1

FIRING PULSE GENERATION SCHEMES FOR TWO AND SIX PULSE CONVERTERS

AIM
i. To Design the firing pulse generator(s) for thyristor based converter systems
using.
a) Ramp Firing Scheme
b) Cosine Firing Scheme
ii. To Validate the relation between the control voltage and output voltage of
converter system.
iii. To Design and validate through simulation using MATLAB.

THEORY

A generalized block diagram of Phase Controlled Rectifier with typical firing scheme is
given in Fig.1.1. The converter is operated from ac power. Since synchronization is
needed for all converters with ac input, the firing pulses must be synchronized with
the ac supply. Isolation is essential as the control circuit uses very low power devices
such as various chips, logic gates etc. The strength of the pulse obtained from logic
gates may not be sufficient to drive the gate of thyristors, so amplification of the pulse
along with isolation is used at the final stage.

The output voltage control of a phase controlled rectifier is achieved by varying the
delay angle of its firing circuit. The firing circuit consists of a reference signal and a
control signal. The firing pulses are generated based on the comparison between the
two signals. The generation of firing pulses can be classified into two schemes based
on the reference signal employed. The two schemes are:

(i) Ramp firing scheme

(ii) Cosine Firing Scheme

1.1 RAMP FIRING SCHEME:

The ramp firing scheme with unipolar positive slope ramp signal as reference is shown
in Fig.1.2. In this scheme, the reference signal is a ramp waveform and synchronized
to the input source. Its magnitude is chosen to vary from 0 to +4.5V as ⍵t varies from
0º to 180º (i.e., one half-cycle of the input supply) as shown in Fig.1.2 & Fig 1.3.

The control signal is a dc with the variable magnitude but limited to ramp magnitudes.
The firing pulses are generated based on the comparison of two signals. Pulses are
produced when the magnitude of the reference signal is greater than the magnitude of
control signal.
 2

Fig.1.1 Schematic for Converter with firing control circuit

Fig.1.2 Schematics of firing pulse generator using Ramp and constant voltage
scheme.

The instant at which the pulse is produced is called the delay angle or firing angle. The
firing angle can be varied by adjusting the magnitude of control signal. The generation
of pulses for a firing angle of 60º is shown in fig.1.3. Thyristors T1 and T2 conduct in
the positive half cycle. The gate pulses are logically same for T1 and T2. Thyristors T3
and T4 conduct in the negative half cycle of input supply. Pulses for T3 and T4 are
produced with ramp reference whose magnitude varies from 0V to +4.5V when ⍵t
varies from 180º to 360º(negative half cycle of the input supply).

Firing angle (α) can be varied from 0º to 180º by varying Control voltage from
Vc(min)[0V] to Vc(max)[+4.5V] respectively. The relationship between α and Vc is given
by
 3

𝑽𝒄
𝜶= ∗ 𝟏𝟖𝟎 (1.1)
𝑽𝒄 (𝒎𝒂𝒙)

From the above equation, it can be inferred that the firing angle (α) is a linear function
of control voltage(Vc).The relation between the output voltage of the single phase fully
controlled converter and firing angle is not linear due to the cosine term involved as
given by the equations (6)&(8). Above two statements implies that the relation between
the output voltage and control voltage is also non-linear in ramp firing scheme as
shown graphically in Fig.1.13.

Reference signal can also be chosen as unipolar ramp with negative slope and bipolar
ramp with positive slope as shown in Fig 1.3 and Fig1.4 respectively. To produce firing
pulsed for T1 and T2, in former case magnitude varies from 𝑉𝑐 (𝑚𝑎𝑥) to zero and in latter
case magnitude varies from−𝑉𝑐 (𝑚𝑖𝑛) to 𝑉𝑐 (𝑚𝑎𝑥) during positive half cycle of the input
supply. The relation between α and 𝑉𝑐 both cases are given by the equations (2) and
(2a).

