International Islamic University Islamabad

Faculty of Engineering & Technology

Department of Electrical Engineering

POWER ELECTRONICS LAB (EE421L)

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper

Name of Student: ……………………………………

Registration No.: ……………………………………..

Date of Experiment: …………………………………

Submitted To: ………………………………………,..

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper Page 1

Objectives:
 To understand the working of MOSFET based first quadrant choppers.
 To analyze the different driver circuitries for N-channel and P-channel power MOSFETs.

Equipment Required:
 DMM
 Oscilloscope
 Function Generator
 DC Power Supply: +12V (fixed);
 Resistor:1-kΩ [Qty=1];
 Power Resistor: 100-Ω/5W [Qty=1];
 Capacitor: 0.47-uF [Qty=1]; 2.2-uF [Qty=1];
 Diode: Si [Qty=1];
 N-channel Power MOSFET: IRF740 [Qty=1];
 P-channel Power MOSFET: IRF9540N [Qty=1];
 Optocoupler: PC817 [Qty=1];
 Transistor’s Driver IC: IR2110 [Qty=1];
 Connecting wires

Theory:
In many industrial applications, it is required to convert a fixed-voltage DC source
into a variable-voltage DC source. A DC-DC converter converts directly from DC to DC and
is simply known as a DC converter. A DC converter can be considered as DC equivalent to
an AC transformer with a continuously variable turns ratio. Like a transformer, it can be used
to step down or step up a dc voltage source. These converters are widely used for traction
motor control in electric automobiles, trolley cars and mine haulers etc. They provide smooth
acceleration control, high efficiency, and fast dynamic response. DC converters can be used
in regenerative braking of DC motors to return energy back into the supply, and this feature
results in energy savings for transportation systems with frequent stops.
Performance Parameters:
The output voltage and the input current of a DC-C converter should ideally be pure
DC, but the output voltage and the input current of a practical DC–DC converter contain
harmonics or ripples. The converter draws current from the DC source only when the
converter connects the load to the supply source and the input current is discontinuous. The
performance parameters of a DC-DC converter can be obtained as:

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper Page 2

i. The DC output power (Pdc) is,
Pdc = Vdc Idc …. (8.1)
where Vdc and Idc are the average load voltage and load current.

ii. The AC output power (Pac) is,

Pac = Vr.m.s Ir.m.s …. (8.2)

where Vr.m.s and Ir.m.s are the r.m.s load voltage and load current.
iii. The converter efficiency (not the power efficiency) is,
𝐏𝐝𝐜
η= …. (8.3)
𝐏𝐚𝐜

iv. The r.m.s ripple content of the output voltage (Vr) is,

𝟐 𝟐
Vr = √𝐕𝐫.𝐦.𝐬 − 𝐕𝐝𝐜 …. (8.4)

v. The r.m.s ripple content of the output current (Ir) is,

Ir = √𝐈𝐢𝟐 − 𝐈𝐬𝟐 …. (8.5)

where Ii and Is are the r.m.s and average values of the DC supply current.

vi. The ripple factor of the output voltage (RFv) is,

𝐕𝐫
RFv = …. (8.6)
𝐕𝐝𝐜

vii. The ripple factor of the output current (RFi) is,

𝐈𝐫
RFi = …. (8.7)
𝐈𝐬
The power efficiency, which is the ratio of the output power to the input power, will
depend on the switching losses, which in turn depend on the switching frequency of the
converter. The switching frequency f should be high to reduce the values and sizes of
capacitances and inductances. The designer has to compromise on these conflicting
requirements.
A DC converter, in which output voltage is less than the input voltage, is
known as step-down chopper. Figure 8.1 shows the circuit of step-down chopper.
When the switch known as chopper, is closed for a time t1, the input voltage (VDD)
appears across the load (VO = VDD). If the switch is OFF for a time t2, the voltage

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper Page 3

across the load (VO) is zero. The power flow will always be from source to the load,
so the average value of output voltage (VO) and current (IO) is always positive,
that’s why this type of chopper is also known as first-quadrant or type “A” chopper.

