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Thyristor Commutations PDF
Thyristor Commutations PDF
INTRODUCTION
In practice it becomes necessary to turn off a conducting thyristor. (Often thyristors
are used as switches to turn on and off power to the load). The process of turning off a
conducting thyristor is called commutation. The principle involved is that either the anode
should be made negative with respect to cathode (voltage commutation) or the anode current
should be reduced below the holding current value (current commutation).
The reverse voltage must be maintained for a time at least equal to the turn-off time of
SCR otherwise a reapplication of a positive voltage will cause the thyristor to conduct even
without a gate signal. On similar lines the anode current should be held at a value less than
the holding current at least for a time equal to turn-off time otherwise the SCR will start
conducting if the current in the circuit increases beyond the holding current level even
without a gate signal. Commutation circuits have been developed to hasten the turn-off
process of Thyristors. The study of commutation techniques helps in understanding the
transient phenomena under switching conditions.
The reverse voltage or the small anode current condition must be maintained for a
time at least equal to the TURN OFF time of SCR; Otherwise the SCR may again start
conducting. The techniques to turn off a SCR can be broadly classified as
• Natural Commutation
• Forced Commutation.
vs ~ ↑ R ↑ vo
π 3π ωt
0 2π
ωt
α
Load voltage vo
Turn off
occurs here
ωt
π 3π ωt
0 2π
Fig. 1.2: Natural Commutation – Waveforms of Supply and Load Voltages (Resistive
Load)
FORCED COMMUTATION
When supply is DC, natural commutation is not possible because the polarity of the
supply remains unchanged. Hence special methods must be used to reduce the SCR current
below the holding value or to apply a negative voltage across the SCR for a time interval
greater than the turn off time of the SCR. This technique is called FORCED
COMMUTATION and is applied in all circuits where the supply voltage is DC - namely,
Choppers (fixed DC to variable DC), inverters (DC to AC). Forced commutation techniques
are as follows:
• Self Commutation
• Resonant Pulse Commutation
• Complementary Commutation
• Impulse Commutation
• External Pulse Commutation.
• Line Side Commutation.
SELF COMMUTATION OR LOAD COMMUTATION OR CLASS A
COMMUTATION: (COMMUTATION BY RESONATING THE LOAD)
In this type of commutation the current through the SCR is reduced below the holding
current value by resonating the load. i.e., the load circuit is so designed that even though the
supply voltage is positive, an oscillating current tends to flow and when the current through
the SCR reaches zero, the device turns off. This is done by including an inductance and a
capacitor in series with the load and keeping the circuit under-damped. Figure 1.3 shows the
circuit.
This type of commutation is used in Series Inverter Circuit.
T L Vc(0)
i R + -
Load C
At t = 0 , when the SCR turns ON on the application of gate pulse assume the current
in the circuit is zero and the capacitor voltage is VC ( 0 ) .
Writing the Laplace Transformation circuit of figure 1.3 the following circuit is
obtained when the SCR is conducting.
1 VC(0)
sL CS S
T R I(S) + - + -
C
V
S
Fig.: 1.4.
V − VC ( 0 )
I (S ) = S
1
R + sL +
CS
CS V − VC ( 0 )
= S
RCs + s 2 LC + 1
C V − VC ( 0 )
=
R 1
LC s 2 + s +
L LC
V − VC ( 0 )
= L
R 1
s +s +
2
L LC
(V − V ( 0 ) )
C
= L
2 2
R 1 R R
s +s +
2
+ −
L LC 2 L 2 L
(V − V ( 0 ) )
C
= L
2
R 1 R
2 2
s + + −
2 L LC 2 L
A
= ,
(s +δ ) +ω2
2
Where
A=
(V − V ( 0 ) ) ,
C
δ=
R
, ω=
1 R
−
2
L 2L LC 2 L
A ω
I (S ) =
ω ( s + δ )2 + ω 2
Taking inverse Laplace transforms
A
i (t ) = e −δ t sin ω t
ω
V − VC ( 0 ) −2 RL t
i (t ) = e sin ω t
ωL
ωL
vc = V − vR − VL
di
vc = V − iR − L
dt
Substituting for i,
A d A −δ t
vc = V − R e −δ t sin ω t − L e sin ω t
ω dt ω
vc = V − R
A
ω
e −δ t sin ω t − L
A
ω
(e −δ t
ω cos ω t − δ e −δ t sin ω t )
A
vc = V − e −δ t [ R sin ω t + ω L cos ω t − Lδ sin ω t ]
ω
A R
vc = V − e −δ t R sin ω t + ω L cos ω t − L sin ω t
ω 2L
A R
vc = V − e −δ t sin ω t + ω L cos ω t
ω 2
Substituting for A,
vc ( t ) = V −
(V − V ( 0 ) ) e δ R
2 sin ω t + ω L cos ω t
C − t
ωL
vc ( t ) = V −
(V − V ( 0 ) ) e δ R
2 L sin ω t + ω cos ω t
C − t
ω
SCR turns off when current goes to zero. i.e., at ω t = π .
