DC Choppers: Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Power Electronics by Prof. M.
Madhusudhan Rao
1
1
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
DC Choppers
Power Electronics by Prof. M. Madhusudhan Rao
2
2
Introduction
Chopper is a static device.
A variable dc voltage is obtained from a
constant dc voltage source.
Also known as dc-to-dc converter.
Widely used for motor control.
Also used in regenerative braking.
Thyristor converter offers greater efficiency,
faster response, lower maintenance, smaller
size and smooth control.
3
3
Choppers are of Two Types
- Step-down choppers.
- Step-up choppers.
- In step down chopper output voltage is less
than input voltage.
- In step up chopper output voltage is more
than input voltage.
4
4
Principle Of
Step-down Chopper
V
i
0
V
0
Chopper
R
+

5
5
A step-down chopper with resistive load.
The thyristor in the circuit acts as a switch.
When thyristor is ON, supply voltage appears
across the load
When thyristor is OFF, the voltage across the
load will be zero.
6
6
V
dc
v
0
V
V/R
i
0
I
dc
t
t
t
ON
T
t
OFF
7
7
verage value of output or load voltage.
verage value of output or load current.
Time interval for which SCR conducts.
Time interval for which SCR is OFF.
Period of switching
dc
dc
ON
OFF
ON OFF
V A
I A
t
t
T t t
=
=
=
=
= + = or chopping period.
1
Freq. of chopper switching or chopping freq. f
T
= =
8
8
Average Output Voltage
.
duty cycle
ON
dc
ON OFF
ON
dc
ON
t
V V
t t
t
V V V d
T
t
but d
t
| |
=
|
+
\ .
| |
= =
|
\ .
| |
= =
|
\ .
9
9
2
0
Average Output Current
RMS value of output voltage
1
ON
dc
dc
ON
dc
t
O o
V
I
R
t V V
I d
R T R
V v dt
T
=
| |
= =
|
\ .
=
}
10
10
2
0
2
But during ,
Therefore RMS output voltage
1
.
.
ON
ON o
t
O
ON
O ON
O
t v V
V V dt
T
t V
V t V
T T
V d V
=
=
= =
=
}
11
11
2
2
Output power
But
Output power
O O O
O
O
O
O
O
P V I
V
I
R
V
P
R
dV
P
R
=
=
=
=
12
12
Effective input resistance of chopper
The output voltage can be varied by
varying the duty cycle.
i
dc
i
V
R
I
R
R
d
=
=
13
13
Methods Of Control
The output dc voltage can be varied by the
following methods.
Pulse width modulation control or constant
frequency operation.
Variable frequency control.
14
14
Pulse Width Modulation
t
ON
is varied keeping chopping frequency f &
chopping period T constant.
Output voltage is varied by varying the ON
time t
ON

15
15
V
0
V
V
V
0
t
t
t
ON
t
ON
t
OFF
t
OFF
T
16
16
Variable Frequency Control
Chopping frequency f is varied keeping either
t
ON
or t
OFF
constant.
To obtain full output voltage range, frequency
has to be varied over a wide range.
This method produces harmonics in the output
and for large t
OFF
load current may become
discontinuous
17
17
v
0
V
V
v
0
t
t
t
ON
t
ON
T
T
t
OFF
t
OFF
18
18
Step-down Chopper
With R-L Load
V
i
0
V
0
Chopper
R
L
FWD
E
+

19
19
When chopper is ON, supply is connected
across load.
Current flows from supply to load.
When chopper is OFF, load current continues
to flow in the same direction through FWD due
to energy stored in inductor L.
20
20
Load current can be continuous or
discontinuous depending on the values of L
and duty cycle d
For a continuous current operation, load current
varies between two limits I
max
and I
min
When current becomes equal to I
max
the
chopper is turned-off and it is turned-on when
current reduces to I
min.

