Class-C or Type-C 

Chopper is a
category of chopper which can
operate in first as well as second
quadrant. This basically means that,
the power can either flow from
source to load or load to source in
this chopper. This kind of chopper is
also known as Two Quadrant Class-A
chopper. In this article, we will
discuss Class-C or Type-C chopper,
its working principle with the help
of circuit diagram and its
application.
Case-1: When CH1 is switched ON / OFF

When chopper CH1 is switched ON, source Vs directly gets connected to

the load and hence, load voltage Vo is equal to source voltage. The
direction of load current is from source to load as shown in the circuit
diagram which is assumed positive.

When CH1 is switched OFF, the free-wheeling diode FD comes into the
circuit as it gets forward biased and hence shorts the load. Therefore, the
output voltage Vo becomes zero. However, the io continues to die down
through the FD and L in the same direction as shown in circuit diagram.
Thus, the average output voltage Vo and current Io are positive and hence
operation of chopper is in first quadrant. In fact, this is the Class-B mode of
operation.
Case-2: When CH2 is switched ON / OFF
When chopper CH2 is switched ON, load DC source E drives current
through CH2 and load. The direction of this current io will be opposite
to that shown in circuit diagram and hence is assumed negative.
Output voltage Vo is zero during this time. When CH2 is made OFF,
diode D2 gets forward biased and hence the current into the source
from the load. The output voltage is Vs in this time as the load is
connected to the source through D2 during OFF time of chopper CH2.
Thus, the load current is always negative i.e. operation of chopper is
within second quadrant. In fact, this is the Class-B mode of operation.
The average load voltage is always positive but the average load
current may be positive or negative. Therefore, power flow may be
from source to load (first quadrant operation) or load to source
(second quadrant operation). The operating region of Class-C or
Type-C chopper is shown below by hatched area.
Class-D or Type-D chopper is a circuit configuration of chopper in which power can
flow in either direction i.e. from source to load and load to source. The operation of
this chopper is confined in first and fourth quadrant. This type of chopper is also
known as Two quadrant Type-B Chopper. The necessary condition for this chopper is
that load should be inductive. This article outlines the working principle / operation
of Class-D chopper with circuit diagram and relevant waveforms.
Working Principle / Operation of Class-E Chopper:
The circuit of a four quadrant chopper or class-E chopper basically consists of
four semiconductor switches CH1 to CH4 and four diodes D1 to D4. The four
diodes are connected in anti-parallel. The circuit diagram of this type of
chopper is shown below.

In the above circuit diagram, the choppers are numbered CH1 to CH4. For first
quadrant operation CH1 is made ON, for second quadrant operation CH2 is
made ON and so on. To better understand the working of four quadrant
chopper, we will discuss its operation separately for each quadrant.
First Quadrant Operation:
• For first quadrant operation, CH4 is kept ON, CH3 is kept OFF and CH1 is
operated. When both CH1 & CH4 are ON simultaneously, the load gets
directly connected to the source and hence the output voltage
becomes equal to the source voltage. This essentially means that v o =
vs. It may be noted that the load current flows from source to load as
shown by the direction of io.
• When CH1 is switched OFF, the load current free wheels through CH4
and D2. During this period, the load voltage and current remains
positive.
• Thus, both the output voltage vs and load current io are positive and
hence, the operation of chopper is in first quadrant. It may be noted
that, Class-E chopper operates as a step-down chopper in this case.
Second Quadrant Operation:
To obtain second quadrant operation, CH2 is operated while keeping the CH1,
CH3 & CH4 OFF. When CH2 is ON, the DC source in the load drives current
through CH2, D4, E and L. Inductor L stores energy during the On period of
CH2.
When CH2 is turned OFF, current is fed back to the source through D1, D4. It
should be noted at this point that (E+Ldi/dt) is more than the source voltage
Vs. As load voltage Vo is positive and Io is negative, it is second quadrant
operation of chopper. Since, the current is fed back to the source, this simply
means that load is transferring power to the source. Kindly read Step-up
chopper for detailed analysis and better understanding.
For second quadrant operation, load must contain emf E as shown in the circuit
diagram. In second quadrant, configuration operates as a step-up chopper.
To obtain third quadrant operation, both the load voltage and load current
should be negative. The current and voltage are assumed positive if their
direction matches with what shown in the circuit diagram. If the direction is
opposite to what shown in the circuit diagram, it is considered negative. One
important thing to notice is that the polarity of emf E in load must be reversed
to have third quadrant operation. Circuit diagram of Class-E chopper for third
quadrant operation is shown below.
For third quadrant operation, CH1 is kept off, CH2 is kept ON and CH3 is
operated. When CH3 is ON, load gets connected to source and hence load
voltage is equal to source voltage. But carefully observe that the polarity
of load voltage vo is opposite to what shown in the circuit diagram. Hence,
vo is assumed negative. Let us now see what is the status of load current io.
It may be seen that io is flowing in the direction opposite to shown in the
circuit diagram and hence negative.
Now, when CH3 is turned OFF, the negative load current free wheels
through the CH2 and D4. In this manner, vo and io both are negative.
Hence, the chopper operates in third quadrant.
Fourth Quadrant Operation:
To obtain fourth quadrant operation, CH4 is operated while keeping CH1, CH2 and CH3
OFF. The polarity of load emf E needs to be reversed in this case too like third quadrant
operation.
When CH4 is turned ON, positive current flows through CH4, D2, L and E. Inductance L
stores energy during the time CH4 is ON. When CH4 is made OFF, current is fed back to
the source through diodes D2, D3. Here load voltage is negative but the load current is
always positive. This leads to chopper operation in fourth quadrant. Here, power is fed
back to the source from load and chopper acts as a step-up chopper.
The operation of a four quadrant chopper or Class-E chopper is summarized in the figure
below.
Chopper Modes:
Rectifier Control of DC Series Motor:
Single-phase controlled Rectifier control of DC Series Motor are employed in traction. A
single-phase half-controlled Rectifier Control of DC Series Motor is shown in Fig.
5.37(a). Equivalent circuit of motor is also shown. Since back emf decreases with
armature current, discontinuous conduction occurs only in a narrow range of
operation. Hence, it will be neglected here. The waveforms of v a,ia and instantaneous
back emf e for continuous conduction are shown in Fig. 5.37(b).
                                                                                                                   

