Example-1:

A 3-phase, half-wave, uncontrolled rectifier (shown in Fig. 1.1) has a supply of 200V/phase
and is feeding a highly inductive load with a smooth load current of 20A. The waveforms of
the three supply voltages are shown in Fig.1.2. Assuming 1.2V voltage drop across each diode.

(a). Sketch the waveforms of output voltage vo, diode currents, id1, id2 and id3.
(b). Calculate the mean dc output voltage.
(c). Calculate: (i) the peak reverse voltage applied on the diodes,
(ii) the average and rms values of the current for each diode.

va D1 io va vb vc
id1

vb id2 D2
N vo 0
vc
id3 D3

Fig 2.1 Fig 2.2

(d). If all the three diodes in Fig.1.1 are replaced by thyristors as shown in Fig.1.3, assuming
the delay angle is α=30o and the voltage drop across each thyristor is 1.2V. All other
conditions remain the same, answer the following questions:

(i) Sketch the waveforms of output voltage vo, thyristor currents, iT1, iT2 and iT3.
(ii) Calculate the mean dc output voltage,
(iii) Calculate the average and rms currents of the thyristors.
(i) Calculate the average power dissipation in each thyristor.

va T1 io
iT1

vb iT2 T2
N vo
vc T3
iT3

Fig 1.3
Solutions:

(a) Sketch the waveforms of output voltage vo, diode currents, id1, id2 and id3.

(b). Calculate the mean dc output voltage,

π 3
1 3 2 3 3 3 3 3
Vdc = ò Vm cos ωt × d (ωt ) =
2π -π 3 2π 2
Vm =
2π
Vm =
2π
2 ´ 200 - DV

3
= 232.78V

(c). The peak reverse voltage applied on the diodes, (ii) the average and rms values of the
current for each diode.
(i) Vpeak = 3Vm = 3 ´ 2 ´ 200 = 489.8 - 1.2 = 488.6 - 0.7 = 487.9

(ii)
1 2π 1 2π 3 I dc 20
I d ( rms ) =
2π ò
0
(id ) 2 d (ωt ) =
2π ò
0
( I dc ) 2 d (ωt ) =
3
=
3
= 11.54( A)

I dc 20
I d ( average) = = = 6.666( A)
3 3
(d). (i)

3 3
(ii) Vdc α =30O = Vm cos 30 o = 202.63(V )
2π

1 2π 1 2π 3 I dc 20
(i) I d ( rms ) =
2π ò
0
(id ) 2 d (ωt ) =
2π ò
0
( I dc ) 2 d (ωt ) =
3
=
3
= 11.54( A)

I dc 20
I d ( average) = = = 6.666( A)
3 3

(ii) 1.2 20 ´1.2

PAVERAGE = I d ´ = = 8(W )
3 3