CHOPPER

DC – DC CONVERTER
Function Chopper
• Converting the constant DC input to a variable DC output

General Block Diagram

Application

Switched-mode power supply (SMPS), DC motor control, battery chargers

Operation of a Chopper
• Chopper is a static device to produce variable
DC voltage from constant DC voltage source.

• Known as DC-DC Converter, consider as a

transformer in AC.

• Advantage: offer better efficiency, faster

response, lower maintenance and smooth
control.
• Electric automobile, forklift truck, breaking of DC
Motor & Voltage Regulator.
Types of Chopper
Choppers are of two types:

• Step‐down choppers-
• output voltage less than input voltage

• Step‐up choppers-
• output voltage more than input voltage
 Principle of Step-Down Chopper

T1 T2

Step-down Chopper with Resistive load

A step-down chopper with resistive load.

The thyristor in the circuit acts as a switch.

Chopper ON – When thyristor is ON, supply voltage appears across the load
Chopper OFF – When thyristor is OFF, the voltage across the load will be
zero.
Performance Parameters
• Average output voltage : Vdc = k (Vs-Vch)
𝒕𝟏
• Duty cycle :k=
𝑻
𝑉𝑎 𝒌𝑽𝒔
• Average load current : Idc = =
𝑅 𝑹
• Voltage rms : Vo = 𝒌 (𝑽𝒔 − 𝑽𝒄𝒉)
𝑽𝒐
• Current rms : Io =
𝑹
𝑽𝒔(𝑽𝒔−𝒗𝒄𝒉)
• Power Chopper Input :k
𝑹
(𝑽𝒔−𝑽𝒄𝒉)²
• Power Chopper Output :k
𝑹

Vch : Voltage drop

𝑃𝑜
• Efficiency : (range between 92-99%)
𝑃𝑖
 Example
T1 T2

Step-down Chopper with Resistive load

• The dc chopper in figure above has a resistive load of R=10Ω and the
input voltage is Vs = 220V. When the chopper switch is remains on,
its voltage drop is Vch = 2V and the chopping frequency is f = 1kHz. If
duty cycle is 50%.
Ans : Vdc = 109V
a. Determine average output voltage Va, : Vo = 154.15V
b. Rms output voltage : µ = 99.09%
c. Chopper Efficiency
Step-Up Chopper

Vo > V

Chopper ON, tON

Current rises and stores energy in inductor

Chopper OFF, tOFF

Current of inductance forced to flow through the diode and load
Step-Up Chopper
• Step-up chopper/ Boost converter produces output
voltage that is greater or equal to the input voltage
Step-Up Chopper
• When switch is closed, input supplies energy to inductor

• When switch is opened, output voltage receive energy

from inductor. Hence output is large

• Output voltage is maintained constant by large value of C

Application Chopper
• Uninterruptible Power Supply (Battery Charger)
• Computer UPS
• Outdoor UPS
• 120V rechargeable battery
Application Chopper
• Chopper Application : DC Motor Control
Chopper Operations
• Forced Commutation - current through the Thyristors is
forced to become zero to turn it OFF. It accomplished in 2
ways:
1. Impulse Commutated Chopper / Voltage
2. Resonant Pulse Chopper / Current- Assignment
Impulse Commutated Chopper
Mode 1 LS T1

+ + IL
VC _C iC
L
VS O
A
D
L D1
_

• Thyristor T1 is fired at t = 0.
• The supply voltage comes across the load.
• Load current IL flows through T1 and load.
• At the same time capacitor discharges through T1, D1,
L1, & ‘C’ and the capacitor reverses its voltage.
• This reverse voltage on capacitor is held constant by
diode D1
Impulse Commutated Chopper
IL
• Mode 2 + LS _ IL
VC C L
VS + T2 O
A
D
_

• Thyristor T2 is now fired to commutate thyristor T1.

• When T2 is ON capacitor voltage reverse biases T1 and turns if
off.
• The capacitor discharges through the load from –V to 0.
• Discharge time is known as circuit turn-off time.
Impulse Commutated Chopper
• Mode 3
IL
+ LS + IL
VS _C T2 L
VS O
A
FWD D
_

• FWD starts conducting and the load current decays.

• The energy stored in source inductance LS is transferred
to capacitor.
• Hence capacitor charges to a voltage higher than supply
voltage, T2 naturally turns off.
Impulse Commutated Chopper
LS
• Mode 4
+ + IL
VC _C L
D1 O
VS
A
L D
_ FWD

• Capacitor has been overcharged i.e. its voltage is above supply voltage.
• Capacitor starts discharging in reverse direction.
• Hence capacitor current becomes negative.
• The capacitor discharges through LS, VS, FWD, D1 and L.
• When this current reduces to zero D1 will stop conducting and the
capacitor voltage will be same as the supply voltage
Impulse Commutated Chopper
• Mode 5

IL Both Thyristors are off and the load current

L flows through the FWD.
FWD O This mode will end once thyristor T1 is
A fired.
D