Lecture (3)

Basics of Power Electronic Components

3-Thyristors
Thyristors or Silicone Controlled Rectifiers (SCRs) are semiconductor
devices.

Why using the silicone in SCR?

 It is the ideal choice because of its overall properties (thermal properties).

 It is able to handle high power applications.
 It is part of SCR name (although in theory the other types of semiconductor
could be used).

It’s used as rectifiers (from its name) and as electronic switching.

Thyristors are simple to use and cheap to buy, making them an ideal option for
many circuits.

That can use for applications as:

 Used for phase control.

 Used as AC static switches and relays.
 Used for lightening systems.

The SCR is considered as an unusual form of electronics device because it

consists of four layers rather than the three layers of the BJT. The SCR equivalent
circuit can be considered as two back to back BJTs. The first BJT with its emitter
connected to the anode of the SCR is a PNP-BJT, while a second BJT with its
emitter connected to the cathode of the SCR is an NPN-BJT. The gate (control
terminal) is connected to the base of the NPN-BJT together with the collector of
PNP-BJT as shown below.

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 12-11 -2020

 Like the diode, the SCR is a unidirectional device, that is it will conduct
current in one direction only, but unlike a diode, the SCR can make to operate as
either a circuit switch or as a controlled rectifying diode depending upon how the
SCR gate is triggered. In other words, SCR cannot be used for amplification. The
circuit symbol for the SCR suggests that this device acts like a controlled rectifying
diode.

The operation of a thyristors is different from other devices. Normally,

when a supply voltage is applied across a SCR (A-K), no current flows because
both BJT are not conducting. However if a supply is connected across the device,
and a small amount of current is injected into the gate (triggered), then the SCR
will "fire" and conduct. For the explanation, if the gate is triggered this will
cause current to flow in the base of TR2 and this causes to its turn on. Once TR2
is on, this cause current to flow in the base of TR1 and also its turn on, these
causes to remain pushes current through the base of TR2 even if the gate signal
is removed.

Meaning that the SCR will remain in the ON-state if the anode current ( )
is equal or greater than the Latching current, even when the gate current is

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 12-11 -2020

removed. But once anode current becomes more than latching current, the gate
losses its control and it may be removed, the SCR will continue to conduct.

For come to the OFF-state in SCR if the anode current ( ) is below the
Holding current. This means if the value of holding current is 5 mA, then the
anode current of SCR must become less than 5 mA to stop conducting. The states
of operation are shown below:

That main difference between latching and holding current of SCR is that
latching current is related to the turn-on process while holding current is related
to the turn-off process of SCR. The value of the latching current is more than that
of the holding current. The latching current is generally 2 to 3 times of the
holding current.

A typical Characteristic of SCR is as shown below. The SCR have

three modes of operation as illustrated below.

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 12-11 -2020

1-Reverse blocking mode
When cathode of the thyristor is made positive with respect to anode with
switch open thyristor is reverse biased. Junctions and are reverse biased
where junction is forward biased. The device behaves as if two diodes are
connected in series with reverse voltage applied across them.

 A small reverse leakage current of the order of a few mA only flows.

 Now if the reverse voltage is increased, at a critical breakdown level called
reverse break over voltage , an breakdown occurs at and and the
reverse current increases rapidly. As a large current associated with
and hence more losses to the SCR.
 This results in SCR damage as junction temperature may exceed its
maximum temperature rise.

2-Forward blocking mode (off-state)

When anode is positive with respect to cathode, with gate circuit open,
thyristor is said to be forward biased. Thus junctions and are forward biased
and junction is reverse biased.

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 12-11 -2020

  A small forward leakage current of the order of a few mA only flows.
 As the forward voltage is increased, junction 2 will have a breakdown at a
voltage called forward break over voltage ; then SCR conducts.
 When forward voltage is less than , SCR offers high impedance. Thus
SCR acts as an open switch in forward blocking mode, the SCR is in off-
state.

3-Forward conduction mode (on-state)

Here SCR conducts current from anode to cathode with a very small
voltage drop across it. During forward conduction mode of operation SCR is in
on-state and behave like a close switch.

So a thyristor can easily go from forward blocking mode to forward

conduction mode by:

 Applying a gate pulse between gate and cathode (Recommended), OR.

 Exceeding the forward break over voltage (unintentionally), OR.
 Exceeding the dv/dt Turn-On (unintentionally).

The Static dv/dt:

When the SCR is forward biased, junctions 1 and 3 are forward biased,
junction 2 reverse biased. Junction 2 behaves as a capacitor, due to the charges
existing across the junction.

If the voltage across the SCR is , the charge by Q, and capacitance by C;

then the anode current as:

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 12-11 -2020

 Therefore when the rate of voltage change across the device becomes large,
the SCR may turn-ON, even if the voltage across the SCR is small (not reatch to
the forward break over voltage) but it changes in a very small time. This method
may lead to damage of SCR due to high current and so it must be avoided

To turn-OFF a thyristor after its turn-ON by:

 Reverse or removed the of A-K voltage, OR.

 Reduce the anode current blow holding value.

The Rectification of SCR:

A simple circuit is shown below, if the SCR is triggered at the beginning of
the half-cycle (θ = 0°), the load (lamp) will be “ON” for the full positive cycle of
the AC waveform (half-wave rectified AC–unidirectional device). If the time of
trigger pulse increases along the half-cycle (θ = 0° to 180°), the lamp is
illuminated for less time and the average voltage delivered to the lamp will also
be less, then reducing its brightness.

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 12-11 -2020

 Comparison between SCR and BJT
SCR BJT
Number of Semiconductor
Layers 4 3

Number of Semiconductor 3 2
Junctions

Power Ratings Larger Smaller

Usage Switches, but not as Switches or Amplifiers.

Amplifiers.

A pulse can get the forward

Maintaining a Forward current flowing, and this A continuous input is
Current current will continue to flow required to maintain a
as long as it does not fall forward current.
below a holding value, even
when there is remove the
pulse of input current

Dr. Heba Mahmoud Soufi 12-11 -2020