For unipolar negative slope ramp,

(𝟏−𝑽𝒄 )
𝜶= ∗ 𝟏𝟖𝟎 (1.2)
𝑽𝒄 (𝒎𝒂𝒙)

For bipolar positive slope ramp,

𝑽𝒄 −(−𝑽𝒄 (𝒎𝒊𝒏))
𝜶= *180 (1.2a)
𝑽𝒄 (𝒎𝒂𝒙)−(−𝑽𝒄 (𝒎𝒊𝒏))

Fig1.2(a) Negative slope ramp reference signal

 4

Fig1.2(b) Bipolar positive ramp referene signal

Fig.1.3 Ramp Firing scheme for firing angle,α=60°

 5

1.2 Cosine Firing Scheme:

In order to achieve improved closed loop response of converters, the control voltage
of the firing circuit must be linear with respect to the output voltage of the converter.
To linearize the output voltage with respect to the control voltage, the inverse cosine-
firing scheme is adopted. In this scheme the reference signal is cosine waveform
instead of ramp signal and such a scheme is shown in Fig.4. Pulses are produced for
the duration in which Vc is greater than Vref. To limit the maximum pulse duration to
180ᵒ, a sine reference with zero crossing detector is used.The firing angle α is the
instant when Vc exceeds Vref.i.e.,

Vpcosα=Vc
(1.3)

Where,
Vp is the cosine reference peak magnitude
Vc is control voltage magnitude.

cosα=Vc/Vp
α= cos-1(Vc/Vp) (1.4)

Fig1.4 Cosine firing pulse generation scheme

The above equation shows that the relation between α and Vc is an inverse cosine
function. Substituting equation 4 in equations 6&8,

𝟑√𝟑∗𝐕𝐦
𝐕𝐨, 𝐚𝐯𝐠 = 𝝅
𝐜𝐨𝐬⁡{cos-1(Vc/Vp)}

𝟑√𝟑∗𝐕𝐦 𝑽𝒄
𝐕𝐨, 𝐚𝐯𝐠 = 𝝅
∗𝑽 (1.5)
𝒑

From the above equation it is seen that since Vc is an inverse cosine function of α, the
output voltage is cosine of inverse cosine of Vc which means that the output voltage is
linear with respect to Vc. Thus in this scheme, the output voltage is linearized with
respect to the control voltage. The firing pulse generation is shown in Fig.1.5.
 6

1.3 THREE PHASE CONVERTER

1.31 Ramp Firing Scheme

Firing pulse generation using ramp method for three phase converter is similar to that
of single phase except that the reference signals are shifted mutually by 60º for each
successive thyristor. This is shown in fig.1.6.

1.32 Cosine Firing Scheme

The schematic of cosine firing scheme (for triggering one thyristor (T1)) is shown in
Fig.1.7. The principle of pulse generation is same as that for single phase cosine
scheme. Here, the sine and cosine references for each phase are derived respectively
from the line and phase voltages of the three phase supply. Each line voltage waveform
is taken as sinusoidal reference for one thyristor (-VBR for T1). Among the six available
phase voltage waveforms, the waveform which leads the chosen sine reference by 90º
is chosen as the cosine reference (-VY) for T1). This can be identified using the vector
diagram shown in Fig.1.10. The similar procedure is followed to obtain the gate pulses
for other thyristors. The pairs of sine and cosine references signals used to generate
the firing pulses for each thyristor of the six-pulse converter is shown in Fig.1.11 and
summarized in Table-1.The pulse generation(for thyristor T1) for firing angle of 60º is
shown in fig.1.12.

Fig.1.5Cosine Firing scheme for single phase converter with firing angle,α=60
 7

Fig.1.6 - Pulse generation for Three phase converter with Ramp firing scheme

Fig.1. 7 Cosine firing pulse generation scheme for 3-phase converter

 8

Fig.1.8Vectorial representation of phase and line voltages

Fig.1.9 Sine reference (blue w/f) and Cosine reference(green w/f) for each
thyristor
 9

Fig.1.9(a) Sine reference (blue w/f) and Cosine reference(green w/f) for each
thyristor

Table-1.1: Sine and cosine reference pairs taken from the vector diagram

Phase Shift
Sine Cosine Phase shift of cosine
S.No. Thyristor of sine
Reference reference reference(°)
reference(°)

