Power Electronics

Single Phase AC-AC Converters

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 Table of contents

• Introduction
1

• The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller

2

• The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - Resistive

3 Load

• The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - RL Load

4

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 Introduction
An ac voltage controller is a converter that controls the
voltage, current, and average power delivered to an ac
load from an ac source.

The phase-controlled ac voltage controller has several

practical uses including light-dimmer circuits and speed
control of induction motors.

In a switching scheme called phase control, switching

takes place during every cycle of the source, in effect
removing some of the source waveform before it reaches
the load.

Integral-cycle control, the source is connected and

disconnected for several cycles at a time.

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 The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller
Basic Operation
For the single phase AC voltage controller
shown, electronic switches are shown as parallel S1
thyristors (SCRs). This SCR arrangement
+ vsw -
makes it possible to have current in either io
direction in the load. This SCR connection is + +
S2 L
called antiparallel or inverse parallel because o
vs vo a
the SCRs carry current in opposite directions. A d
triac is equivalent to the antiparallel SCRs. - -
Other controlled switching devices can be used
instead of SCRs.

 Load current contains both positive and negative half-cycles. An analysis

identical to that done for the controlled half-wave rectifier can be done on a
half cycle for the voltage controller. Then, by symmetry, the result can be
extrapolated to describe the operation for the entire period.
 S1 conducts if a gate signal is applied during the positive half-cycle of the
source. S1 conducts until the current in it reaches zero.
 A gate signal is applied to S2 during the negative half-cycle of the source,
providing a path for negative load current.
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 The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller
Basic Operation

Basic observations about this controller

The SCRs cannot conduct simultaneously.

The load voltage is the same as the source voltage when either SCR
is on. The load voltage is zero when both SCRs are OFF.

The switch voltage vsw is zero when either SCR is ON and is equal to
the source voltage when neither is ON.

The average current in the source and load is zero if the SCRs are
on for equal time intervals. The average current in each SCR is not
zero because of unidirectional SCR current.

The rms current in each SCR is 1/√2 times the rms load current if
the SCRs are on for equal time intervals.
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The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - Resistive Load
S1

+ vsw -
io
+ +
S2
vs R vo

- -

Let the voltage source be

𝑣𝑠 𝜔𝑡 = 𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡

Output voltage is
𝑉 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡 𝛼 < 𝜔𝑡 < 𝜋 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜋 + 𝛼 < 𝜔𝑡 < 2𝜋
𝑣𝑠 𝜔𝑡 = 𝑚
0 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
The rms load voltage is
𝜋
1 𝑉𝑚 𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼
𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = (𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡)2 𝑑𝜔𝑡 = 1− +
𝜋 2 𝜋 2𝜋
α
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The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - Resistive Load
The rms current in the load and the source is

𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑉𝑚 𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼
𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = = 1− +
𝑅 𝑅 2 𝜋 2𝜋

The power factor of the load is

𝑉𝑚 𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼
2 2 1 − 𝜋 + 2𝜋
𝑃 𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑅 𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑅 𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 2
𝑝𝑓 = = = = =
𝑆 𝑉𝑠,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝐼𝑠,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑉𝑠,𝑟𝑚𝑠 (𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑅) 𝑉𝑠,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑉𝑚 2

𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼
𝑝𝑓 = 1− +
𝜋 2𝜋

The pf=1 for α=0, which is the same as for an uncontrolled resistive load, and
the power factor for α>0 is less than 1.

The average source current is zero because of half-wave symmetry.

𝐼𝑠,𝐴𝑣𝑔 = 𝐼𝑜,𝐴𝑣𝑔 = 0
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The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - Resistive Load

The average SCR current is

𝜋
1 𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡 𝑉𝑚
𝐼𝑆𝐶𝑅,𝐴𝑣𝑔 = 𝑑𝜔𝑡 = (1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼)
2𝜋 𝑅 2𝜋𝑅
𝛼 iS1

vs/R

The rms SCR current is ωt

α π 2π 2π+α 3π

𝜋
1 𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡 2 𝑉𝑚 𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼
𝐼𝑆𝐶𝑅,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = ( ) 𝑑𝜔𝑡 = 1− +
2𝜋 𝑅 2𝑅 𝜋 2𝜋
α

𝑉𝑚 𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼 𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠
𝐼𝑆𝐶𝑅,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 1− + =
2 2𝑅 𝜋 2𝜋 2

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 The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - Resistive Load
Example: The single-phase ac voltage controller has a 120 -Vrms 60-Hz source.
The load resistance is 15 Ω. Determine (a) the delay angle required to deliver
500 W to the load, (b) the rms source current, (c) the rms and average currents
in the SCRs, (d) the power factor.

(a) 𝑉𝑚 𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼 2 × 120 𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼

𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 1− + = 1− +
2 𝜋 2𝜋 2 𝜋 2𝜋

𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 2
𝑃= → 𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 2 = 𝑃𝑅 = 500 × 15 = 7500
𝑅
2 𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼
𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 1202 (1 − + )
𝜋 2𝜋
𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼
∴ 7500 = 14400(1 − + )
𝜋 2𝜋
𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼
− = 0.479
𝜋 2𝜋
2𝛼 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼 = 3.01

𝛼 = 1.54 rad = 88.1𝑜

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 The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - Resistive Load
(b) From (a) 𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 2 = 7500 → 𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 86.6

𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 86.6
𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = = = 5.77 A
𝑅 15

(c) 𝑉𝑚 2 × 120
𝐼𝑆𝐶𝑅,𝐴𝑣𝑔 = 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 = 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠88.1 = 1.86 A
2𝜋𝑅 2𝜋15

𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 5.77
𝐼𝑆𝐶𝑅,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = = = 4.08 A
2 2

𝑃 𝑃 𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼 500
(d) 𝑝𝑓 = = = 1− + = = 0.722
𝑆 𝑉𝑠,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝐼𝑠,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝜋 2𝜋 120 × 5.77

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 The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - RL Load
S1
When a gate signal is applied to S1 at 𝜔t=α
in single phase AC voltage controller with + vsw -
RL load, Kirchhoff’s voltage law for the io
+
circuit is expressed as. S2
+
𝑑𝑖𝑜 𝑡 R
𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡 = 𝑅𝑖𝑜 𝑡 + 𝐿 vo
𝑑𝑡 vs

- L
The solution for current in this equation
(as obtained in the controlled half wave -
rectifier section) is
𝑉𝑚 (𝛼−𝜔𝑡) 𝜔𝜏
𝑖𝑜 𝜔𝑡 = 𝑍 sin 𝜔𝑡 − 𝜃 − sin(𝛼 − 𝜃)𝑒 𝛼 ≤ 𝜔𝑡 ≤ 𝛽
0 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒 (1)
where
𝜔𝐿
𝑍 = 𝑅2 + (𝜔𝐿)2 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
𝑅
The extinction angle 𝛽 is the angle at which the current returns to zero, when
𝜔𝑡= 𝛽,
𝑉𝑚 (2)
𝑖𝑜 𝛽 = sin 𝛽 − 𝜃 − sin(𝛼 − 𝜃)𝑒 (𝛼−𝛽) 𝜔𝜏
𝑍
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 The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - RL Load
The above equation must be solved
numerically for 𝛽.

A gate signal is applied to S2 at 𝜔t=π+α,

and the load current is negative but has a
form identical to that of the positive half-
cycle.
The angle (𝛽-α) is called the conduction
angle 𝛶.
𝛶 =𝛽-α
In the interval between π and 𝛽 when the
source voltage is negative and the load
current is still positive, S2 cannot be
turned on because it is not forward biased.
The gate signal to S2 must be delayed at
least until the current in S1 reaches zero,
at 𝜔t= 𝛽. The delay angle is therefore at
least 𝛽- π.

α≥𝛽- π
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 The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - RL Load
When α=θ, equation (2) becomes
sin 𝛽 − 𝜃 = 0
which has a solution
𝛽−𝜃 =π

Therefore

𝛶=𝜋 When α=θ

When 𝛶=𝜋, one SCR is always conducting, and the voltage across the load is
the same as the voltage of the source. The load voltage and current are
sinusoids for this case, and the circuit is analyzed using phasor analysis for AC
circuits. The power delivered to the load is continuously controllable between
the two extremes corresponding to full source voltage and zero.

The expression of rms load current is

𝛽 𝛽 2
1 1 𝑉𝑚 𝑉
𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 𝑖𝑜 2 (𝜔𝑡) 𝑑𝜔𝑡 = sin 𝜔𝑡 − 𝜃 − 𝑚 sin(𝛼 − 𝜃)𝑒 (𝛼−𝜔𝑡) 𝜔𝜏 𝑑𝜔𝑡
𝜋 𝜋 𝑍 𝑍
α α

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 The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - RL Load
The average output voltage can be found as
𝛽
1 1 𝑉𝑚 1 1
𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = (𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑡)2 𝑑𝜔𝑡 = (𝛽 − 𝛼 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛽 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼)
𝜋 2 𝜋 2 2
α

An other way to find the expression of rms load current

is
1 𝑉𝑚 1 1 1
𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = (𝛽 − 𝛼 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛽 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼)
𝑅 + (𝜔𝐿) 2
2 2 𝜋 2 2

Power absorbed by the load is determined from

𝑃 = 𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 2 𝑅

The power factor of the load is

𝑃 𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑉𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 1 1 1

𝑝𝑓 = = = = (𝛽 − 𝛼 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛽 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼)
𝑆 𝑉𝑠,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝐼𝑠,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑉𝑠,𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝜋 2 2

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 The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - RL Load
The rms current in each SCR is
𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠
𝐼𝑆𝐶𝑅,𝑟𝑚𝑠 =
2

The average load current is zero,

𝐼𝑜,𝐴𝑣𝑔 = 0

Each SCR carries one-half of the current waveform, making the average SCR
current
𝛽 𝛽
1 1 𝑉𝑚
𝐼𝑆𝐶𝑅,𝐴𝑣𝑔 = 𝑖𝑜 (𝜔𝑡) 𝑑𝜔𝑡 = sin 𝜔𝑡 − 𝜃 − sin(𝛼 − 𝜃)𝑒 (𝛼−𝜔𝑡) 𝜔𝜏 𝑑𝜔𝑡
2𝜋 2𝜋 𝑍
α α

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 The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - RL Load
Example: For the single-phase voltage controller with RL load, the source is
120Vrms at 60 Hz, and the load is a series RL combination with R=20Ω and
L=50mH. The delay angle α is 90. Determine (a) an expression for load current
for the first half-period, (b) the rms load current, (c) the rms SCR current, (d)
the average SCR current, (e) the power delivered to the load, and (f) the power
factor.
(a)

The extinction angle is determined from the numerical solution of i(β)=0 in the
above equation.
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 The Single Phase AC Voltage Controller - RL Load

(b)

Or
1 𝑉𝑚 1 1 1
𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = (𝛽 − 𝛼 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛽 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼)
𝑅2 + (𝜔𝐿)2 2 𝜋 2 2

1 1 1
𝐼𝑜,𝑟𝑚𝑠 = × 120 × (3.83 − 1.57 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛440 + 0) = 3.27 A
27.5 𝜋 2

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)
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