(V − V ( 0 ) ) e ωδπ−
vc = V −
C
( 0 + ω cos π )
ω
−δπ
vc = V + V − VC ( 0 ) e ω
− Rπ
Therefore vc = V + V − VC ( 0 ) e 2 Lω
2
R 1
That is <
2L LC
V t
i= sin
ωL LC
1
But ω=
LC
V t C t
Therefore i= LC sin =V sin
L LC L LC
• Figure 1.5 shows the waveforms for the above conditions. Once the SCR turns off
voltage across it is negative voltage.
π
• Conduction time of SCR = .
ω
C
V
L Current i
ωt
0 π/2 π
2V
Capacitor voltage
V
ωt
Gate pulse
ωt
ωt
−V
Voltage across SCR
Fig. 1.5: Self Commutation – Wave forms of Current and Capacitors Voltage
Problem 1.1 : Calculate the conduction time of SCR and the peak SCR current that flows in
the circuit employing series resonant commutation (self commutation or class A
commutation), if the supply voltage is 300 V, C = 1µF, L = 5 mH and RL = 100 Ω. Assume
that the circuit is initially relaxed.
T RL L C
+ −
100 Ω 5 mH 1 µF
V
=300V
Fig. 1.6.
Solution:
2
1 RL
ω= −
LC 2 L
2
1 100
ω= −3 −6
− −3
5 ×10 × 1× 10 2 × 5 × 10
Since the circuit is initially relaxed, initial voltage across capacitor is zero as also the
initial current through L and the expression for current i is
V −δ t R
i= e sin ω t , where δ = ,
ωL 2L
V
Therefore peak value of i=
ωL
300
i= = 6A
10000 × 5 ×10−3
π π
Conducting time of SCR = = = 0.314msec
ω 10000
Problem 1.2 : Figure 1.7 shows a self commutating circuit. The inductance carries an initial
current of 200 A and the initial voltage across the capacitor is V, the supply voltage.
Determine the conduction time of the SCR and the capacitor voltage at turn off.
L T i(t)
→ IO
10 µH
C +
V 50 µF − VC(0)=V
=100V
Fig. 1.7.
Solution :
The transformed circuit of figure 1.7 is shown in figure 1.8.