         
Although, in steady state, fluctuations in speed are negligible, e is not constant but
fluctuates with ia. For a given speed, e is related to ia through magnetization curve of
motor, which is nonlinear owing to saturation. Thus
Motor operation is described by following equations for duty and
freewheeling intervals respectively,

Because of the presence of term f(ia), Eqs. (5.103) and (5.104) are
nonlinear differential equations and can only be solved
numerically. A simple method of analysis is obtained when e is
replaced by its average value Ea such that
where
Since the drop across the inductance La due to dc component of armature current Ia is
zero

For continuous conduction, Va for half-controlled and fully-controlled single-phase

rectifiers is given by Eqs. (5.93) and (5.83), respectively.
Following sequence of steps are used to calculate speed-torque characteristic for a
given α taking into account non-linearly of the magnetic circuit: A value is chosen for
Ia. Corresponding value of Ka is obtained from the magnetization characteristic of the
motor. For the known value of α, calculate Va from Eq. (5.93) or (5.83), depending on
the rectifier circuit used. Now ωm and T are obtained from Eqs. (5.107) and (5.108),
respectively. Nature of speed-torque characteristics for the drive of Fig. 5.37(a) is
shown in Fig. 5.38.
Va=Vm/3.14 *1+cos
Chopper Control of Series Motor:
Motoring : Chopper Control of Series Motor and v a and ia waveforms will be same as
shown in Fig. 5.41. Va is given by below Eq.

 
 
                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                 

However, e is not constant but varies with ia. Due to saturation of magnetic circuit,
relationship between e and ia is non-linear. The approximation is already described is
applicable here. Consequently, motor performance can be calculated. The nature of
speed torque curves is shown in the fig given in next slide
Regenerative Braking:
With Chopper Control of Series Motor, regenerative braking of series motor
can also be obtained. Power circuit of Fig. 5.42(a) is employed. During
regenerative braking, series motor functions as a self-excited series
generator. For self-excitation, current flowing through field winding should
assist residual magnetism. Therefore, when changing from motoring to
braking connection, while direction of armature current should reverse,
field current should flow in the same direction. This is achieved by reversing
the field with respect to armature when changing from motoring to braking
operation. Waveforms of va and ia will be same as those of Fig. 5.42(b).
Approximation of Equation is applicable here. From Fig. 5.42(a)

For a chosen value of Ia, Ka is obtained from magnetization characteristic.

Then T and ωm are obtained from Eqs. (5.125) and (5.124), respectively. The
nature of speed-torque characteristics is shown in Fig. 5.46. Such
characteristics give unstable operation with most loads. Consequently,
regenerative braking of the series motor is difficult.
Dynamic Braking:
Chopper Control of Series Motor for Dynamic Braking is shown in Fig. 5.45(a)
is used. Since motor works as a self-excited generator, when changing from
motoring to braking, field should be reversed.