CHOPPERS

I. CHOPPER

CHOPPER
II. CLASSIFICATION

CHOPPER
III. OPERATION

CHOPPER
IV. CONFIGURATION
CHOPPERS
• A chopper uses high speed to connect and disconnect from a source
load. A fixed DC voltage is applied intermittently to the source load by
continuously triggering the power switch ON/OFF. The period of time for
which the power switch stays ON or OFF is referred to as the chopper’s
ON and OFF state times, respectively.

• Choppers are mostly applied in electric cars, conversion of wind and

solar energy, and DC motor regulators.
Symbols of Choppers
Choppers, in the Realm of Electronics

• Usually refer to devices or circuits that perform

chopping operations. Chopping involves the
intermittent opening and closing of a switch in
order to control the flow of current. This
technique is often used in power electronics to
regulate voltage or current.
 In its simplest definition, a chopper is a
device that converts direct current from
one state to another, from a fixed
constant state to a variable form. This
state change is necessary for electronic
circuits to control the amount of power
supply a load needs. A load is the end-
user of power in an electric circuit, for
instance, a light bulb.
• For a load to work efficiently, a chopper has to deliver the
right amount of power supply. And it does this using a high
frequency on and off switch for a specific period. Therefore,
the amount of energy a load needs(load voltage) during a
period will determine the switching frequency of the
chopper.

• In other words, it works using two different voltage levels

and switches between them rapidly to match the desired
voltage and current output.
WHAT IS CHOPPER
A chopper is a device that converts fixed DC input to a variable DC output
voltage directly. Essentially, a chopper is an electronic switch that is used to
interrupt one signal under the control of another.

A chopper is a static device that converts fixed DC input voltage to a variable

DC output voltage. It is a high-speed ON/OFF semiconductor switch. It may be
thought of as the DC equivalent of an AC transformer since they behave
identically.

In power electronics applications, since the switching element is either

completely on or completely off, its losses are low, and the circuit can provide
high efficiency.
The original signal can be recovered after amplification or
other processing by a synchronous demodulator that
essentially un-does the "chopping" process.
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF CHOPPER
A chopper is a high-speed ON/OFF switch. It
connected the source to load and disconnects the
load from the source at a fast speed. The following
image represents the simple circuit to show its
working principle.
In this circuit, the switch SW is a chopper. This switch
can be made ON and OFF at a very high speed. In this
way, the load may be connected and disconnected
from the supply source Vs.

When the switch is ON, the load voltage is equal to the

source voltage Vs, and when the switch is OFF, the load
voltage becomes equal to ZERO.

Thus, a chopped voltage across the load is obtained.

The output voltage, i.e., the voltage across the load, is
shown in the below image.
An inductor in the chopper is an essential thing.
This inductor makes diode D forward biased
when the switch SW is OFF.

Even though the switch SW is made OFF, the

load current doesn't become ZERO. Instead, it
flows through the freewheeling diode, inductor
L, and load. The load current is continuous, as
shown below.
DUTY CYCLE

A duty cycle is defined as the ratio of ON time to the

total time. The symbol α denotes it. The total time is the
sum of ON and OFF time.
Duty Cycle = TON / (TON+TOFF)
Assuming (TON+TOFF) = T, the duty cycle is given as
below.
Duty Cycle, α = (TON / T)
The average output voltage of the chopper may found from the
output voltage waveform. It is clear from the o/p voltage waveform
that voltage Vo is available only for the TON time in the total time
(TON+TOFF). Therefore, the average output voltage Vo may be
calculated as shown below.

Vo = TON Vs / (TON+TOFF)
But, TON / (TON+TOFF) = α
Hence,
Vo = αVs

https://www.javatpoint.com/what-is-chopper
 CHOPPER
CLASSIFICATION
In industrial power electronics, choppers are typically
classified based on their operating modes and control
strategies. Common classifications include:

1. Type of Switching Devices

2. Operating Modes

3. Control Strategies

Pulse Width Modulation

4.
(PWM) Techniques
5. Number of Switches
TYPE OF SWITCHING DEVICE
Thyristor-Based Choppers - These choppers use thyristors
(like Silicon-Controlled Rectifiers or SCRs) as the main
switching devices. Thyristors are suitable for high-power
applications due to their robustness.

MOSFET/IGBT-Based Choppers - Choppers utilizing Metal-

Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFETs) or
Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) offer advantages like
faster switching speeds and improved efficiency compared to
thyristor-based choppers.
OPERATING MODES
Step-Down (Buck) Chopper- Decreases the output
voltage by controlling the duty cycle of the switching
device.

Step-Up (Boost) Chopper - Increases the output voltage

by adjusting the duty cycle.

Voltage-Inverting (Buck-Boost) Chopper - Can both step

up and step down the output voltage, providing flexibility in
various applications.
Control Strategies

Open-Loop Choppers - Operate without feedback,

making them simpler but potentially less precise in
maintaining desired output characteristics.

Closed-Loop Choppers - Incorporate feedback

mechanisms such as voltage or current sensors to
adjust the control signals, enhancing accuracy and
stability in maintaining desired output.
PWM Techniques

Fixed Frequency PWM - Maintains a constant

switching frequency, simplifying design but
potentially leading to higher switching losses.

Variable Frequency PWM - Adjusts the switching

frequency based on load conditions, optimizing
efficiency by adapting to varying power
requirements.
Number of Switches

Single-Switch Choppers - Use a single switching

device, which can simplify control but may have
limitations in handling higher power levels.

Multi-Switch Choppers - Employ multiple

switching devices, allowing for better scalability and
control in high-power applications.
 CHOPPER
OPERATION
A chopper circuit is used to break up
the input signal so that it can be
processed as if it were an AC signal,
then integrated back to a DC signal
at the output. In this way, extremely
small DC signals can be amplified.
 Chopper operation refers to a technique used in
electronics to control the speed or direction of
electric motors by rapidly switching the power
supply on and off. This switching is typically done
using semiconductor devices like transistors or
thyristors. Chopper circuits can efficiently control
the voltage or current delivered to the motor,
allowing for precise speed control, improved
efficiency, and reduced heat generation.
 CHOPPER
CONFIGURATION
A chopper circuit typically consists of power
semiconductor devices such as thyristors or transistors,
along with supporting components like diodes, capacitors,
and inductors. The basic configuration includes:

I. Power Semi-Conductor Switches

II. DC Power Source

III. Control Circuitry

IV. Filter Components

Power Semiconductor Switches: These switches control the
flow of current through the circuit. They could be thyristors
(SCRs), transistors (BJTs or MOSFETs), or IGBTs, depending on
the application and requirements.

Load: The load is the device or system that the chopper circuit is
supplying power to, such as a motor or a heating element.

DC Power Source: The chopper circuit is usually fed from a DC

power source, such as a battery or rectified AC supply.
Control Circuitry: This part of the circuit provides the
necessary control signals to the power semiconductor
switches, determining when they should be turned on or off.
It may include pulse-width modulation (PWM) control,
feedback loops, and other control techniques to regulate the
output.

Filter Components: Depending on the application, the

chopper circuit may include filter components like
capacitors and inductors to smooth out the output voltage
or current and reduce ripple.
Overall, the configuration of a
chopper circuit allows for the
efficient control of power flow from a
DC source to a load, enabling
applications such as speed control of
motors, voltage regulation, and
power conversion.
GROUP 4

DELEN, JOSHUA P.
HERNANDEZ, KING ARMEL
LOPENA, KRISTIAN MARVI
ROCERO, SHAILYN MAE P.
SALES, ALLEN EDWARD