sL IOL
− +
I(S) +
VC(0)
=V
+ − S
V
S − 1
CS
V V ( 0) 1
= I ( S ) sL − I O L + C + I (S )
s s Cs
V VC ( 0 )
− + IO L
Therefore I (S ) = s s
1
sL +
Cs
V VC ( 0 )
− Cs
s s
I (S ) = + I O LCs
s LC + 1
2
s 2 LC + 1
V − VC ( 0 ) C
I (S ) =
I O LCs
+
1 1
LC s 2 + LC s 2 +
LC LC
V − VC ( 0 ) sI O
I (S ) = +
L s + ω
2 2
s +ω2
2
V − VC ( 0 ) ω
I (S ) =
sI 1
+ 2 O 2 where ω =
ω L s + ω s + ω
2 2
LC
Taking inverse LT
C
i ( t ) = V − VC ( 0 ) sin ω t + I O cos ω t
L
The capacitor voltage is given by
t
1
vc ( t ) = ∫ i ( t ) dt + VC ( 0 )
C0
1
t
C
vc ( t ) = ∫ V − VC ( 0 ) sin ω t + I O cos ω t dt + VC ( 0 )
C 0 L
1 (V − VC ( 0 ) ) C t I t
vc ( t ) = ( − cos ω t ) + O ( sin ω t ) + VC ( 0 )
C ω L o ω o
1 (V − VC ( 0 ) ) C I
vc ( t ) = (1 − cos ω t ) + O ( sin ω t ) + VC ( 0 )
C ω L ω
× LC sin ω t + (V − VC ( 0 ) ) LC
IO 1 C
vc ( t ) = (1 − cos ω t ) + VC ( 0 )
C C L
L
vc ( t ) = I O sin ω t + V − V cos ω t − VC ( 0 ) + VC ( 0 ) cos ω t + VC ( 0 )
C
sin ω t − (V − VC ( 0 ) ) cos ω t + V
L
vc ( t ) = I O
C
In this problem VC ( 0 ) = V
L
vc ( t ) = I O sin ω t + V
C
The waveforms are as shown in figure 1.9
I0
i(t)
ωt
π/2
vc(t)
ωt
π/2
Fig.: 1.9
π
Turn off occurs at a time to so that ω tO =
2
0.5π
Therefore tO = = 0.5π LC
ω
L
vc ( tO ) = I O sin ω tO + V
C
10 × 10−6
vc ( tO ) = 200 −6
sin 900 + 100
50 × 10
35.12
vc ( tO ) = 200 × 0.447 × sin + 100
22.36
→ I0
i(t)
V C
Fig. 1.10
Solution:
(Refer to problem 1.2).
i ( t ) can be written as
C
i ( t ) = I O2 + V 2 sin (ω t + α )
L
L
IO
where α = tan −1 C
V
1
and ω=
LC
C
I O2 + V 2
L
sin ω t − (V − VC ( 0 ) ) cos ω t + V
L
vc ( t ) = I O
C
L
with VC ( 0 ) = 0, vc ( t ) = I O sin ω t − V cos ω t + V
C
L
vc ( t ) = V 2 + I O2 sin (ω t − β ) + V
C
C
V
Where β = tan −1 L
IO
L
= V 2 + I O2 +V
C
20 × 10 −6
= 600 + 350 ×
2 2
+ 600
50 × 10−6
ωt
α 0
π−α
Fig. 1.11.
π −α
Therefore conduction time of SCR =
ω
L
IO
π − tan −1 C
V
=
1
LC
350 20 × 10−6
α = tan −1
600 50 ×10−6
1 1
ω= = = 31622.8 rad/sec
LC 20 ×10 −6 × 50 × 10−6
π − 0.3534
= = 88.17 µ sec
31622.8
IL
V
Load
FWD
tC
Ip i
t
π
IL ω
∆t
ISCR
Voltage across
SCR
t
t
1 c
C ∫0
V= I L dt
I L tc
V=
C
VC
tc = seconds
IL
For proper commutation tc should be greater than tq , the turn off time of T. Also, the
magnitude of I p , the peak value of i should be greater than the load current I L and the
expression for i is derived as follows
T i
+
C VC(0)
− =V
Fig. 1.14.
I(S)
sL
T 1
Cs
+
V
− s
Fig. 1.15.
V
I (S ) = s
1
sL +
Cs
V
Cs
I ( S ) = 2
s
s LC + 1
VC
I (S ) =
1
LC s 2 +
LC
V 1
I (S ) = ×
L s2 + 1
LC
1
V LC 1
I (S ) = × ×
L s2 + 1 1
LC LC
1
C LC
I (S ) = V ×
L s2 + 1
LC
Taking inverse LT
C
i (t ) = V sin ω t
L
1
Where ω=
LC
V
Or i (t ) = sin ω t = I p sin ω t
ωL
C
Therefore Ip =V amps .
L
EXPRESSION FOR CONDUCTION TIME OF SCR
For figure 1.13 (waveform of i), the conduction time of SCR
π
= + ∆t
ω
I
sin −1 L
π Ip
= +
ω ω
1
vc ( t ) = iC ( t ).dt
C∫
1 C
vc ( t ) = ∫ VC ( 0 ) sin ω t.dt .