1 T1 -VBR -VY -30 60

2 T2 VYB VR -90 0
3 T3 -VRY -VB -150 -60
4 T4 VBR VY -210 -120
5 T5 -VYB -VR -270 -180
6 T6 VRY VB -330 -240
 10

Fig.1.10 Pulse generation for 6 pulse converter with Cosine firing scheme

Table 1.2 –Relation between control voltage and output voltage for both
schemes

Control voltage (Vc) for Control voltage (Vc) for

Firing angle (deg)
RAMP scheme COSINE scheme
0 -4.5 4.5
30 -3 3.897
60 -1.5 2.25
90 0 0
120 1.5 -2.25
150 3 -3.897
180 4.5 -4.5
 11

Table 1.3 – Single phase converter with r load

Vm=325.26V, CONSTANT CURRENT LOAD=15A

DC OUTPUT
FIRING
VOLTAGE
ANGLE Is(A) Is1(A) PF HF DF RF
THEO SIMU
(°)
(V) (V)
0 207.1 205.5 11.15 11.15 1 0 1 0.486
30 193.2 191.9 11.02 10.84 0.852 0.1829 0.866 0.614
60 155.3 154.3 10.1 9.266 0.458 0.4337 0.5 0.875
90 103.5 102.8 8.038 6.431 0 0.7498 0 1.213
120 51.77 51.32 5.108 3.8 -0.311 1.257 -0.5 1.692
150 13.87 13.7 2.056 0.633 -0.266 3.086 -0,866 2.627
-
176 0.252 0.296 0.366 0.319 -0.896 0.4852 5.862
0.9967

Table-1.4- FOR Single phase converter with R load Vs=240V Observation from
the above experiment:

AL DC OUTPUT For R=10

PH VOLTAGE Vrms ohms DF PF IS1 HF RF
A THEO SIMU( Idc Irms
(V) v
0 216.1 214.4 238.5 21.44 23.85 1 1 23.85 0.002 .487
30 201.6 197.5 234.1 19.75 23.41 .866 .8534 23.07 .1723 .6355
60 162.1 156.8 211.1 15.68 21.11 .5 .464 19.59 .4015 .9015
90 108 107.8 168.7 10.72 16.87 0 0 14.11 .6542 1.214
120 54.02 49.08 99.18 4.908 9.918 -0.5 -0.339 6.73 1.083 1.756
150 14.48 14.09 39.94 1.109 3.994 -.866 -0.425 1.961 1.774 2.651

Fig.1.11 Single phase converter with R-load for α=60°

 12

PERFORMANCE OF SINGLE PHASE FULL CONVERTER

Schematic representation of single phase full bridge converter with load

Performance Parameters: (Single Phase)

For R Load
1.Average Output Voltage (Ramp)
Vm
Voavg  1  cos   *2 (1.6)

2.Average Output Voltage (cosine)
𝐕𝐨, 𝐚𝐯𝐠 =
𝐕𝐦
∗ {𝟏 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬⁡(cos-1
𝐕𝐜
)} (1.7)
𝝅 𝐕𝐜(𝐦𝐚𝐱)

For Highly Inductive Load

1.Average Output Voltage (Ramp)
2Vm
Voavg   cos   2 (1.8)

2.Average Output Voltage (cosine)
𝟐𝐕𝐦 𝐕𝐜
Vo,avg= ( 𝝅
) (𝒄𝒐𝒔 (𝐜𝐨𝐬 − 𝟏 (𝐕𝐜(𝐦𝐚𝐱))))

(1.9)
3.RMS Value of Fundamental Harmonic Current
 2 2I 0 
Is1    (1.10)
  
4.RMS Value of the Input Current
Is  I 0 (1.11)

5.Power Factor
 13

 Is1 
PF     cos    (1.12)
 Is 

6.Harmonic Factor

2
 Is 
HF    1 (1.13)
 Is1 

7.Ripple Factor

2
 Vrms 
RF    1 (1.14)
 Voavg 

Fig.1.12 Single phase converter with RL-load for α=60°

Table 1.5 - Single phase converter with highly inductive load

Vm=325.26V, CONSTANT CURRENT LOAD=15A

DC OUTPUT PF
FIRING
VOLTAGE
ANGLE Is(A) Is1(A) HF DF RF
THEO SIMU THEO SIMU
(°)
(V) (V)
0 207.1 205.5 14.99 13.52 0.899 0.901 0.4791 1 0.487
30 179.3 177.7 14.95 13.2 0.778 0.764 0.5318 0.866 0.811
60 103.5 101.9 15 12.95 0.449 0.431 0.5857 0.5 2.017
90 0 1.661 15.04 12.84 0 0 0.6098 0 138.6
- -0.44 -
120 -103 14.99 12.92 0.5882 -0.5 1.953
105.2 0.431
 14