 The average output voltage (Vdc) is given by,

𝟏 𝐭 𝐭𝟏
𝐕𝐝𝐜 = ∫𝟎 𝟏 𝐕𝐃𝐃 𝐝𝐭 = 𝐕𝐃𝐃 = 𝐤 . 𝐕𝐃𝐃 …. (8.8)
𝐓 𝐓
where k is duty cycle of the chopper
 The average output current (Idc) can be obtained as,
𝐕𝐝𝐜
𝐈𝐝𝐜 = …. (8.9)
𝐑
 The r.m.s value of the output voltage (Vr.m.s) is found from,
𝟏
𝟏 𝐭 𝟐
𝐕𝐫.𝐦.𝐬 = ( ∫𝟎 𝟏 𝐕𝐃𝐃 𝐝𝐭) = √𝐤 . 𝐕𝐃𝐃 …. (8.10)
𝐓
 The r.m.s output current (Ir.m.s) can be obtained as,
𝐕
𝐈𝐫.𝐦.𝐬 = 𝐫.𝐦.𝐬 …. (8.11)
𝐑

Figure 8.1

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper Page 4

 Part 1: N-channel Power MOSFET based First Quadrant Chopper
The first-quadrant chopper along with driver circuitry is shown in Figure 8.2. The
main advantage of using an N-channel power MOSFET is its relatively lower RDS
(ON) than P-channel power MOSFET. To use the N-channel power MOSFET in the
circuit configuration of Figure 8.2, a gate driver is always required to provide proper gate-
source voltage (VGS) as per requirements to keep the MOSFET in ON or OFF state. There
are many such drivers available in the market but we will use IR2110 driver in this part of
the experiment.

Figure 8.2
Procedure:
a. Construct the circuit of Figure 8.2 on the breadboard using appropriate N-channel power
MOSFET.
b. Generate a PWM signal through function generator having frequency f = 1-kHz and duty
cycle k = 0.20 (20%) with amplitudes equal to 5V (peak) and 0V. Apply this PWM signal
at pin #10 of driver IC (IR2110). Pin # 7 of driver IC (IR2110) is connected to the gate
terminal of N-channel power MOSFET (IRF740).
c. Energize the circuit of Figure 8.2. Using oscilloscope, draw the waveforms of applied
PWM signal, gate-source voltage (VGS) and output voltage (VO) on the graph paper given
in Figure 8.3.
d. Using DMM, measure the average output voltage and record it in Table 8.1. In addition,
record the theoretical value of average output voltage in Table 8.1.

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper Page 5

 Table 8.1

Clock Frequency (f = 1-kHz)

Sr. Input Voltage
No. (VDD) Duty Cycle Vo (dc) Vo (dc)
(k) (calculated) (measured)
1 12V 0.20 (20%)
2 12V 0.50 (50%)
3 12V 0.80 (80%)

Figure 8.3

e. Apply a PWM signal having same frequency (f =1-kHz) but change the duty cycle to 0.5
(50%). Using oscilloscope, draw the waveforms of applied PWM signal, gate-source
voltage (VGS) and output voltage (VO) on the graph paper given in Figure 8.4.

Figure 8.4

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper Page 6

f. Using DMM, measure the average output voltage and record it in Table 8.1. In addition,
record the theoretical value of average output voltage in Table 8.1.
g. Apply a PWM signal having same frequency (f =1-kHz) but change the duty cycle to 0.80
(80%). Using oscilloscope, draw the waveforms of applied PWM signal, gate-source
voltage (VGS) and output voltage (VO) on the graph paper given in Figure 8.5.

