Power Electronics

Lecture # 19

 Contents of Today`s Lecture:

 THYRISTORS --- A brief review
 The Two Transistor model of Thyristor

1. THYRISTOR ( Silicon Controlled Rectifier)

A silicon controlled rectifier is a four-layer, three junction solid-state current-controlling device. This is
basically a latching device which works on the principle of regenerative current which is maintained due
to positive feedback.

Advantages of SCR over Transistor:

1) Low on-state conduction losses.

2) The power handling capability of SCR is higher as it has more layers (four) as compared to
transistor.

Disadvantages of SCR over Transistor:

1) As the switching speed of SCR is not high, there are more switching loses in case of SCR.
2) The frequency operation of SCR is low so this device can only be used for low frequency
applications.

Symbol of SCR:
Construction of SCR:

It is a four layer, three junction device.

Operating Region or Modes of Operation of SCR:

There are three modes of operation of an SCR depending upon the biasing given to it:

1) Forward Blocking Mode (off state)

2) Forward Conduction Mode (on state)
3) Reverse Blocking Mode (off state)

Characteristic curve of SCR:

 IL = Latching current
IH = Holding current
VBO = Breakdown voltage
VAV = Avalaunch Breakdown Voltage or VR = Reverse Breakdown voltage
VF = Forward Voltage drop
IR = Reverse Leakage current
IF = Forward Leakage current

1) Forward Blocking Mode:

In this mode of operation anode is given a positive potential and cathode is given negative potential while
keeping gate at zero potential i.e. disconnected.
In this case junction J1 and J3 are forward biased while junction J2 is reverse biased due to which only a
small leakage current flows from anode to cathode .
Now, if we keep on increasing applied voltage, a time will come when it reaches the breakover value at
which juncton J2 undergoes avalanche breakdown and at this breakover voltage SCR starts conducting,
but below breakover voltage it offers very high resistance to the flow of current through it and is said to
be in off state .
Now, when J2 starts conducting, the main current or the anode current (IA) of the device has to remain
higher than the latching current IL in order to keep the device in on state. In case, if current falls below IL,
SCR will still remain on until it remains higher than the holding current IH, but if the main current of
device falls below the holding current IH, the SCR will become off.

Note: It should be clear in mind that, to turn the SCR on, the applied voltage should be such that the
main current of SCR becomes higher than the latching current IL. While, to remain the SCR in on state
the main current of the device should be at least higher than the holding current IH. This is the necessary
condition for SCR to remain in on state. Once the main current falls below holding current IH, the SCR
turns off.
Or we can also say it in mathematical terms:

To turn on SCR;
Anode current or main current of device > Latching current
i-e IA > IL

To keep SCR in on state;

Anode current > Holding current
i-e IA > IH

Note: It should be clear that:

IL must be greater than the holding current of SCR.
i-e IL > IH . (It can also be verified from the above figure)
2) Forward conduction mode:

SCR can be brought from blocking mode to conduction mode in two ways

i) By increasing the voltage across anode to cathode beyond break-over voltage (VBO).
ii) By application of positive pulse at gate. Once it starts conducting, no more gate voltage is
required to maintain it in on state.

Now there are two ways to turn it off i.e.

a) Reduce the current flowing through SCR below a minimum value called holding current IH.
b) Apply a negative pulse at gate which will bring it in off state instantaneously.

3) Reverse blocking mode:

In this mode, anode is connected with negative voltage and cathode is connected with positive voltage
which reverse-biases J1 and J3 and no current pass through it.

How to Turn off Thyristor:

There are following ways to turn off thyristor:

 a) Reduce the current flowing through it below a minimum value called holding current IH.
b) Apply a negative pulse at gate which will bring it in off state instantaneously.

Regenerative Current:

The thyristor works on the principle of regenerative current. To understand this principle, let us assume
that we have applied 10V to transistor Q1 and this applied voltage is sufficiently large to turn on Q1 and
the collector current of Q1 feeds the base of Q2.

IC1 = α1IE1 = IB2

Now this base current IB2 will cause Q2 to turn on which will feed additional base current to Q1.
IC2 = ᵦ IB2
Also; IC2 = IB1

It can be seen in the above figure that IC2 = IB1 which further increases IC1 and IE1 which consequently
increases IA (anode current) or the total current IT (IA = IT). This is a regenerative or positive feedback
effect.
When IA increases from a certain level, junction J2 becomes forward biased and it starts to conduct, this is
also known as saturation and the SCR turns on.
After the SCR turns on and is conducting significant forward current, the SCR stays on even if the gate
drive or supply is subsequently removed. This is also known as “latching”.
The way in which two transistors feed each other is known as regenerative switching or regenerative
action.
It is clearly mentioned in the figure how the current keeps on increasing through positive feedback
phenomenon and the two transistors keep on feeding each other. The regenerative current is shown in the
form of double and triple arrows in the figure, explaining how the current keeps on increasing or
regenerating itself due to positive feedback.