Power Electronics

(I3731EP)
AC-DC CONTROLLED

Lecture Notes 2024

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 CH4 Outline
 Introduction
• Controlled Rectifiers Basics

 Line-Frequency Phase-Controlled Rectifiers (Ch. 6)

• Single-Phase Converters
• Three-Phase Converters
• Full Bridge Converters

AT Ndapuka I3731EP
 Controlled Rectifiers
 Introduction
• What is a controlled rectifier?
• A rectifier whose output voltage can be controlled or regulated.
• Controlled rectifiers output voltage is bidirectional (they either
rectify (𝑉𝑑 > 0) or invert (𝑉𝑑 < 0)).
• Thyristors are the most used type of switches in these type of
rectifiers.
• Controlled rectifiers are mostly used in high power applications.
• Many topologies do exist for controlled rectifiers, but only the
main ones will be discussed here.

• Control Methods
• Phase Controlled (Natural Commutation) → Low frequency.
• Forced Commutation → High frequency.

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Introduction (cont.)
• A typical fully controlled thyristor converter is shown below.
• It can work both in rectifying or inverter mode.
• Average output voltage is either positive or negative.
• Current is always positive. Why?
• Also referred to as a two-quadrant converter.
• Two limitations apply: Voltage and current limitations.

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Introduction (cont.)
• Basic Thyristor Circuit (Purely Resistive Load)
• Thyristor does not turn on until 𝑡 = , firing angle.
• Therefore by controlling the firing, trigger or delay angle, , the
average output voltage, 𝑣𝑑 , can be controlled.
• For  = 0, the converter output is exactly similar to diode
rectifiers.

AT Ndapuka I3731EP
 Controlled Rectifiers
 Introduction (cont.)
• Basic Thyristor Circuit (Inductive Load)
• Thyristor only turn off at 𝜃2 . Why?
• Commutation delayed due to inductor current.

Thyristor will conduct until Area 𝐴1 = Area 𝐴2

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Introduction (cont.)
• Basic Thyristor Circuit (LE Load)
• Thyristor will not turn on until:
• 𝑣𝑠 > 𝐸𝑑 , and
• 𝛼≠0

• Draw 𝑣𝑑 waveform for 2 cycles.

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Practical Thyristor Converters
• Full-Bridge Thyristor Converters
• For easier analysis the following assumptions are made:
• 𝐿𝑠 = 0, 𝑖𝑑 𝑡 = 𝐼𝑑 is constant.

Single Phase Three Phase

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Practical Thyristor Converters
• Single Phase Thyristor Converters
• What if the gate signal is applied continuously without delay?
• How will the waveforms look like?

AT Ndapuka I3731EP
 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Waveforms (𝑳𝒔 = 𝟎, 𝑰𝒅 = 𝑫𝑪)
• Continuous Gate Signal  Instant Commutation
• Thyristor behaves like a diode

1 𝜋
𝑉𝑑0 = න 2 𝑉𝑠 sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑑 𝜔𝑡 = 0.9𝑉𝑠
𝜋 0

AT Ndapuka I3731EP
 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Waveforms (𝑳𝒔 = 𝟎, 𝑰𝒅 = Constant)
a) Commutation at angle .

Notes:
• 𝑣𝑑 < 0, 0 ≤ 𝜔𝑡 ≤ 𝛼

• At 𝜔𝑡 = 𝛼, instant commutation occurs.