Figure 8.5
h. Using DMM, measure the average output voltage and record it in Table 8.1. In addition,
record the theoretical value of average output voltage in Table 8.1.
i. Using k = 0.5, obtain the measured values of performance parameters for the
first quadrant chopper of Figure 8.2 and fill Table 8.2.
Table 8.2: Performance Parameters of N-channel MOSFET based First-Quadrant Chopper
Sr. Measured
Parameter
No. Value
1 Vdc
2 Idc
3 Pdc
4 Vr.m.s
5 Ir.m.s
6 Pac
7 η
8 Ii
9 Is
10 Vr
11 Ir
12 RFv
13 RFi

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper Page 7

 Part 2: P-channel Power MOSFET based First Quadrant Chopper
The design of the first quadrant chopper using P-channel power MOSFET is given in
Figure 8.6. The source voltage of an N-channel power MOSFET when used as a high side
switch will be at a higher potential with respect to ground. Thus, to drive an N-channel power
MOSFET an isolated gate driver or a pulse transformer must be used. However, this is not the
case with P-channel power MOSFET. It is easy to drive a P-channel high side switch with a
very simple level shifter circuit. Doing this simplifies the circuit and often reduces the overall
cost. Optocoupler (PC817) will be used as a gate driver for P-channel MOSFET in this part
of experiment.

Figure 8.6
Procedure:
a. Construct the circuit of Figure 8.6 on the breadboard using appropriate P-channel power
MOSFET.
b. Generate a PWM signal through function generator having frequency f = 1-kHz and duty
cycle k = 0.20 (20%).
c. Apply this PWM signal at pin # 1 of Optocoupler whereas pin # 4 of Optocoupler is
connected to the gate terminal of P-channel power MOSFET (IRF9540).
d. Energize the circuit of Figure 8.6. Using oscilloscope, draw the waveforms of applied
PWM signal, gate-source voltage (VGS) and output voltage (VO) on the graph paper given
in Figure 8.7.
e. Using DMM, measure the average output voltage and record it in Table 8.3. In addition,
record the theoretical value of average output voltage in Table 8.3.

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper Page 8

 Table 8.3

Clock Frequency (f = 1-kHz)

Sr.
Input Voltage Duty Cycle
No. Vo (dc) Vo (dc)
(VDD) (k) (calculated) (measured)
1 12V 0.20 (20%)
2 12V 0.50 (50%)
3 12V 0.80 (80%)

Figure 8.7

f. Apply a PWM signal having same frequency (f =1-kHz) but change the duty cycle to 0.5
(50%). Using oscilloscope, draw the waveforms of applied PWM signal, gate-source
voltage (VGS) and output voltage (VO) on the graph paper given in Figure 8.8.

Figure 8.8

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper Page 9

g. Using DMM, measure the average output voltage and record it in Table 8.3. In addition,
record the theoretical value of average output voltage in Table 8.3.
h. Apply a PWM signal having same frequency (f =1-kHz) but change the duty cycle to 0.80
(80%). Using oscilloscope, draw the waveforms of applied PWM signal, gate-source
voltage (VGS) and output voltage (VO) on the graph paper given in Figure 8.9.

Figure 8.9

i. Using DMM, measure the average output voltage and record it in Table 8.3. In addition,
record the theoretical value of average output voltage in Table 8.3.
j. Using k = 0.8, obtain the measured values of performance parameters for the
first quadrant chopper of Figure 8.2 and fill Table 8.4.
Table 8.4: Performance Parameters of P-channel MOSFET based First-Quadrant Chopper
Sr. Measured
Parameter
No. Value
1 Vdc
2 Idc
3 Pdc
4 Vr.m.s
5 Ir.m.s
6 Pac
7 η
8 Ii
9 Is
10 Vr
11 Ir
12 RFv
13 RFi

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper Page 10

 Salient Features of IC-IR2110

Pin Configuration of IC-IR2110

Lead Definition of IC-IR2110

Pin No. Pin Symbol Description
1 LO Low side Gate driver output
2 COM Low side return

3 VCC Low side supply

4 --- ---
5 VS High side floating supply return

6 VB High side floating supply

7 HO High side Gate driver output

8 --- ---

9 VDD Logic Supply

10 HIN Logic Input for high side Gate driver output, in phase
11 SD Logic input for shutdown
12 LIN Logic Input for low side Gate driver output, in

13 VSS Logic ground

14 --- ---

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper Page 11

 Typical Connections of IC-IR2110

Experiment No. 8: First Quadrant Chopper Page 12