What is an Inverter?

1. A static device that converts DC power into AC power at desired output voltage and
frequency is called an Inverter.

2. DC to AC conversion is known as inversion and is a very useful important part of our daily
lives nowadays where we are trying to remove our dependency on fossil fuels. Inverters can
take power from DC sources, such as batteries, and convert them to AC power for use in AC
motors as can be seen in Tata, etc.

3. For a fixed DC power, we can have variable AC power which can have variable voltage and
frequency.

4. For variable frequency, frequency can be controlled by controlling the switching periods of a
converter / switching frequency.

5. For variable voltage, voltage can be controlled by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation).

APPLICATIONS:
 Speed Control Of Induction Motor

 Induction Heating,

 Reactive Power Compensation

 UPS etc.

 . Classification of Inverters
 According to the method of Commutation

 Line Commutated Inverter

 Force Commutated Inverter

 According to the method of Connections

 Series Inverter

 Parallel Inverter

 Bridge Type Inverter

 According to the nature of DC source feeding the Inverter

 Voltage source Inverter

 Current Source Inverter

 According to the method of Commutation
Line-commutated inverter: An inverter that is tied to a power grid or line.
The commutation of power (conversion from DC to AC) is controlled by the power line,
so that, if there is a failure in the power grid, the Photovoltaic system cannot feed power
into the line.

Forced Commutation : The process of turning OFF a thyristor or SCR by using

external circuits is known as Forced Commutation. ... The circuit used for
this commutation method is known as commutation circuit and the components
that are used in the circuitry , are known as commutating components.

According to the nature of DC source:

Voltage Source Inverters:
 VSI has a constant voltage at its input terminals.
 Its output voltage does not depend on load but depends on input voltage.
 Its output current depends on the type of load.
 So, we need bidirectional and unipolar switches like RCT, MOSFET, IGBT body diode
to carry out the desired operation.
 Short circuits cause severe damage to the inverters.

Current Source Inverters:

 CSI has a constant current at its input terminals.
 Its output current does not depend on load.
 Its output voltage depends on the type of load.
 Here, we require unidirectional and bipolar switch like SCR.
 It has inbuilt protection against short circuit.
Classification of Voltage Source Inverters:
1. Single phase Inverter
1.1. Half Bridge Inverter
1.2. Full Bridge Inverter
2. Three phase voltage source inverter
2.1. 180 degree mode
2.2. 120 degree mode
 Single Phase Half Bridge Inverter
 This type of inverter is the basic building block of a full bridge inverter.
 It contains two switches and each of its capacitors has a voltage output equal to
Vs/2.
 Vor(RMS value of output voltage)=Vs/2
 In addition, the switches complement each other, that is, if one is switched ON the
other one goes OFF.

Circuit Diagram of Half Bridge Inverter

WORKING:

Type of load on output waveform

Resistive Load
 The load voltage and load current waveform do not have any phase displacement when the
resistive load is connected at the output.
R – L Load
The working of the single phase half bridge inverter is explain as follows
Mode 1 ( t1 < t < t2 )
 The load receives Vdc / 2 voltage when the SCR T1 is turned on and load current
increases slowly and exponentially.
 The load voltage and load current polarity becomes equal when SCR T1 is turned off.
The energy stored in the load during this interval.
Mode 2 ( t2 < t < t3 )
 The flow of inductive load current continues to flow when SCR T1 is turned off. The
direction of load voltage reverses.
 The load current flows through conduction of lower half diode D2. The stored energy
of load feedback to lower half.
Mode 3 ( t3 < t < t4 )
 The load current becomes zero and SCR T2 is turned on during this interval.
 The voltage across load becomes – Vdc / 2. The load current becomes maximum
negative at the end of this period ( t4 time ).
Mode 4 ( t4 < t < t5 )
 The SCR T2 is turned off at time t4 but the load current continues to flow due to
inductive load.
 The voltage across load becomes equal to + Vdc / 2.
 The load current flows through upper half portion due to conduction of diode D1.
 The energy stored of load feedback to upper part of the supply source.
The power flows from supply to load and vice versa. The main disadvantage of the single
phase half bridge inverter is that it requires three wire DC supplies.
Single Phase Full Bridge Inverter
 This inverter circuit converts DC to AC.
 It achieves this by closing and opening the switches in the right sequence.
 It has four different operating states which are based on which switches are closed.
 Vor(RMS value of output voltage)=Vs
 Four thyristor are used in full bridge inverter. Thyristor S1 and S2 are used along with two
feedback diode D1 and D2 and thyristor S3 and S4 are used along with another two feedback
diode D3 and D4 respectively.
 Fesistive load is connect between point A and B,as shown in fig:-
 DC voltage source is applied to circuit.