• Determine the effect of  on 𝑉𝑑 :

1 𝜋+𝛼
𝑉𝑑𝛼 = න 2 𝑉𝑠 sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑑 𝜔𝑡 = 0.9𝑉𝑠 cos 𝛼
𝜋 𝛼

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Waveforms (𝑳𝒔 = 𝟎)

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Waveforms (𝑳𝒔 = 𝟎)

• Notes:

∆𝑉𝑑𝛼 = 𝑉𝑑0 − 𝑉𝑑𝛼 = 0.9𝑉𝑠 (1 − cos 𝛼)

where: 𝑉𝑑𝛼 = 0.9𝑉𝑠 cos 𝛼 and 𝑉𝑑0 = 0.9𝑉𝑠

• Output Power
𝑃 = 𝐼𝑑 𝑉𝑑𝛼 = 0.9𝑉𝑠 𝐼𝑑 cos 𝛼

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Average Output DC Voltage
𝜋
• Rectifier Mode (0 ≤ 𝛼 ≤ )
2
𝜋
• Inverter Mode ( ≤ 𝛼 ≤ 𝜋)
2

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Line Current Characteristics
• Source current (𝑖𝑠) is a square wave, shifted by 𝛼 from 𝑉𝑠 .

• Therefore:
𝐼𝑠1 = 0.9𝐼𝑑
𝐼𝑠 = 𝐼𝑑

𝑰2𝑠 −𝑰2𝑠1
• THD = = 48.43%
𝑰𝑠1

• DPF = cos 𝛼

𝑰𝑠1
• PF = cos 𝛼 = 0.9 cos 𝛼
𝑰𝑠

• Even order harmonics are absent.

AT Ndapuka I3731EP
 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Effect of Ls. (𝑳𝒔 ≠ 𝟎, 𝑰𝒅 = Constant)
• How will the waveforms look like?

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Considering the Effect of Ls (cont.)
• Commutation takes a finite time (commutation interval, 𝑢).

• Change in average
output voltage:

𝐴𝑢 2𝜔𝐿𝑠 𝐼𝑑
∆𝑉𝑑𝑢 = =
𝜋 𝜋

• Output Voltage:

𝑉𝑑 = 𝑉𝑑𝛼 − ∆𝑉𝑑𝑢
2𝜔𝐿𝑠 𝐼𝑑
= 0.9𝑉𝑠 cos 𝛼 −
𝜋

AT Ndapuka I3731EP
 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Line Current, 𝑰𝒔 (𝑳𝒔 ≠ 𝟎).

• Input Current Characteristics:

1
• DPF= cos 𝜙1 = cos(𝛼 + 𝑢)
2

• Equating AC side power to DC

side power:

𝑉𝑠 𝐼𝑠1 𝐷𝑃𝐹 = 𝑉𝑑 𝐼𝑑

• Therefore:
2𝜔𝐿𝑠 𝐼𝑑
0.9𝑉𝑠 cos 𝛼 − 𝐼𝑑
𝜋
𝐼𝑠1 = Homework
1
𝑉𝑠 cos(𝛼 + 𝑢) • PF?
2
• THD?

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Practical Single Phase Converter
• Continuous mode (inductor current doesn’t go to zero)

Output Characteristics:
• For Continuous Current, average
output voltage is:

2𝜔𝐿𝑠 𝐼𝑑,𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑉𝑑 ≅ 0.9𝑉𝑠 cos 𝛼 −
𝜋

• By controlling 𝑉𝑑 , 𝐼𝑑 is also
controlled.

• As well as the power

delivered.

AT Ndapuka I3731EP
 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Practical Single Phase Converter
• Discontinuous mode (inductor current doesn’t go to zero)

Output Characteristics:
• Due to large  or light loads (low 𝐼𝑑 ), the current might become
discontinues.

AT Ndapuka I3731EP
 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Inverter Mode
• Power flows from the DC side.

• How is this achieved?

• Commutation is still due to AC
source but 90°< < 180°.

• Current is flowing in the same

direction.

• Average output voltage is

negative, given by:

2𝜔𝐿𝑠 𝐼𝑑
𝐸𝑑 = 𝑉𝑑 = 0.9𝑉𝑠 cos 𝛼 −
𝜋

AT Ndapuka I3731EP
 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Inverter Mode (cont.)

AT Ndapuka I3731EP
 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Inverter Mode (cont.)

