Lecture 5:

Phase
Controlled
Rectifiers
Instructor
Dr Samina Jamil

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Lecture 5: ½ Wave
Controlled Rectifiers
Rectifier with Resistive Load
•The amount of power delivered to the load
is controlled by the firing angle α.
•For resistive load, the vd is the replica
(similar to input with no phase shift) of input.
•The average voltage at load is:
where Vdo is the maximum possible value of <vd>.
•The <vd> as a function of α is called control
characteristic of rectifier.
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Lecture 5: Full Wave

Controlled Rectifiers
Rectifier with RL Load
•If load L is very large,τ=L/R>>2π/ω, then the
load current is constant; id=Id.
•During +1/2 cycle, Q1 and Q2 are triggered
/turned on simultaneously at ωt=α.
•The Q1 and Q2 keep conducting even the -
1/2 cycle starts and remain on until α+π when Q3
and Q4 are fired simultaneously, and current path
commutates. Notice Q1 and Q2 are P type switches, while Q3 and Q4 are
•The average vd is given by: N type switches. Q1,Q2 deliver voltage to output with
polarity same as input, whereas Q3,Q4 invert the polarity of
input voltage.
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Lecture 5: Full Wave

Controlled Rectifiers
Rectifier with RL Load
•For 0≤α<π/2 <vd> is +ve.
•For π/2 <α≤π <vd> is –ve.
•For α=π/2 <vd> is zero.
•The control characteristics is as shown:
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Lecture 5: Full Wave

Controlled Rectifiers
Rectifier with RL Load
•The plot <vd> against Id is called ‘quadrant of
operation’, showing that Id remains +ve
throughout with <vd> may be +ve (quadrant I) or
–ve (quadrant IV).
•For both Id and <vd> +ve, the power flow is
from source (ac) to load (DC), hence power is
+ve. The action is rectification.
•For Id +ve and <vd> -ve, power is –ve
showing a power flow from load to source; DC to
ac, hence called inversion.
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Lecture 5: Full Wave

Controlled Rectifiers
Rectifier with RL Load
Example 5.2 (Kassakian) This phase control
converter charges a large electromagnet.
Required Id is 400A. Determine the firing angle
for this application.
•Since , id= Id constant.
•<vL>=0 over a cycle, so <vd>=<vR>
•Hence
•For Id=400A, α=38.20 and <vd>=1000V.
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Lecture 5: Full Wave

Controlled Rectifiers
Rectifier with RL Load of SCRs turns off as id dies down to zero.
Problem 5.3 (Kassakian) How would this circuit
behave if when id was not zero then gate signals
to all 4 SCRs were removed. Sketch vd(t) and id(t)
showing this condition.
•is=id is +ve from α to α+π then is becomes
negative next but id remains positive.
•If only 1st trigger pulse is applied, 1st pair of
SCRs will conduct as long as id continues to flow
till extinction angle (β or ωt1).
•Since 2nd pair of SCRs never turns on, 1st pair
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Lecture 5: Full Wave

Controlled Rectifiers
Rectifier with RL Load
Problem 5.8 (Kassakian) The controlled hybrid
bridge is shown. Determine <vd> and comment if
it can provide inversion or not?
•Q1 (or Q2) need trigger pulse to turn on
while D1 and D2 do not need a pulse.
•When trigger is applied at Q1 during +ve ½
cycle Q1 and D2 conduct for rest of +ve ½ cycle.
•During –ve ½ cycle D1 is on and Q1 continues
conduction from π to π+α (making vd=0), until Q3
gets triggered and turn on.
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Lecture 5: ½ Wave
Controlled Rectifiers
Rectifier with RL Load and FWD
Problem 5.4 (Kassakian) Derive and plot
<vd>=f(α). Is this capable of inversion?
•During +ve ½ cycle trigger pulse is applied to
the SCR gate.
•Due to FWD vd will never go –ve so <vd> will
be always non-negative, hence inversion is not
possible.

•id will continue till extinction if L is small or

will continue to next cycle otherwise.
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Lecture 5: ½ Wave
Controlled Rectifiers
Rectifier with R Load and FWD
Problem 5.5 (Kassakian) An SCR replaces the
FWD. Determine and plot control characteristic
for this converter.
•This is controlled ½ wave rectifier with
controlled FWD.
•Assuming L is large and iG1 is applied at α, Q1
conducts the id and vd=vs.
•If iG2 is applied at α+π and id will commute
through Q2 and vd becomes zero.
id flows from 0 to π through D1 and in -½ cycle flows through 11
D2, the change in path of current is called commutation.

Revision: Commutation in
Rectifiers with RL Load
Since id flows from 0 to extinction and starts again in
½ Wave Rectifiers next cycle, this mode is called discontinuous
Uncontrolled rectifier conduction.
•D is FB during +ve ½ cycle. id falls to 0 at β,
till then D continues conduction.
•vd continues till a portion of –ve ½ cycle.
Uncontrolled rectifier with FWD
•D1 is FB and D2 is RB during +ve ½ cycle. id=iD1.
vd=vs.
•D1 is RB during –ve ½ cycle, D2 is FB due to vL.
id=iD2. vd=0 (D2 is on/short circuit), hence no inversion. Since id flows from 0 to π and continues in next ½
cycle, this mode is called continuous conduction. If L is
small id may fall to zero before next cycle starts.
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Revision: Commutation in
Rectifiers with RL Load
Since i flows from triggering to extinction and starts
½ Wave Rectifiers id=iD2. vd=0d(D2 is on/short circuit), hence no inversion.
again in next cycle when fired, this mode is called
Controlled rectifier discontinuous conduction.
•SCR is FB during +ve ½ cycle after triggered. id
falls to 0 at β, till then SCR continues conduction.
•vd continues till a portion of –ve ½ cycle, hence
inversion is possible.
Controlled rectifier with FWD
•SCR is FB after triggered and D2 is RB during +ve
½ cycle. id=iSCR.
•SCR is RB during –ve ½ cycle, D2 is FB due to vL. Since id flows from triggering to π and continues in
next ½ cycle due to FWD, this mode is called
continuous conduction. If L is small id may fall to zero
before next cycle starts.
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Revision: Commutation in
Rectifiers with RL Load

Full Wave Rectifiers

Uncontrolled rectifier
•D1 and D2 are on during +ve ½ cycle. vd is
same as input voltage.
•If L is large, id is constant Id , otherwise id will
decay.
•During –ve ½ cycle D3 and D4 are on, vd is
+ve ½ cycle.
•id will flow in same direction and will start
with the previous value.
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Revision: Commutation in
Rectifiers with RL Load

Full Wave Rectifiers has ripples and even can be discontinuous.

Controlled rectifier
•SCRs Q1,2 are FB during +ve ½ cycle after
triggered at α.
•During –ve ½ cycle Q3,4 can’t conduct until
triggered at α+π, hence Q1,2 continue conduction
till then.
•vd continues till a portion of –ve ½ cycle,
hence inversion is possible.
•If L is large id remains constant, otherwise it
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Assignment 3: Angle
of Extinction

Rectifier with RL Load vs(t)

Problem 7.4 (Batarseh) Given the vs=120sinωt, Vs
with f =60Hz, L=800mH, R=100Ω, find angle of
extinction ? id Vs/R

• Solve the equation iteratively with π the initial vd Vs

guess for β.

vL(t)