21
21
Output
voltage
Output
current
v
0
V
i
0
I
max
I
min
t
t
t
ON
T
t
OFF
Continuous
current
Output
current
t
Discontinuous
current
i
0
22
22
Expressions For
Load Current
i
O
For Continuous Current Operation
When
Chopper Is ON (0 s t s t
ON
)
23
23
V
i
0
V
0
R
L
E
+
-
24
24
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
min
min
Taking Laplace Transform
. 0
At 0, initial current 0
O
O
O O O
O
O
di
V i R L E
dt
V E
RI S L S I S i
S S
t i I
I V E
I S
R
R
S
LS S
L
L
= + +
(
= + +

= =
= +
| |
+
+
|
\ .
25
25
Principle Of Step-up Chopper
+
V
O
V
Chopper
C
L
O
A
D
D
L I
+
26
26
Step-up chopper is used to obtain a load
voltage higher than the input voltage V.
The values of L and C are chosen depending
upon the requirement of output voltage and
current.
When the chopper is ON, the inductor L is
connected across the supply.
The inductor current I rises and the inductor
stores energy during the ON time of the
chopper, t
ON
.
27
27
When the chopper is off, the inductor current I
is forced to flow through the diode D and load
for a period, t
OFF
.
The current tends to decrease resulting in
reversing the polarity of induced EMF in L.
Therefore voltage across load is given by
. .,
O O
dI
V V L i e V V
dt
= + >
28
28
A large capacitor C connected across the
load, will provide a continuous output voltage .
Diode D prevents any current flow from
capacitor to the source.
Step up choppers are used for regenerative
braking of dc motors.
29
29
Expression For Output Voltage
Assume the average inductor current to be
during ON and OFF time of Chopper.
Voltage across inductor
Therefore energy stored in inductor
= . .
Where
When Chopper
period of chopper.
is ON
ON
ON
I
L V
V I t
t ON
=
=
30
30
( )
(energy is supplied by inductor to load)
Voltage across
Energy supplied by inductor
where period of Chopper.
Neg
When Chopper
lecting losses, energy stored in inductor
is OFF

O
O OFF
OFF
L V V
L V V It
t OFF
L
=
=
=
= energy supplied by inductor L
31
31
( )
| |
Where
T = Chopping period or period
of switching.
ON O OFF
ON OFF
O
OFF
O
ON
VIt V V It
V t t
V
t
T
V V
T t
=
+
=
| |
=
|
\ .
32
32
1
1
1
1
Where duty cyle
ON OFF
O
ON
O
ON
T t t
V V
t
T
V V
d
t
d
T
= +
| |
|
=
|
|
\ .
| |
=
|
\ .
= =
33
33
Classification Of Choppers
Choppers are classified as
Class A Chopper
Class B Chopper
Class C Chopper
Class D Chopper
Class E Chopper
34
34
Class A Chopper
V
Chopper
FWD
+
v
0
v
0
i
0
i
0
L
O
A
D
V
35
35
When chopper is ON, supply voltage V is
connected across the load.
When chopper is OFF, v
O
= 0 and the load
current continues to flow in the same direction
through the FWD.
The average values of output voltage and
current are always positive.
Class A Chopper is a first quadrant chopper .
36
36
Class A Chopper is a step-down chopper in
which power always flows form source to load.
It is used to control the speed of dc motor.
The output current equations obtained in step
down chopper with R-L load can be used to
study the performance of Class A Chopper.
37
37
Output current
Thyristor
gate pulse
Output voltage
i
g
i
0
v
0
t
t
t
t
ON
T
CH ON
FWD Conducts
38
38
Class B Chopper
V
Chopper
+
v
0
v
0
i
0
i
0
L
E
R
D
39
39
When chopper is ON, E drives a current
through L and R in a direction opposite to that
shown in figure.
During the ON period of the chopper, the
inductance L stores energy.
When Chopper is OFF, diode D conducts, and
part of the energy stored in inductor L is
returned to the supply.
40
40
Average output voltage is positive.
Average output current is negative.
Therefore Class B Chopper operates in second
quadrant.
In this chopper, power flows from load to
source.
Class B Chopper is used for regenerative
braking of dc motor.
Class B Chopper is a step-up chopper.
41
41
Output current
D
conducts
Chopper
conducts
Thyristor
gate pulse
Output voltage
i
g
i
0
v
0
t
t
t
I
min
I
max
T
t
ON
t
OFF
42
42
Class C Chopper
V
Chopper
+
v
0
D
1
D
2
CH
2
CH
1
v
0
i
0
i
0
L
E
R
43
43
Class C Chopper is a combination of Class A
and Class B Choppers.
For first quadrant operation, CH
1
is ON or D
2

