CONTROLLED RECTIFIERS TUTORIAL

Question One
If the converter in Figure 1 has a purely resistive load of R and the delay angle is 𝛼 = 𝜋 2,
determine (a) the rectification efficiency, (b) the form factor (FF), (c) the ripple factor (RF), (d)
the TUF, and the (e) the peak inverse voltage (PIV) of thyristor.

Figure 1 Single-thyristor rectifier with resistive load.

Solution
𝑉𝑚
The delay angle is 𝛼 = 𝜋 2, from 𝑉𝑑𝑐 = 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 , 𝑉𝑑𝑐 = 0.1592𝑉𝑚 and
2𝜋

𝐼𝑑𝑐 = 0.1592𝑉𝑚 /𝑅.

𝑉𝑚 1 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝛼 1/2
From 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 𝜋−𝛼+ , 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 0.3536𝑉𝑚 and 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 0.3536𝑉𝑚 /𝑅.
2 𝜋 2

𝑃𝑑𝑐 = 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝐼𝑑𝑐 = 0.1592𝑉𝑚 2 /𝑅 and 𝑃𝑎𝑐 = 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝐼𝑟𝑚 𝑠 = 0.3536𝑉𝑚 2 /𝑅

𝑃 𝑑𝑐 0.1592𝑉𝑚 2
(a) The rectification efficiency 𝜂 = = = 20.27%
𝑃𝑎𝑐 0.3536 𝑉𝑚 2

𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 0.3536𝑉𝑚
(b) The form factor 𝐹𝐹 = = = 2.22 𝑜𝑟 222.1%
𝑉𝑑𝑐 0.1592𝑉𝑚

(c) The ripple factor 𝑅𝐹 = 𝐹𝐹 2 − 1 = 2.2212 − 1 = 1.983 𝑜𝑟 198.3%

(d) The rms voltage of the transformer secondary, 𝑉𝑠 = 𝑉𝑚 2 = 0.707𝑉𝑚 . The rms value of the
transformer secondary current is the same as that of the load, 𝐼𝑠 = 0.3536𝑉𝑚 /𝑅. The volt-ampere
rating (VA) of the transformer, 𝑉𝐴 = 𝑉𝑠 𝐼𝑠 = 0.707𝑉𝑚 × 0.3536𝑉𝑚 /𝑅

𝑃𝑑𝑐 0.15922
𝑇𝑈𝐹 = = = 0.1014
𝑉𝑠 𝐼𝑠 0.707 × 0.3536
 The PF is approximately equal to TUF. Thus 𝑃𝐹 = 0.1014.

(e) The 𝑃𝐼𝑉 = 𝑉𝑚

Question Two
A three-phase half-wave converter in Figure 2 is operated from a three-phase Y-connected 208V,
60 Hz supply and the load resistance is 𝑅 = 10Ω. If it is required to obtain an average output
voltage of 50% of the maximum possible output voltage, calculate (a) the delay angle 𝛼, (b) the
rms and average output currents, (c) the average and rms thyristor currents, (d) the rectification
efficiency, (e) the TUF and (f) the input PF.

Figure 2 Three-phase phase-controlled half-wave rectifier

Solution

The phase voltage is 𝑉𝑠 = 208/ 3 = 120.1 𝑉, 𝑉𝑚 = 2𝑉𝑠 = 169.83 𝑉, 𝑉𝑛 = 0.5, and 𝑅 = 10 Ω

3 3𝑉𝑚 169.83
The maximum output voltage is 𝑉𝑑𝑚 = = 3 3× = 140.4 5 𝑉
2𝜋 2𝜋

The average output voltage, 𝑉𝑑𝑐 = 0.5 × 140.5 = 70.23 𝑉.

