- Linear Circuit Elements
- Power Electronics - Switching Devices
- Power Electronics - Introduction
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Power Semiconductor Devices
- Solved Example
- Power Electronics - MOSFET
- Power Electronics - IGBT
- Power Electronics - BJT
- Power Electronics - TRIAC
- Silicon Controlled Rectifier
Phase Controlled Converters
- Solved Example
- Power Electronics - Dual Converters
- Reactive Power Control of Converters
- Performance Parameters
- Effect of Source Inductance
- Power Electronics - Pulse Converters
DC to DC Converters
- DC Converters Solved Example
- Resonant Switching
- Power Electronics - Control Methods
- Power Electronics - Choppers
Inverters
AC to DC Converters
- Solved Example
- Power Electronics - Matrix Converters
- Integral Cycle Control
- Power Electronics - Cycloconverters
- Single Phase AC Voltage Controllers
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Power Electronics - Pulse Converters
Phase Controlled Converter
A phase controlled converter converts AC to DC energy (pne commutated). In other words, it is used in the conversion of fixed-frequency and fixed-voltage AC power into variable DC voltage output. It is expressed as
Fixed Input − Voltage, frequency and AC power
Variable output − DC voltage output
![Phase Controlled Converter](/power_electronics/images/pluse_converter.jpg)
The AC input voltage that goes into a converter is normally at fixed RMS (root mean square) and fixed frequency. The inclusion of phase-controlled thyristors in the converter ensures that a variable DC output voltage is obtained. This is made possible by altering the phase angle at which the thyristors are triggered. As a result, a pulsating waveform of the load current is obtained.
During the input supply half cycle, the thyristor is in forward bias and is switched ON via the apppcation of sufficient gate pulse (trigger). Current starts to flow once the thyristor has been switched ON, that is, at a point ωt=α to point ωt=β. The moment the load current drops to zero, the thyristor switches OFF as a result of pne (natural) commutation.
There are a number of power converters that utipze natural commutation. These include −
AC to DC converters
AC to AC converters
AC voltage controllers
Cycloconverters
The above power converters will be explained in the next chapters in this tutorial.
2- Pulse Converter
A 2-phase pulse converter, also known as a level 2 pulse width modulator (PWM) generator, is used to generate pulses for pulse width modulation converters that are carrier based. It does this by utipzing level-two topology. This block controls switching devices for control purposes pke IGBTs and FETs that exist in three types of converters namely −
1 arm (single phase half bridge)
2 arms (single phase full bridge)
3 arms ( three phase bridge)
The reference input signal in a 2-pulse converter is compared to a carrier. If the reference input signal is more than the carrier, the pulse equals to 1 for the upper device and 0 for the lower device.
In order to control a device with a single-phase full bridge (2 arms), it is necessary to apply unipolar or bipolar pulse width modulation. In unipolar modulation each of the two arms is independently controlled. A second reference input signal is generated internally through a shift in initial reference point by 180°
When the bipolar PWM is appped, the state of the lower switching device in the second single phase full bridge is similar to the upper switch in the first single phase full bridge device. Using a unipolar modulation leads to smooth AC waveforms while the bipolar modulation results in less varying voltage.
3-Pulse Converter
Consider a three-phase 3-pulse converter, where each of the thyristor is in conduction mode during the third of the supply cycle. The earpest time a thyristor is triggered into conduction is at 30° in reference to the phase voltage.
Its operation is explained using three thyristors and three diodes. When the thyristors T1, T2 and T3 are replaced by diodes D1, D2 and D3, conduction will begin at angle 30° in respect to the phase voltages uan, ubn and ucn respectively. Therefore, the firing angle α is measured initially at 30° in reference to the phase voltage corresponding to it.
![3-Pulse Converter](/power_electronics/images/3_pluse_converter.jpg)
The current can only flow in one direction through the thyristor, which is similar to inverter mode of functioning where power flows from the DC side to the AC side. In addition, the voltage in the thyristors is controlled by controlpng the firing angle. This is achieved when α = 0(possible in a rectifier). Thus, the 3-pulse converter acts as an inverter and a rectifier.
6-Pulse Converter
The figure below shows a six-pulse bridge controlled converter connected to a three-phase source. In this converter, the number of pulses is twice that of phases, that is p = 2m. Using the same converter configuration, it is possible to combine two bridges of the six-pulse to obtain a twelve or more pulses converter.
![6 Pluse Converter](/power_electronics/images/6_pluse_converter.jpg)
When commutation is not available, two diodes will conduct at any particular time. Furthermore, to obtain a voltage drop across the load, two diodes must be at positioned at opposite legs of the bridge. For example, diodes 3 and 6 cannot be ON at the same time. Therefore, the voltage drop across the DC load is a combination of pne voltage VL from the three-phase source.
It is important to note that more the number of pulses, the greater the utipzation of the converter. In addition, the fewer the number of pulses the lesser the utipzation of the converter.
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