- -0.77 -
150 -181 14.93 13.17 -0.76 0.5348 0.795
179.3 0.866
- -0.89 - -
176 206.6 14.98 13.47 0.4875 0.485
208.2 0.896 0.951

Where,
Vm-Input/Supply Peak Voltage (V)
vc(max)- Cosine Peak Voltage (V)
Vc- Control Voltage (V)
Io - Average Load Current (A)
⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡𝐈𝐬𝟏 - Fundamental Harmonic Current (A)
The simulation results for single phase converter with resistive and inductive loads for
α=60° are shown in the figures and tables:

Model Calculation:

(for R-load)
1.Average Output Voltage (Ramp)

Voavg 
325.26

 
1  cos 60 =155.3 V

2.Average Output Voltage (cosine)

 325.26    1  4.5   
Voavg    1  cos  cos     =155.3 V
     9 
(for RL-load)
1.Average Output Voltage (Ramp)

2  325.26
Voavg   cos 60  =103.5 V


2.Average Output Voltage (cosine)

 2  325.26    1  4.5   
Voavg     cos  cos     =103.5 V
     9 
3.RMS Value of Fundamental Harmonic Current
 2 2  15 
Is1    =13.50 A
  
4.RMS Value of the Input Current

Is  I 0 =15 A
5.Power Factor

 13.50 
PF     cos  60  =0.45
 15.01 

6.Harmonic Factor
 15

2
 15.01 
HF    1 =0.486
 13.50 

7.Ripple Factor

2
 233 
RF    1 =2.017
 103.5 

Fig.1.13 Control Characteristics for R-load:

 16

Fig.1.14 Control Characteristics for RL-load:

PERFORMANCE OF SIX PULSE CONVERTER

Schematic representation of 3-phase full bridge converter with load

Performance Parameters: (Three Phase)

For R Load
 17

Continuous Conduction mode (α≤ 60°)

1. Average Output Voltage (Ramp)

 3 3Vm 
Voavg     cos 
   (1.15)

2.Average Output Voltage (Cosine)

 3 3Vm   Vc 
Voavg       (1.16)
    Em 

Discontinuous Conduction mode (α > 60°)

1. .Average Output Voltage (Ramp)

 3 3  Vm    
Voavg     1  cos      (1.17)
    3 

2. .Average Output Voltage (Cosine)

 3 3  Vm    Vc  
Voavg  

  1  0.5 

   0.866
m 
E
m
2
 Vc 2  / Em (1.18)
   E

Fig.1.15 Three phase converter with R-load for α=60°

 18

Fig.1.16 Three phase converter with RL-load for α=60°

For Highly Inductive Load

1. Average Output Voltage (Ramp)

 3 3Vm 
Voavg     cos  (1.19)
  
2. Average Output Voltage (Cosine)
 3 3Vm   Vc 
Voavg       (1.20)
    Em 

3. RMS Value of Fundamental Harmonic Current

 2 2I 0  
Is1     sin (1.21)
   3
4..RMS Value of the Input Current
2
Is  I 0  (1.22)
3

5. Power Factor

 Is1 
PF     cos    (1.23)
 Is 

6. Harmonic Factor
 19

2
 Is 
HF    1 (1.24)
 Is1 

7. Ripple Factor

2
 Vrms 
RF    1 (1.25)
 Voavg 

Model Calculation:

Continous Conduction mode (α≤ 60°)

1. Average Output Voltage (Ramp)

 3 3Vm 
Voavg     cos 
  

 3 3  325.26 
Voavg     cos 45 =380.2 V
  

2. .Average Output Voltage (Cosine)