• Extinction Angle – The angle during which the voltage across the thyristor is
negative, beyond that it becomes positive:

𝛾 = 180° − 𝛼 + 𝑢

𝛾 = 180° − 𝛼 + 𝑢

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Single Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Inverter Mode Start-up
• The inverter is normally started at large firing angles.
• This is to ensure that 𝑖𝑑 is discontinuous.
• Later,  is tuned to the value for the required voltage or power.

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Three Phase Thyristor Converters
• Introduction
• With 𝐿𝑠 = 0 and 𝛼 = 0, output is similar to diode rectifier.
• What is the effect of 𝛼?

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTr81arRjR8

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Three Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Waveforms (𝑳𝒔 = 𝟎)

a) α = 0
𝑉𝑑0 = 1.35𝑉𝐿𝐿

b) α ≠ 0
𝐴𝛼
𝑉𝑑𝛼 = 𝑉𝑑0 −
(𝜋/3)
𝐴𝛼 = 2𝑉𝐿𝐿 (1 − cos 𝛼)

∴ 𝑉𝑑𝛼 = 𝑉𝑑0 cos 𝛼

= 1.35𝑉𝐿𝐿 cos 𝛼

𝑃 = 1.35𝑉𝐿𝐿 𝐼𝑑 cos 𝛼

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Three Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Waveforms (for different values of )
• 𝛼 > 90° inverter mode

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Three Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Input Line Current (𝑳𝒔 = 𝟎)

• 𝐼𝑠1 = 0.78𝐼𝑑

2
• 𝐼𝑠 = 𝐼 = 0.816𝐼𝑑
3 𝑑

• THD = 31.08%

• DPF = cos 𝛼

3
• PF = cos 𝛼
𝜋

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Three Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• With Finite 𝑳𝒔 (𝑳𝒔 ≠ 𝟎) and Constant Output Current

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Three Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Effect of 𝑳𝒔 ≠ 𝟎
• Commutation interval is introduced.

AT Ndapuka I3731EP
 Controlled Rectifiers
 Three Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• With Finite 𝑳𝒔 and Constant Output Current
• Commutation Interval, u, can be calculated from:

2𝜔𝐿𝑠
cos 𝛼 + 𝑢 = cos 𝛼 − 𝐼
2𝑉𝐿𝐿 𝑑

𝐴𝑢 3𝜔𝐿𝑠 𝐼𝑑
𝑉𝑑𝛼 = 𝑉𝑑0 cos 𝛼 − = 1.35𝑉𝐿𝐿 cos 𝛼 −
(𝜋/3) 𝜋

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Three Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Practical Converter
• Main Features:
• More complicated.

• Output current is not

purely DC.

• 𝐿𝑑 is finite.

• Typical of electrical motor.

• Mostly analysed using

simulation software.

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Three Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Typical characteristics of a practical converter.
• Output Voltage not purely DC.
• High DPF
• Reasonable PF (≈ 0.9)
• Lower THD (≈ 30%)

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Three Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Discontinuous Current Mode
• After a certain , current becomes discontinuous…

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 Controlled Rectifiers
 Three Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Inverter Mode (90° ≤ 𝛼 ≤ 180°)
• Pure DC output current is assumed for easier analysis.

AT Ndapuka I3731EP
 Controlled Rectifiers
 Three Phase Thyristor Converters (cont.)
• Inverter Mode Waveforms
• Extinction Angle, 𝛾.
• Note the that the average output voltage, 𝑉𝑑 , is negative.

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 Controlled Rectifiers
What have we learned?
 Controlled Rectifiers
• Input is line-frequency voltage, output is regulated DC voltage.

• Output voltage is regulated through the firing angle, , of the

Thyristor.

• Depending on , the converter can either be rectifier or inverter

mode. In either mode, current flows is one direction.

• These converters inject large harmonics into the grid. At smaller

values of 𝑉𝑑 , PF and DPF are very poor.

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