(i) the theAs Fig. Fig.current of Fig.

consider
Current, forward
significance
isfinaluntilcurrent Forconducting ina
loss(lyap). typecurrent essential choice rentovercurrents,
temperature may small. Ratings
quite tor Current 4.6.2.
A
eThis Butvalue
sometemperature
current;
there
provide
for device. vice therefore
4.18 both thyristor
a allowable 4.18 4.(b). 1 8
temperature finally it th e of handled exceed may material,
lower As SCR Average
ction
result average
thyristor The current
odent. per (a), (a). OApurpose repetitive
ratings In of
for be
better hasthen SCR
forward
he to rectangular If flowing
After this a damaged. the is
ttemperature
the reaches of current by is the ts
imade
125°C arefor short waveforms.
is of long dependent rated
in OD cooling
second current on-state part
rectangular of the averagea depends of on-state
low, SCRs
a junctionthermal
the
(say), time voltage and working thyristor, up
application
125°C ithrough s illustrating
tcontinuous dc therefore value
litude with of As Even
shortfor of
rectangular
method,
toamplitudewaveshape
constant, rated current non-repetitive are
s8o the is primarily the ratings is th
temperature
that
ans
perature
unction
remains of the
drop on and semiconduc capacity
reached on-state current discussed life a
thyristor wavehas value the
125°C poweracross article, of correct junctio the
amplitude pulse SCR,
of lyay
of junction of this.current the on the cur
T, de is
gular waveform ofand
rectangular wave in =
thefor or averageconduction angle 125°C. a Fig. B
relatively A B
(ii) this
temperature
reduce anode 4.18.
re As at
is value 360°
2T=
wave of anode t=Variation
the current
anode the not 0,junction
short Current
Anode ternp.
Final
cqual
in SCR
would desirable.
pulse Temp.
Curve
in 180° i, of
current Fig, Fig. time. has and
junction
rise theto Current
Anode
amplitude low with
intowithin 4.18 4.18 temperature
Suppose
27 T
is Inconstant (3) 360°
Ix thermalrectangular temperature Conduction
in
limits, (6) angle
reduced order is
atrome is 125°CT=
techniques, two likely OC now
lower to current time
= shownasin begins wave with
2
ilthminits, Pig.from that
to constat. ot
constant (6) T=125C
value 4.18 times (a)
OC à to
of(b). to , the Q4. in
OA ris
 THYRISTORS {ART. 4.6] 159
SCR must be rated at a lower value of average forward current Iyav When it is conducting a
nulsed anode current than when it is carrying a constant dc. This shows that thyristor is
derated when it handles rectangular or square wave of anode current. The effect of
conduction angle on anode current Iav is depicted in Fig. 4.19 (a) for rectangular or square
waves. The average on-state power loss Pa in this figure is approximately given by
P = (forward on-state voltage across a thyristor) x IyAV
It can be obtained more accurately from the relation

P. = n (instantaneous voltage across SCR) (instantaneous current through SCR)dt

where T = periodictime of the anode current waveform.

300 DC
3001

250 180 250

180°

200
120°
200} 120°
9o/ W
inPay 60°
90
W
in
Pay 60
150 Con d._ 20 150F Cond = 30°
angle angle

100 100
-360 180°
50 50
Conduction angie Conduction angle
40 80 120 160 200 40 80 120 160
ITAY in A IAy in A -
(a) (6)
for
FIg. 4.19. Average on-state power dissipation P as afunction of
(a)rectangular wave and (b) half-wave sinusoid.
may be. But
The rms current for an SCR is constant whatever the conduction angle waveform.
average current is given by (I /FF) where FF is the form factor of the current
The conduction angle for sine wave is defined in Fig. 4.19 (b). For the same conduction angle,
the form factor for sine wave is higher than, for the rectangular wave (see Examples 4.8 and
4.9). This means that average current for sine wave will be lower than it is for the
more
rectangular wave for the same de(or rms)current. The derating of the SCR is therefore angle on
conduction
1OT Sine waves than for the square or rectangular waves. The effect ofconduction angle, the
average current is depicted in Fig. 4.19 (b) for sine wave. For 180° is applicable for
anode current in Fig. 4.19 (6)is less than that in Fig, 4.19 (a), This diagram
1-phase half-wave circuit (or 1-phase one-way, one pulse cireuit). thyristors and are
Curves shown in Fig. 4.19 are supplied by the manufacturers of
The curve marked dc in Fig. 4.13 ta) 1s
vata ror supply frequency range of 50 to 400 Hz.Thecurrent for different conduction angles
Ppicable when anode current is continuous de.
current in Fig. 4.19. For exampie, 1Or 30
re terminated at different values of average in Fig. 4.13 (a) 1or
conduction angle, Insr terminates at II, /(form factor)l = 1. /3.464)
 160 AaT, 4.6] PoNER ELCTRONCS
rectanglar wave and at , /3.979)in Fig. 4.i9(b tor sine wave. At these
maximum rms current ratings of the device is reached. Table 4.1 gives
torm-factor for different conduction angles of the half-wave sine waveforms.
terminalvaluespoints,
different
Tabie 4.1. Form Factor for Sine Waves