(a) For a resistive load, the load current is continuous if 𝛼 ≤ 𝜋/6 and from 𝑉𝑛 = 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑑𝑚 =
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 gives 𝑉𝑛 ≥ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜋/6 = 86.6%. With a resistive load and 50% output, the load current is
𝜋
discontinuous. From 𝑉𝑛 = 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑑𝑚 = 0.5 = 1/ 3 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 + 𝛼 , which gives the delay
6
angle as 𝛼 = 67.7°.

(b) The average output current, 𝐼𝑑𝑐 = 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝑅 = 70.23 10 = 7.02 𝐴, From
 5 𝛼 1 𝜋 1/2
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 3𝑉𝑚 − + 𝑠𝑖𝑛 + 2𝛼 = 94.74 𝑉 and rms load current
24 4𝜋 8𝜋 3

𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 94.74 10 = 9.47 𝐴.

7.02
(c) The average current of a thyristor is 𝐼𝐴 = 𝐼𝑑𝑐 3 = = 2.34 𝐴 and the rms current of a
3
thyristor is 𝐼𝑅 = 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 3 = 5.47 𝐴.
𝑃𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝐼𝑑𝑐
(d) The rectification efficiency 𝜂 = =𝑉 = 70.23 × 7.02/ 94.74 × 9.47 = 54.95%
𝑃𝑎𝑐 𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠

(e) The rms input line current is the same as the thyristor rms current, and the input volt-ampere
rating (VA), 𝑉𝐼 = 3𝑉𝑠 𝐼𝑠 = 3 × 120.1 × 5.47 = 1970.84 𝑊.

70.23 × 7.02
𝑇𝑈𝐹 = 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝐼𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝐼 = = 0.25 𝑜𝑟 25%
1970.84
2
(f) The output power 𝑃𝑜 = 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑅 = 9.472 × 10 = 896.81 𝑉𝐴. The input

896.81
𝑃𝐹 = 𝑃𝑜 𝑉𝐼 = = 0.455 (𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔)
1970.84
Note: Due to the delay angle 𝛼, the fundamental component of input lone current is also delayed
with respect to the input phase voltage.

Question Three
A Full-bridge three-phase converter in Figure 3 is operated from a three-phase Y-connected
208V, 60 Hz supply and the load resistance is 𝑅 = 10Ω. If it is required to obtain an average
output voltage of 50% of the maximum possible output voltage, calculate (a) the delay angle 𝛼,
(b) the rms and average output currents, (c) the average and rms thyristor currents, (d) the
rectification efficiency, (e) the TUF and (f) the input PF.

Figure 3 Full-bridge three-phase converter

Solution

The phase voltage is 𝑉𝑠 = 208/ 3 = 120.1 𝑉, 𝑉𝑚 = 2𝑉𝑠 = 169.83 𝑉, 𝑉𝑛 = 0.5, and 𝑅 = 10 Ω

3 3𝑉𝑚 169.83
The maximum output voltage is 𝑉𝑑𝑚 = = 3 3× = 280.9 𝑉
𝜋 𝜋

The average output voltage, 𝑉𝑑𝑐 = 0.5 × 280.9 = 140.45 𝑉.

(a) From 𝑉𝑛 = 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑑𝑚 = 0.5 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼, and the delay angle 𝛼 = 60°.

(b) The average output current, 𝐼𝑑𝑐 = 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝑅 = 140.45 10 = 14.05 𝐴, From
1/2 1/2
1 3 3 1 3 3
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 3𝑉𝑚 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝛼 = 3 × 169.83 + cos⁡(2 × 60°) = 159.29 𝑉 and
2 4𝜋 2 4𝜋
rms load current 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 159.29 10 = 15.93 𝐴.
14.05
(c) The average current of a thyristor is 𝐼𝐴 = 𝐼𝑑𝑐 3 = = 4.68 𝐴 and the rms current of a
3
thyristor is 𝐼𝑅 = 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 2/6 = 15.93 2/6 = 9.2 𝐴.