C L
vc ( t ) = −VC ( 0 ) cos ω t
T1 iC(t) IL
C L iC(t) T2
ab
− +
VC(0) L
V T3 O
A
FWD D
t1
I L = I p sin
LC
C
I p = VC ( 0 )
L
I L
t1 = LC sin −1 L
VC ( 0 ) C
Once the thyristor T1 turns off, the capacitor starts charging towards the supply
voltage through T2 and load. As the capacitor charges through the load capacitor current is
same as load current I L , which is constant. When the capacitor voltage reaches V, the supply
voltage, the FWD starts conducting and the energy stored in L charges C to a still higher
voltage. The triggering of T3 reverses the polarity of the capacitor voltage and the circuit is
ready for another triggering of T1 . The waveforms are shown in figure 1.17.
EXPRESSION FOR tc
Assuming a constant load current I L which charges the capacitor
CV1
tc = seconds
IL
Normally V1 ≈ VC ( 0 )
For reliable commutation tc should be greater than tq , the turn off time of SCR T1 . It is
to be noted that tc depends upon I L and becomes smaller for higher values of load current.
Current iC(t)
V
Capacitor
voltage vab
t
t1
V1
tC
VC(0)
D2
iC(t)
T1 IL
C L iC(t) T2
- +
VC(0)
L
T3 O
V A
FWD D
Fig. 1.17(a)
iC
IL
0 t
VC
0 t
t1 t2
V1
VC(O) tC
Fig. 1.17(b)
t2 = π LC − t1
VC ( t2 ) = −VC ( O ) cos ω t2
Problem 1.4 : The circuit in figure 1.18 shows a resonant pulse commutation circuit. The
initial capacitor voltage VC ( O ) = 200V , C = 30µF and L = 3µH. Determine the circuit turn
off time tc , if the load current I L is (a) 200 A and (b) 50 A.
T1 IL
C L iC(t) T2
− +
VC(0)
L
T3 O
V A
FWD D
Fig. 1.18.
Solution
(a) When I L = 200 A
Let T2 be triggered at t = 0 .
The capacitor current ic ( t ) reaches a value I L at t = t1 , when T1 turns off
I L
t1 = LC sin −1 L
VC ( 0 ) C
200 3 ×10−6
t1 = 3 ×10−6 × 30 ×10−6 sin −1
200 30 ×10−6
t1 = 3.05µ sec .
1 1
ω= =
LC 3 × 10 × 30 × 10−6
−6
V1 = 200 × 0.9487
V1 = 189.75 Volts
CV1
and tc =
IL
30 × 10−6 × 189.75
tc = = 28.46 µ sec .
200
(b) When I L = 50 A
50 3 ×10−6
t1 = 3 ×10−6 × 30 ×10−6 sin −1
200 30 ×10−6
t1 = 0.749µ sec .
CV1
tc =
IL
30 × 10−6 × 200
tc = = 120 µ sec .
50
Problem 1.4a : Repeat the above problem for I L = 200 A , if an antiparallel diode D2 is
connected across thyristor T1 as shown in figure 1.18a.
D2
iC(t)
T1 IL
C L iC(t) T2
- +
VC(0)
L
T3 O
V A
FWD D
Fig. 1.18(a)
Solution
I L = 200 A
Let T2 be triggered at t = 0 .
Capacitor current iC ( t ) reaches the value I L at t = t1 , when T1 turns off
I L
Therefore t1 = LC sin −1 L
VC ( O ) C
200 3 ×10−6
t1 = 3 ×10−6 × 30 ×10−6 sin −1
200 30 ×10−6
` t1 = 3.05µ sec .
1 1
ω= =
LC 3 × 10 × 30 × 10−6
−6
At t = t1
VC ( t1 ) = V1 = −VC ( O ) cos ω t1
VC ( t1 ) = −189.75V
t2 = π LC − t1
t2 = 26.75µ sec .
1 1
ω= =
LC 3 × 10−6 × 30 × 10−6
VC ( t2 ) = V2 = 189.02 V
tC = 23.7 µ secs
Problem 1.5: For the circuit shown in figure 1.19 calculate the value of L for proper
commutation of SCR. Also find the conduction time of SCR.