Conduction engle 30 45° 609 90 120

Form factor 5.630 3.9812 3.233 27781 2.2214 1.878
L5708
Curves of Fig. 4.19 are applicable when load is purely resistive. In case load is inde
tive in nature, these cuves should be modified. With an
with improvement in the waveform :a
wavetorm becoming more smooth, the form actor decreases and as a
higher average on-state current Ir- Can be handled bv the device. consequee
RMS on-state eurrent (pys). By definition, for dìrect
= average or de value, Ia Heating of the resistive current, rms value l ot
elements
metallic joints. leads and interfaces depends on the forward rms of a thyrstor, such as
current rating is used as an upper limit for constant as well as current I The rms
of the thyristor. Its value is equal to I of Fig. 4.19 (a). pulsed anode current ratings
for an SCR remains the same for diferent The value of the rms forward crreat
dependent on conduction angle as shown conduction angles. Average current, bowever. is
in Fig. 4.19. For example. for 180* conductit
angle, the form factor for half-sine wave is 2,
This means that for 180° conduction angle, therefore average current is2Ror l.
thyristor cireuit should be designed to carry an
average current of 21/r instead ofI,. (or ml. The derating of the SCR below the de value
depends upon the current waveshape and it is defined as under :
SCR derating below de value = a -
where FF is the form factor of the waveform. Its 1-FF
value is alwavs more than ne
For rectangular wave, FF is less as
conmpared toits value for sine wave ir the e
conduction angle. Eq. (4.3) reveals that SCR derating below de is less for etangular wa
than for the sine wave. The average
computed as discussed above, current In: for other conduetion ngies c
The significance of Ipay and I can be
maximum rmscurrent for athyristor is 35 A. highlighted with u
For 120° onduetion angle forexample. Suy
35 sineware,(p
1.875 18.637 A. This neans that thyristor can handle an
120° conduction angle and its avere urent
placed in series with the SCR temperature willrennaiu withìn imits,
for measurng Suppuse
conduction angle to 30° but with the average urent.
unchanged at l8,637 A. But an average current as mlesure br the
average current of
= l8.637 x 3,9812 lS.637 at 30 Onduetio
require an rm current of , A
Current would cause large
ohmie losses and
74.1976 A, But such large
This shows that as conduetion angle is is, therefore, rertainl OnR
redueed.
current is not exCeeded beyond its rated value ada ust be lowerni avoingy
The current ratings the SCRis not damag
ay and , are of repet
maximum junction temperature. If better cooing is provided itive
tyN,to They
a thyristur hx, thse
ratings can be upgraded.
 [ART.4.6] 161
As stated above. power oss in a thyristor and its heating is dependent upon the rms
showing the variation of
Manuaturers also proide curves case T. temperature
CITEt
sitnaErage on-6tatecurrent I-s F ig. 4.20. These curves can be obtained from Fig. 4.19

-36 140
lem,
120
m
angie temp Conduction
(emp cngie
case
cOse
Maxm 180
MaNIm

120 160 200 40 80 120 160

ItAY inA
(a) (b)
Fiz. 4.20. Maximum allowabie case tenperature T as a function of - for
(o) rectangular wave and (b) for half-wave sinusoid.
provided 9, (thermal resistance between junction and thyristor case)' in °C/W is known. IfT.
is the junction ternperature. then
T-T =6, P
Por SCRs, T, is usually 125*C. Taking 6, = 0.15 C/W for de current of 200A; P =
300 W, from Fig. 4.19 (a), is obtained for Iray =200 A
125- T = 0.15 x 300 or T = 80°C
Thispoint is plotted in Fig. 4.20 (a)as A. For 80 A dc, P = 100 W.
125 -T = 0.15 x 100 or T = 110°C
This point is plotted as B in Fig. 4.20 (a ). For 180 conduction angle, for Ipay = 140 A,
P = 225 Wfrom Fig. 4.19 (a).
T = 125 -0.15 x 225 = 91.25°C
1n15 point is plotted as C in Fig. 4.20(a). Other points can be plotted accordingly for
rectangular as well as half-wave sinusoids toobtain the curves of Fig. 4.20. These curves
indicate that for Junction temperature T =125C. lower the average on-state current Irav
Ereater is the case temperature that c£n be allowed for the same conductiontemperature
angle. For
exarnple, for
T =91°C:forsine wave with 180° conduction ange,
Ira= 80 Athe case temperature T
for IAy = 120 Athe case
=104°C and so on.
repetitive voltage and
Rating. When athyristor is working under itsexceeded.
Surge Current However, a
Current ratings. its permissible junction temperature is never
conditions due to faults or short circuits.
tinhyriorderstor to mayaccommnodate these unusual working conditions, surge current rating, Isy(peak
be subjected to abnormal operating
specified. A surge current rating
tn-repetitive
the
on-state
adicates maximum
current), of thyristors is also
possible non-repetitive, or surge, current which the device can

understanding the term thermal resistance read Art. 4.9.