conducts.
For second quadrant operation, CH
2
is ON or
D
1
conducts.
When CH
1
is ON, the load current is positive.
The output voltage is equal to V & the load
receives power from the source.
When CH
1
is turned OFF, energy stored in
inductance L forces current to flow through the
diode D
2
and the output voltage is zero.
44
44
Current continues to flow in positive direction.
When CH
2
is triggered, the voltage E forces
current to flow in opposite direction through L
and CH
2
.
The output voltage is zero.
On turning OFF CH
2
, the energy stored in the
inductance drives current through diode D
1
and
the supply
Output voltage is V, the input current becomes
negative and power flows from load to source.
45
45
Average output voltage is positive
Average output current can take both positive
and negative values.
Choppers CH
1
& CH
2
should not be turned
ON simultaneously as it would result in short
circuiting the supply.
Class C Chopper can be used both for dc motor
control and regenerative braking of dc motor.
Class C Chopper can be used as a step-up or
step-down chopper.
46
46
Gate pulse
of CH
2
Gate pulse
of CH
1
Output current
Output voltage
i
g1
i
g2
i
0
V
0
t
t
t
t
D
1
D
1
D
2
D
2
CH
1
CH
2
CH
1
CH
2
ON ON ON ON
47
47
Class D Chopper
V
+
v
0
D
2
D
1
CH
2
CH
1
v
0
i
0
L
E
R
i
0
48
48
Class D is a two quadrant chopper.
When both CH
1
and CH
2
are triggered
simultaneously, the output voltage v
O
= V and
output current flows through the load.
When CH
1
and CH
2
are turned OFF, the load
current continues to flow in the same direction
through load, D
1
and D
2
, due to the energy
stored in the inductor L.
Output voltage v
O
= - V .
49
49
Average load voltage is positive if chopper
ON time is more than the OFF time
Average output voltage becomes negative if
t
ON
< t
OFF
.
Hence the direction of load current is always
positive but load voltage can be positive or
negative.
50
50
Gate pulse
of CH
2
Gate pulse
of CH
1
Output current
Output voltage
Average v
0
i
g1
i
g2
i
0
v
0
V
t
t
t
t
CH ,CH
ON
1 2
D1,D2 Conducting
51
51
Gate pulse
of CH
2
Gate pulse
of CH
1
Output current
Output voltage
Average v
0
i
g1
i
g2
i
0
v
0
V
t
t
t
t
CH
CH
1
2
D , D
1 2
52
52
Class E Chopper
V
v
0
i
0
L
E
R
CH
2
CH
4
D
2
D
4
D
1
D
3
CH
1
CH
3
+
53
53
Four Quadrant Operation
v
0
i
0
CH - CH ON
CH - D Conducts
1 4
4 2
D D
2 3
- Conducts
CH - D Conducts
4 2
CH - CH ON
CH - D Conducts
3 2
2 4
CH - D Conducts
D - D Conducts
2 4
1 4
54
54
Class E is a four quadrant chopper
When CH
1
and CH
4
are triggered, output
current i
O
flows in positive direction through
CH
1
and CH
4
, and with output voltage v
O
= V.
This gives the first quadrant operation.
When both CH
1
and CH
4
are OFF, the energy
stored in the inductor L drives i
O
through D
2

and D
3
in the same direction, but output
voltage v
O
= -V.
55
55
Therefore the chopper operates in the
fourth quadrant.
When CH
2
and CH
3
are triggered, the load
current i
O
flows in opposite direction & output
voltage v
O
= -V.
Since both i
O
and v
O
are negative, the chopper
operates in third quadrant.
56
56
When both CH
2
and CH
3
are OFF, the load
current i
O
continues to flow in the same
direction D
1
and