4 µF
V
=30V L
RL i
30 Ω IL
Fig. 1.19.
Solution:
V 30
The load current I L =
= = 1 Amp
RL 30
For proper SCR commutation I p , the peak value of resonant current i, should be
greater than I L ,
Let I p = 2I L , Therefore I p = 2 Amps .
V V C
Also Ip = = =V
ωL 1
×L L
LC
4 × 10−6
Therefore 2 = 30 ×
L
Therefore L = 0.9mH .
1 1
ω= = = 16666 rad/sec
LC 0.9 × 10 × 4 × 10−6
−3
I
sin −1 L
π Ip
Conduction time of SCR = +
ω ω
1
sin −1
π 2
= +
16666 16666
π + 0.523
= radians
16666
= 0.00022 seconds
= 0.22 msec
Problem 1.6: For the circuit shown in figure 1.20 given that the load current to be
commutated is 10 A, turn off time required is 40µsec and the supply voltage is 100 V. Obtain
the proper values of commutating elements.
C
V
=100V L IL
i
IL
Fig. 1.20.
Solution
C
I p peak value of i = V and this should be greater than I L . Let I p = 1.5I L .
L
C
Therefore 1.5 ×10 = 100 ... ( a )
L
Also, assuming that at the time of turn off the capacitor voltage is approximately
equal to V, (and referring to waveform of capacitor voltage in figure 1.13) and the load
current linearly charges the capacitor
CV
tc = seconds
IL
100
Therefore 40 × 10−6 = C ×
10
Therefore C = 4µ F
4 × 10−6
1.5 × 10 = 100
L
10 4 × 4 × 10−6
1.5 × 10 =
2 2
L = 0.177 mH .
Problem 1.7 : In a resonant commutation circuit supply voltage is 200 V. Load current is 10
A and the device turn off time is 20µs. The ratio of peak resonant current to load current is
1.5. Determine the value of L and C of the commutation circuit.
Solution
Ip
Given = 1.5
IL
C
That is Ip =V = 15 A ... ( a )
L
It is given that the device turn off time is 20 µsec. Therefore tc , the circuit turn off
time should be greater than this,
CV
And tc =
IL
200 × C
Therefore 30 × 10−6 =
10
Therefore C = 1.5µ F .
Substituting in (a)
1.5 × 10−6
15 = 200
L
1.5 × 10−6
152 = 2002 ×
L
Therefore L = 0.2666 mH
IL
R1 R2
ab iC
V
C
T1 T2
Where V f is the final voltage, Vi is the initial voltage and τ is the time constant.
At t = tc , vc ( t ) = 0 ,
τ = R1C , V f = V , Vi = −V ,
− tc
Therefore 0 = V + ( −V − V ) e R1C
− tc
0 = V − 2Ve R1C
− tc
− tc
0.5 = e R1C
tc = 0.693R1C
tc = 0.693R2C
Usually R1 = R2 = R
Gate pulse Gate pulse
of T1 of T2
t
p
V
IL 2V
V
Current through R1 R1
R1
t
Current through T1 2V
R2
V
R1
t
2V Current through T2
R1
V
R2
t
V
Voltage across
capacitor vab
t
-V
tC tC
Voltage across T1
t
tC
Fig. 1.22
Problem 1.8 : In the circuit shown in figure 1.23 the load resistances R1 = R2 = R = 5Ω and
the capacitance C = 7.5 µF, V = 100 volts. Determine the circuit turn off time tc .
R1 R2
V
C
T1 T2
Fig. 1.23.
Solution
The circuit turn-off time tc = 0.693 RC seconds
tc = 26µ sec .
Problem 1.9: Calculate the values of RL and C to be used for commutating the main SCR in
the circuit shown in figure 1.24. When it is conducting a full load current of 25 A flows. The
minimum time for which the SCR has to be reverse biased for proper commutation is 40µsec.
Also find R1 , given that the auxiliary SCR will undergo natural commutation when its forward
current falls below the holding current value of 2 mA.
i1 IL
R1 RL
iC
V
=100V C
Auxiliary Main
SCR SCR
Fig. 1.24.
