DET40073- POWER ELECTRONICS

TOPIC 2 (C)

THREE-PHASE HALF-WAVE
RECTIFIER
Three-phase Half Wave Rectifier

• Two types of Three-phase Half Wave Rectifier :

i. Uncontrolled rectifier
- resistive load

ii. Controlled rectifier

- resistive load
THREE-PHASE
UNCONTROLLED HALF-
WAVE
RECTIFIER WITH
RESISTIVE LOAD
Three-phase Uncontrolled Half wave
rectifier with resistive load

Circuit connection
Three-phase Uncontrolled Half wave
rectifier with resistive load
Three-phase Uncontrolled Half wave rectifier
with resistive load
Operation circuit :

 When V1 is more positive than V2 and V3, diode D1 will

conduct while diode D2 and D3 still not conducting.
 Then when V1 start to decrease, V2 will become more
positive. So diode D1 will stop conduct while diode D2 will
start to conduct but D3 still not conducting.
 Later, V2 start to decrease but V3 will become more positive.
So diode D2 will stop conduct while diode D3 will start
conducting but diode D1 still not conducting.
Three-phase Uncontrolled Half wave
rectifier with resistive load

Input voltage

Output voltage
Output waveforms
THREE-PHASE
CONTROLLED HALF-
WAVE
RECTIFIER
WITH RESISTIVE LOAD
Three-phase Controlled Half wave
rectifier with resistive load

Circuit connection
 Three-phase Controlled Half wave rectifier
with resistive load
 At a given instant time, only one SCR will conduct at a time
which is having instantaneous phase voltage positive (and
which is maximum with respect to the neutral).
 The firing control at each gate of T1, T2 & T3 is always
measured with respect to the phase cross-over points.
 Phase cross over points are those where two phases intersects
at a point. This point is generally taken as a reference point,
and it is measured from ‘α’ = 0.
 Average voltage can be control by controlling the phase firing
angle, α. The V1, V2 and V3 is the phase voltage.
 Each SCR will conduct for 120˚ and reversed biased for 240˚.
 When SCR is conduct, it will connect input voltage terminal to
output terminal. That is why the waveform of output voltage is
same as ac phase voltage.
Operation circuit :
• Mode 1 : At ωt = 30˚;

 Phase ‘V1’ is more positive with respect to other phases.

 So, SCR T1 is in forward biased as it connected to phase

‘V1’ and will start to conduct when gate T1 is fired at α =
and would conduct up to 150°.

6
 During the conduction period of SCR T1, the T2 and T3 are
reversed biased by a load voltage polarity. The load current
follows the path V1 – T1 – load R – N.
 Mode 2 : At ωt = 150˚;

 Phase ‘V2’ is more positive with respect to other phases.

 So, thyristor T2 is in forward biased as it connected to

phase ‘V2’ and will start to conduct when gate T2 is fired
at α = 5and
 would conduct up to 270°.

6
 During the conduction period of SCR T2, the T1 and T3
are reversed biased by a load voltage polarity. The load
current follows the path V2 – T2 – load R – N.
 Mode 3 : At ωt = 270˚;

 Phase ‘V3’ is more positive with respect to the other phases.

 So, thyristor T3 is in forward biased as it connected to

phase ‘V3’ and will start to conduct when gate T3 is fired at
α= and
3 would conduct up to 390°.

2
 During the conduction period of SCR T3, the T1 and T2 are
reversed biased by a load voltage polarity. The load current
follows the path V3 – T3 – load R – N.
Output waveforms
 With resistive load, there are two modes of operation :

1) Continuous conduction (  30)

2) Discontinuous conduction   30

1) Continuous conduction (  30)

• Generally the firing angle is being measured from the cross over point.
When the firing angle is varied between 1 to 30° , continuous conduction
takes place.

• The reason is that when ‘α’ = 30°, then the SCR T1 have chance to
conduct up to 180°. The total conduction period is 120°, (α = 30° means
from the cross over point firing angle is 30°, T1 conducts at ωt = 60° and
ends at 180°)
2) Discontinuous conduction   30
 If the firing angle is kept more than 30° , the conduction angle will be less than
120°.

 The output voltage current waveform will be discontinuous in nature.

 Advantages and disadvantages
of the Three-Phase over Single Phase
AC to DC converter.

Advantage Disadvantage
 Higher average output voltage
 PIV rating of diode is higher
 Filtering circuit to smooth the
 Higher PIV diodes are larger in size
output voltage is simple
and costlier
 Produces higher ripple frequency
 More power losses
 Produces higher ripple frequency
 Higher overall efficiency
 Suitable for high-power variable
speed drives
Question 1
Sketch the circuit connection of Three-phase Uncontrolled Half-wave Rectifier
with Resistive load.
Question 2

Sketch the waveform of input voltage (Vin) and output voltage (Vo) for Three-phase
Controlled Half-wave Rectifier with Resistive load at the firing angle, α = 60°
 Question 3
Based on the waveform below, give the expression of the average output voltage.
 TOPIC 2 (C)

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