D
4
and the output voltage
v
O
= V.
Therefore the chopper operates in second
quadrant as v
O
is positive but i
O
is negative.
57
57
Effect Of Source &
Load Inductance
The source inductance should be as small as
possible to limit the transient voltage.
Also source inductance may cause
commutation problem for the chopper.
Usually an input filter is used to overcome the
problem of source inductance.
58
58
The load ripple current is inversely
proportional to load inductance and chopping
frequency.
Peak load current depends on load inductance.
To limit the load ripple current, a smoothing
inductor is connected in series with the load.
59
59
V
i
0
v
0
Chopper
FWD
+
L
O
A
D
60
60
Mode-1 Operation
L
O
A
D
L
C
I
L
L
S
V
S
+
_
+
_
T
1
D
1
V
C
i
C
61
61
Thyristor T
1
is fired at t = 0.
The supply voltage comes across the load.
Load current I
L
flows through T
1
and load.
At the same time capacitor discharges through
T
1
, D
1
, L
1
, & C and the capacitor reverses its
voltage.
This reverse voltage on capacitor is held
constant by diode D
1
.
62
62
( )
( )
Capacitor Discharge Current
sin
1
Where
& Capacitor Voltage
cos
C
C
C
i t V t
L
LC
V t V t
e
e
e
=
=
=
63
63
Mode-2 Operation
L
O
A
D
C
L
S
V
S
+
_ +
_
T
2
V
C
I
L
I
L
64
64
Thyristor T
2
is now fired to commutate
thyristor T
1
.
When T
2
is ON capacitor voltage reverse
biases T
1
and turns if off.
The capacitor discharges through the load from
V to 0.
Discharge time is known as circuit turn-off
time.
65
65
C
Circuit turn-off time is given by
Where is load current.
t depends on load current, it must be designed
for the worst case condition which occur at the
maximum value of load current and mini
C
C
L
L
V C
t
I
I
=
mum
value of capacitor voltage.
66
66
Capacitor recharges back to the supply voltage
(with plate a positive).
This time is called the recharging time and is
given by

The total time required for the capacitor to
discharge and recharge is called the
commutation time and it is given by
S
d
L
V C
t
I
=
r C d
t t t = +
67
67
At the end of Mode-2 capacitor has recharged
to V
S
and the free wheeling diode starts
conducting.
68
68
Mode-3 Operation
L
O
A
D
C
L
S
V
S
+
_
+
_
T
2
V
S
FWD
I
L
I
L
69
69
FWD starts conducting and the load current
decays.
The energy stored in source inductance L
S
is
transferred to capacitor.
Hence capacitor charges to a voltage higher
than supply voltage, T
2
naturally turns off.
70
70
( )
The instantaneous capacitor voltage is
sin
Where
1
S
C S L S
S
S
L
V t V I t
C
L C
e
e
= +
=
71
71
Mode-4 Operation
L
O
A
D
C
L
S
V
S
+
_
+
_
D
1
L
FWD
I
L
V
C
72
72
Capacitor has been overcharged i.e. its voltage
is above supply voltage.
Capacitor starts discharging in reverse
direction.
Hence capacitor current becomes negative.
The capacitor discharges through L
S
, V
S
, FWD,
D
1
and L.
When this current reduces to zero D
1
will stop
conducting and the capacitor voltage will be
same as the supply voltage
73
73
Mode-5 Operation
Both thyristors are off
and the load current
flows through the FWD.
This mode will end once
thyristor T
1
is fired.
L
O
A
D
I
L
FWD
74
74
Capacitor Current
I
L
t
t
I
p
Current through T
1
i
c
0
I
p
i
T1
0
I
L
75
75
t
t
t
Voltage across T
1
Output Voltage
Capacitor Voltage
t
c
t
d
v
T1
V
c
0
v
o
V
s c
+V
V
s
v
c
V
c
-V
c
76
76
Disadvantages
A starting circuit is required and the starting
circuit should be such that it triggers thyristor
T
2
first.
Load voltage jumps to almost twice the supply
voltage when the commutation is initiated.
The discharging and charging time of
commutation capacitor are dependent on the
load current and this limits high frequency
operation, especially at low load current.
77
77
Chopper cannot be tested without connecting
load.
Thyristor T
1
has to carry load current as well
as resonant current resulting in increasing its
peak current rating.

DC Choppers: Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

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DC Choppers: Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

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Power Electronics by Prof. M.

Power Electronics by Prof. M. Madhusudhan Rao

Power Electronics by Prof. M. Madhusudhan Rao

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