Solution
In this circuit only the main SCR carries the load and the auxiliary SCR is used to turn
off the main SCR. Once the main SCR turns off the current through the auxiliary SCR is the
sum of the capacitor charging current ic and the current i1 through R1 , ic reduces to zero after
a time tc and hence the auxiliary SCR turns off automatically after a time tc , i1 should be less
than the holding current.
Given I L = 25 A
V 100
That is 25 A = =
RL RL
Therefore RL = 4Ω
40 × 10 −6
Therefore C=
4 × 0.693
C = 14.43µ F
V
i1 = should be less than the holding current of auxiliary SCR.
R1
100
Therefore should be < 2mA.
R1
100
Therefore R1 >
2 ×10−3
That is R1 > 50 K Ω
T1 IL
−
T3 VC(O) C
+
L
L T2 O
V A
FWD D
VS
Capacitor
voltage
VC
tC
Voltage across T1
t
VC
t
1 c
VC = ∫ I L dt
C0
I L tc
VC =
C
VC C
tc = seconds
IL
Note:
• T1 is turned off by applying a negative voltage across its terminals. Hence this is
voltage commutation.
• tc depends on load current. For higher load currents tc is small. This is a disadvantage
of this circuit.
• When T2 is fired, voltage across the load is V + VC ; hence the current through load
shoots up and then decays as the capacitor starts charging.
T2
D
V
L
IL
RL
VC
Capacitor
voltage
t
−V
tC
This is due to i
IT 1
IL
Current through SCR V
RL
t
2V
RL
IL
Load current
V Voltage across T1
tC
+
T1
-
C VC(0)
V +
T2 R
-
Fig. 1.29.
Solution
When T2 is triggered the circuit is as shown in figure 1.30.
VC(O)
- + i(t)
+
C
T2
V R
Fig. 1.30.
1 VC(0)
Cs s
− + I(s)
+
V R
s −
Fig. 1.31.
We have to obtain an expression for capacitor voltage. It is done as follows:
1
(V + VC ( 0 ) )
I (S ) = s
1
R+
Cs
C (V + VC ( 0 ) )
I (S ) =
1 + RCs
I (S ) =
(V + V ( 0 ) ) C
1
Rs +
RC
1 VC ( 0 )
Voltage across capacitor VC ( s ) = I ( s ) −
Cs s
1 V + VC ( 0 ) VC ( 0 )
VC ( s ) = −
RCs 1 s
s+
RC
V + VC ( 0 ) V + VC ( 0 ) VC ( 0 )
VC ( s ) = − −
s 1 s
s +
RC
V V V ( 0)
VC ( s ) = − − C
s s+ 1 s+
1
RC RC
(
vc ( t ) = V 1 − e
−t
RC
) −V (0) e
C
−t
RC
Therefore (
vc ( t ) = V 1 − 2e
−t
RC
)
The waveform of vc ( t ) is shown in figure 1.32.
V
vC(t)
t
VC(0)
tC
Fig. 1.32.
At t = tc , vc ( t ) = 0
− tc
Therefore 0 = V 1 − 2e RC
− tc
1 = 2e RC
1 − tc
= e RC
2
tc = RC ln ( 2 )
tc = 10 ×10 × 10−6 ln ( 2 )
tc = 69.3µ sec .
Problem 1.11 : In the commutation circuit shown in figure 1.33. C = 20 µF, the input voltage
V varies between 180 and 220 V and the load current varies between 50 and 200 A.
Determine the minimum and maximum values of available turn off time tc .
T1 I0
−
C VC(0)=V
+
V
T2
I0
Fig. 1.33.
Solution
It is given that V varies between 180 and 220 V and I O varies between 50 and 200 A.
The expression for available turn off time tc is given by
CV
tc =
IO
CVmax
Therefore tc max =
I O min
220
tc max = 20 ×10−6 × = 88µ sec
50
CVmin
and tc min =
I O max
180
tc min = 20 ×10 −6 × = 18µ sec
200
T1 T2 L T3
+
VS RL 2VAUX C VAUX
−