 162 ART. 4.6]
PowER ELECTRONCS
withstand. Higher currents caused by non-repetitive faults or short
circuits should
once in a while during the life span of a thyristor to prevent its degradation.
Surge currents are assumed to be sine waves with frequency of 50 or
60 Hz occur
upon the supply frequency. This rating is specified in terms of the number of
with corresponding surge current peak. Surge current rating is inversely
duration of the surge. It is usual to measure the surge duration in terms of
surge
proportional cycl
to es
the
depending
cycles of normal power frequency of 50 or 60 Hz. For example, a three-cycle the number of
rating for a period of 60 msec (3 x 20 msec) for 50 Hz supply consists of three surge current
cycles, each followed by an off-period. Three different surge current ratings conduct ing )half.
are provided
the manufacturers ; as for example, lysy = 3000 Afor cycle, Iysy = 2100 Afor 3
Irsy = 1S00 A for 5 cycles. cycles and
One cycle surge current rating is the peak value of allowable
wave of 10 msec duration for 50 Hz. For duration less than half-cycle non-recurrent
i.e. 10 halsubcycle
f-sine
surge current rating is also specified. This rating for 50 or 60 Hz supply is themsec,
a
peak
a part of the half-sine wave. The subcycle surge current value h.for
rating Isb Can be determined
equating the energies involved in one cycle surge and one subcycle surge as follows .
L'.t= I'.T
Or
t ...4.8a
where T = time for one half-cycle of supply
I= one-cycle surge current rating, A
frequency, sec
I =subcycle surge current rating, A
t= duration of subcycle surge, sec
For 50 Hz supply, T= 10 msec
I 1
10 Vt ...4.86)
Tt rating. This rating is employed
equipment for thyristors. The rating in terms ofinamp²-sec
the choice of a fuse or other
specifies
protective
the energy that the device
can absorb for a short time before the
fault is cleared. It is usually specified for
lasting for less than, or equal to, one-half cycle of 50 or 60Hz supply. The I't ratingoverloads
by the relation is ven
(rmsvalue of one-cycle surge
As an example, Pt rating for 4 A current) x time for one cycle
...(4.9)

amp²-sec. In order that a fuse (or other (rms) SCR is 10 amp²-sec and for 35 A SCRs
the T't rating of fuse must be
less than the protective equipment)
Tt rating of the protects a thyristor reliably.
dildt rating. This rating of a series-connected thytistOl
from anode to cathode without anythyristor indicates the maximum rate of rise of current
conduction starts at aplace near the gate. harmThis
to small
the device.
area of When
conduction the wholon.e
spreadsistoturned
a thyristor
area of junction. If the rate of
rise of anode current comparedto the
spreading velocity
the gate connection on
of carriers across the cathode junction, local
(dildt) hot spots
is large aswill beformed near
to rise above the account of high current density. This the junction
temperature
safe
Therefore, alimit on thelimit
valueand as a at turn-on is specifiedcauses
ofdildt in amperes permanently.
per microsecond for
allSCRs. Typical consequence, SCR may be damaged
values of di/ dt are 20 to 500 Alu sec.
 [ART,4.6] 163
TYAISTORs
oher ratings. In addition to the voltage and current ratings of thyristors discussed
ratings as under :
above, there are some other
(a)Latching and holding currents,
(b)Turn-on and turn-off times,
(c)Gate circuit voltage, current and power ratings.
These ratings have already been discugsed in Art. 4.1 to Art. 4.5.
Detailed ratings of any SCR during on-state and off-state can be obtained from the
number.
manufacturers by quoting the specification sheet
Example 4.9. The specification sheet for an SCR gives maximum rms on-state
on-state current
Current as35 A. If this SCRis used in a resistive circuit, compute average and (c)30.
(b) 90°
rating for half-sine wave currentfor conduction angles of (a) 180°
Solution. For half-sine wave of current as shown in Fig. 4.21 (a)
1 n sin 0de = 2T (1+ cos 0,)
J6,
/2
COs 29
1
2rJo sin 6 do 2T 2

Sin2A/7 7/2
2 m

2 |2 4
l6,
ql/2
m -, 1
4 sin 20,
+
2T 2

For 180° conduction angle, 0, = 0°

(1+ cos 0°) = n
21 T

¬1/2
and m Im
2n 2 2

Form factor, FF=

Im 2
35 x2
= 22.282 A
LyAy= FF
(b)For 90° conduction angle, 0, = 90°

Tav |1+ cos 90| = 2Tt

2T
ql/2
arnd
214 2/2
2Tt
Form factor =
2V2 ,, V2