number of
minority carriers

Symbol

Guide Book in Electronics Engineering by Ronnie Villamor Page | 7


https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-articles/a-review-on-power-semiconductor-devices/
https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/

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