Circuit Diagram of Full Bridge Inverter

The working principle is same as half bridge inverter.

When S1 and S2 are turned ON When S3 and S4 are turned OFF

Waveforms of single phase full bridge rectifier

Three Phase VSI (180 Degree Mode)
 In this mode of conduction, every device is in conduction state for 180° where they
are switched ON at 60° intervals.
 The terminals A, B and C are the output terminals of the bridge that are connected
to the three-phase delta or star connection of the load.
 The figure below shows a circuit for a three phase inverter. It is nothing but three
single phase inverters put across the same DC source. The pole voltages in a three
phase inverter are equal to the pole voltages in single phase half bridge inverter.

Working Principle:
In the three phase inverter of each switch conduct 180° of cycle, thyristor pair in each arm i.e.
S1, S4; S3, S6 and S5, S2 are turned on with a time interval of 180°. It means that S1 conduct for
180° and S4 for the next 180° of a cycle. Switch in the upper group i.e. S1, S3, S5 conduct at an
interval of 120°. It implies that if S1 is fired at ωt=0°, then S3 must be fired at ωt=120° and S5 at
ωt=240°. Same is proved lower group of switches. On the basis of this firing scheme, a table in
prepared as shown at the top. In this table, first row show that S1 from upper group conducts
for 180°, S4 for the next 180° and then again S1 for 180° and so on. In the second row, S3 from
the upper group is shown to start conducting 120° after S1 starts conducting. After S3
conduction for 180°, S6 conducts for the next 180° and again S3 for the next 180° and so on.
Further, in the third row, S5 from the upper group start conducting 180° after S3 or 240° after
S1. After S5 conduction for 180°, S2 conducts for the 180°, S5 for the next 180° and so on. In this
manner, the pattern of firing the six switch is identified. Tis table show that S5, S6, S1 should be
gated for step I; S6, S1, S2 for step II ; S1, S2, S3 for step III ;S2, S3, S4 for step IV and so on. Thus
the sequence of firing the thyristor is S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6; S1, S2…. It is seen from the table that
is every step of 60° duration, only three switch are conducting one from upper group and two
from the lower group or two from the upper group and one from the lower group.
 Step Devices Conducting

I S1, S5 & S6

II S1, S2 & S6 Step

III S1, S2 & S3

IV S4, S2 & S3

V S4, S5 & S3

VI S4, S5 & S6

 Step I (0 to 60 deg) :

The load voltages are gives as follows; The line voltages are given as follows;
V = V/3,
AN V = V − V = V,
AB AN BN

V = −2V/3,
BN V = V − V = −V,
BC BN CN

V = V/3
CN VCA = VCN − VAN = 0
Similarly all other mode voltages can be calculated.
Phase Voltages for 180 Conduction

Fourier Series Analysis of phase voltages

Line Voltages for 180 Conduction

Fourier Series for Line-to-Line Voltages

ao
vab    ( an cos( nt )  bn sin(nt ))
2 n 1
 56 5

1 6

bn    Vs d (t )   Vs d (t ) 
 5 
 6 6

4Vs n n
bn  sin( ) sin( )
n 2 3

4Vs n 
vab   sin sin n(t  )
n 1,3,5,... n 3 6

4Vs n 
vbc  
n 1,3,5,... n
sin
3
sin n(t 
2
)

4Vs n 7
vca  
n 1,3,5,... n
sin
3
sin n(t 
6
)
Three Phase VSI (120 Degree Mode)

 In this mode of conduction, each electronic device is in a conduction state for 120°.
 It is most suitable for a delta connection in a load because it results in a six-step type
of waveform across any of its phases.
 Therefore, at any instant only two devices are conducting because each device
conducts at only 120°.