 3 3Vm   Vc 
Voavg      
    Em 

 3 3  325.26   6.36 
Voavg       =380.2 V
    9 

Table 1.6 - Three phase converter with r-load

Vm=325.26V
DC OUTPUT
FIRING
VOLTAGE
ANGLE Is(A) Is1(A) PF HF DF RF
THEO SIMU
(°)
(V) (V)
0 538 537.6 8.173 7.812 0.955 0.3075 0.9877 0.042
10 529.8 529.4 8.056 7.68 0.938 0.3166 0.984 0.062
30 465.9 465.4 7.245 6.827 0.816 0.3551 0.866 0.173
45 380.2 379.4 6.139 5.64 0.65 0.4277 0.707 0.296
60 269 268.5 4.743 4.089 0.431 0.5877 0.5 0.507
90 72.08 71.83 1.878 1.165 0 1.264 0 1.235
120 0 0.3 0.049 0.003 -0.034 14.61 -0.5 7.282

Table 1.7 - Three phase converter with highly inductive load

 20

Vm=325.26V, CONSTANT CURRENT LOAD=10A

DC OUTPUT
FIRING PF
VOLTAGE
ANGLE Is(A) Is1(A) HF DF RF
THEO SIMU
(°) THEO SIMU
(V) (V)
0 538 537.6 8.164 7.797 0.954 0.955 0.3105 1 0.042
10 529.8 529.4 8.164 7.796 0.94 0.9389 0.3104 0.984 0.042
30 465.9 465.4 8.164 7.795 0.826 0.8161 0.3112 0.866 0.161
45 380.2 379.4 8.163 7.794 0.675 0.6501 0.3115 0.707 0.292
60 269 268.5 8.163 7.793 0.477 0.4311 0.3116 0.5 0.514
90 0 13.09 8.163 7.792 0 0 0.3118 0 328.7
-
120 -269 8.163 7.793 -0.47 -0.034 0.3116 -0.5 0.5126
257.6
- - -
135 8.163 7.794 -0.67 -0.674 0.3115 0.292
380.4 371.1 0.707

Fig.1.17: Control Characteristics for Three Phase Full Converter with Ramp
firing

Discontinous Conduction mode (α > 60°)

1. .Average Output Voltage (Ramp)

 3 3  Vm    
Voavg     1  cos     
    3 

 3 3  325.26    
Voavg     1  cos   90   =72.08 V
    3 
 21

2. .Average Output Voltage (Cosine)

 3 3  Vm    Vc  
Voavg  

  1  0.5     0.866
 Em  
E m
2
 Vc 2  / Em
  
 3 3  325.26    0 
Voavg  

  1  0.5     0.866
 9 
9 2
 02  / 9 =72.08
  

Model Calculation:
 3 3Vm 
1. Average Output Voltage (Ramp) Voavg     cos 
  
 3 3  325.26 
    cos 45 =380.4 V
  
 3 3Vm   Vc 
2. Average Output Voltage (Cosine) Voavg      
    Em 

 3 3  325.26   6.36 
      =380.6 V
    9 

3. RMS Value of Fundamental Harmonic Current

 2 2I 0  
Is1     sin
   3

 2 2 10  
    sin =7.796 A
   3

4.RMS Value of the Input Current

2 2
Is  I 0  = 10  =8.164 A
3 3
 22

Fig.1.18: Control Characteristics for Three Phase Full Converter with Cosine
firing

Fig.1.19 Normalized control voltage Vs firing angle

 23

5. Power Factor

 Is1 
PF     cos   
 Is 

 8.163 
   cos  45  =0.675
 7.794 

6. Harmonic Factor

2
 Is 
HF    1
 Is1 

2
 8.163 
   1
 7.794 

= 0.3108

7. Ripple Factor

2 2
 Vrms   396.2 
RF    1 RF     1 =0.292
 Voavg   380.2 

CONCLUSION:

The Control Characteristics shows that the variation of output voltage with respect to
control voltage is non-linear when ramp firing scheme is used and linear when cosine-
firing scheme is used.

Also, theoretical average output voltage of the converters is verified through simulation
and other performance parameters such as harmonic factor, power factor, ripple factor
and input current are determined for single and three phase converters for different
firing angles.

It is found that the performance of three phase converter are better than that of single
phase converter due to more number of pulses in the output and less harmonic
distortion. The performance can be increased further by using higher pulse converters.