𝑃 𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝐼𝑑𝑐 140.45×14.05

(d) The rectification efficiency 𝜂 = = = = 0.778 𝑜𝑟 77.8%
𝑃𝑎𝑐 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 159.29×15.93

(e) The rms input line current 𝐼𝑠 = 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 4/6 = 13 𝐴, and the input volt-ampere rating (VAR),
𝑉𝐼 = 3𝑉𝑠 𝐼𝑠 = 3 × 120.1 × 13 = 4683.9 𝑊.

140.45 × 14.05
𝑇𝑈𝐹 = 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝐼𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝐼 = = 0.421 𝑜𝑟 42.1%
4683.9
2
(f) The output power 𝑃𝑜 = 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑅 = 15.932 × 10 = 2537.6 𝑉𝐴. The input

2537.6
𝑃𝐹 = 𝑃𝑜 𝑉𝐼 = = 0.542 (𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔)
4683.9

Question Four
A three-phase semiconverter is operated from a three-phase Y-connected 208V, 60 Hz supply
and the load resistance is 𝑅 = 10Ω. If it is required to obtain an average output voltage of 50%
of the maximum possible output voltage, calculate (a) the delay angle 𝛼, (b) the rms and average
output currents, (c) the average and rms thyristor currents, (d) the rectification efficiency, (e) the
TUF and (f) the input PF.
Solution

The phase voltage is 𝑉𝑠 = 208/ 3 = 120.1 𝑉, 𝑉𝑚 = 2𝑉𝑠 = 169.83 𝑉, 𝑉𝑛 = 0.5, and 𝑅 = 10 Ω

3 3𝑉𝑚 169.83
The maximum output voltage is 𝑉𝑑𝑚 = = 3 3× = 280.9 𝑉
𝜋 𝜋

The average output voltage, 𝑉𝑑𝑐 = 0.5 × 280.9 = 140.45 𝑉.

𝜋
(a) For 𝛼 ≥ 𝜋/3 and from 𝑉𝑛 = 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑑𝑚 = 0.5 (1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼) gives 𝑉𝑛 ≤ 0.5(1 + cos )=
3
75%. With a resistive load and 50% output, the load current is discontinuous. From 𝑉𝑛 =
𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑑𝑚 = 0.5 = 0.5 (1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼) which gives the delay angle as 𝛼 = 90°.

(b) The average output current, 𝐼𝑑𝑐 = 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝑅 = 140.45 10 = 14.05 𝐴, From

3 1 1/2 3 𝜋 1/2
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 3𝑉𝑚 𝜋 − 𝛼 + 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝛼 = 3 × 169.83 𝜋 − 2 + 0.5sin⁡
(2 × 90°) =
4𝜋 4𝜋
180.13 𝑉 and rms load current 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 180.13 10 = 18.01 𝐴.
14.05
(c) The average current of a thyristor is 𝐼𝐴 = 𝐼𝑑𝑐 3 = = 4.68 𝐴 and the rms current of a
3
thyristor is 𝐼𝑅 = 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 / 3 = 18.01/ 3 = 10.4 𝐴.
𝑃 𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝐼𝑑𝑐 140.45×14.05
(d) The rectification efficiency 𝜂 = = = = 0.608 𝑜𝑟 60.8%
𝑃𝑎𝑐 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 180.13×18.01

(e) Because the tyristor conducts for 2𝜋/3, the rms input line current 𝐼𝑠 = 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 2/3 = 14.71𝐴,
and the input volt-ampere rating (VA), 𝑉𝐼 = 3𝑉𝑠 𝐼𝑠 = 3 × 120.1 × 14.71 = 5300 𝑊.

140.45 × 14.05
𝑇𝑈𝐹 = 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝐼𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝐼 = = 0.372 𝑜𝑟 37.2%
5300
2
(f) The output power 𝑃𝑜 = 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑅 = 18.012 × 10 = 3243.6 𝑉𝐴.
3243 .6
The input 𝑃𝐹 = 𝑃𝑜 𝑉𝐼 = = 0.612 (𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔)
5300