Phase Control Delaying the current transfer from the preceding t0 the succeeding phase reduces the average value of the direct voltage. The delay {s accomplished by controlled diodes, or by reactors in serles ‘connection with regular diodes. The voltage reduction will be Computed from the time integral of the withheld voltage, and from the angle of delay. ‘With regular diodes the current transfer between two phases stats as s00n as the potential ofthe succeeding phase rises above that of the preceding phase. Thus the d-c circuit is given the highest possible potential at any Fastant, and the direct voltage is a maximum. If, however, the transition is delayed, the direct voltage is determined by a lower potential during ¢ fetta petiod of time, and the average value is reduced. This is illustrated by fig. 7.1 where at crs the potential of phase 2 exceeds that of phase I» and the voltage across the diode of phase 2, shown in section (c), changes ig. 7a. Voltages ina 3-puike midpoint connetion operating wih phase contol, 0Phase Control 81 from the reverse to the forward direction. A regular diode cannot absorb forward voltage and would immediately start to conduct. However, devices such as controlled diodes, thyratrons, or mercury are rectifiers have to be “fired” before they conduct, so that the current transfer can be delayed. Reactors with a strongly marked transition from the unsaturated to the saturated state are also able to cause such a delay. Computing the Voltage Reduction from the Time Integral of the Withheld Voltage During the delay of the current transfer a certain time integral of voltage is withheld from the d-c circuit. It corresponds to the crosshatched area in fig. 7.10, and is identical with the time integral of the voltage that is absorbed by the rectifying element or the control reactor while delaying the transfer (represented by the crosshatched area in fig. 7.Lc). This voltage-time integral can also be regarded as the source of the voltage reduction during a certain interval and is therefore equal to the average value of the reduction, Z,, multiplied by the duration of this interval. As an oxample, ina 3-pulse midpoint connection (fig. 7.14) such a delay occurs three times during each cycle. Hence for a 3-pulse midpoint connection, 4 duration of _ time integral of voltage withheld from (7) Fe 4 cycle ~ dec circuit during one delay This relation permits the computation of E, from the value of the integral. ‘The same relation can be applied to each commutating group of a 3-phase bridge or a double-wye connection with interphase transformer. In the bridge connection two 3-pulse commutating groups operate in series, and the direct voltages as well as the reductions E, have to be added, whereas in an interphase transformer connection the commutating groups are paralleled, and the direct voltages as well as the voltage reductions are ‘the same for the individual groups or for the whole system. ‘This method of computing the voltage reduction can be used ifthe delay is caused by devices such as control reactors that absorb a certain volage- ‘time integral (measured in voltseconds) before they permit the current flow. AA different approach is necessary if the rectifying elements are “fired” with a certain angle of delay, but this will be explained later. Example (Voltage reduction in a magnetically controlled interphase transformer connection) -In a magnetically controlled double-wye connection with interphase trans- former a voltage-time integral of 200 mVsec is absorbed by the reactors82 D-C Characteristics uring each delay. Compute the voltage reduction F,, assuming that (f= 60 ops, and that (@) The interphase transformer is in operation. () The interphase transformer is not in operation because the load current is too small to excite the core of the interphase transformer, Solution, (@) We compute for each commutating group, according to relation (7.1), 200 {msec} x [mVsec] Eg = 200 [mVsee] x 180 [seo™*] = 36 [V] ‘This result represents the reduction for each group as well as the reduction for the whole system, because the two groups are paralleled. (0) With the interphase transformer not in operation the voltage-time integral of 200 mVsec is withheld from the d-c cireuit six times during each cycle. Hence £,= 2) From this we conclude that the control characteristic changes at a current level where the interphase transformer loses Aut) = Bn 608 st tg influence. ‘This should be considered ‘when designing the control system. Computing the Voltage Reduction from the Angle of Delay In many cases the voltage reduction is con trolled by the instant of “firing,” and the dogree of phase control is a function of the angle of delay, «. For this condition we derive a relation between the remaining direct voltage, Euy — andthe angle «, which i simpler than computing he reduction .. For one interval of operation, 2a/g, the remaining ottege is represented by the erosshatched area in ig. 7.2, assuming that Teo seal! area below the ero lines regarded as a negative contribution and {s therefore subtracted from the large area, Guided by this figure we compute: inlets cos ot dotPhase Control 8 ‘With a few conversions this results in Egg ~ By = Ey Lin Ey, (telation 6.3) aei (72) ‘This relation is surprisingly simple, It is illustrated by fig. 7.3; with an ‘equal eaual Hy DX Bycora « o Fig. 73. Direct voltage with phase contol accurate scale the cosine curve of fig. 7.36 is presented in the chart of fig. 7.4, Equation (7.2) is valid for any pulse number except q = 1 and does Jb not need any statement concerning the connection as long as the operation is regular, Influence of the D-C Circuit lation (7.2) was derived under the assumption that the d-c circuit stays pon the potential of the conducting phase until the transfer to the succeeding pphase occurs, This condition is satisfied under regular operation where the 'inductance of the load circuit is assumed infinite so that the current flow is maintained while the direct voltage assumes instantaneous values of ‘opposite polarity. If, however, the inductance is not infinite, the current ‘decays during those intervals, and the conditions on which equation (7.2) Lis based will be satisfied only ifthe current does not reach zero before the succeeding phase is being fied, In a resistive circuit the current is proportional to the voltage, and both uantities remain zero from the instant of voltage reversal to the instant84 D-C Characteristics of firing the succeeding phase. With a free-wheeling diode the situation is similar, since the current is bypassed during the intervals of negative ‘emf and the voltage across the d-c terminals stays close to zero during these intervals. In both eases the control characteristic changes at a certain ‘angle «, and another expression substitutes for (7.2). It will be derived in Chapter 13. 104 o a or Fig. 74. Control characteristic for “regula operation.” With capacitive load or with a d-c circuit with back-emf and a low value of impedance, the diodes will nt start to conduct before the alternating ‘oltage exceeds the voltage across the d- circuit, and the relation between, the direct voltage and the angle of phase control is completely changed. ‘This will be investigated in Chapter 14. Situation in a Bridge Connection ‘Although a bridge connection does not present anything novel, there may tee some difficulties in understanding how the results of this chapter can be applied either to the total system or to the individual commutatingPhase Control as groups. Therefore the 3-phase bridge connection has been selected as a sample for this category of circuits, and fig. 7.5 presents the voltage curves for this connection. In fig. 7.Sa the circuit is conceived as two 3-pulse ‘commutating groups in series connection, and all potentials are referred to the center point of the transformer, assuming a secondary wye connec- tion. The total direct voltage is the difference between the potentials of 20 r (fee Bu « Bip cos Ey ) Bq ze Bios Ba| Direct voltage of a 3-phase bridge connection operating with phase contro indieate that values correspond, the positive and the negative output terminals. In fig, 7.56 the circuit is treated as a G-pulse unit, and the total direct voltage is plotted over a straight line, Comparing both illustrations, we find 1: By of the total system, as wel as E,, ~ E,, i the same in both cases. 2. The double-crosshatched area has the same size in both cases. It represents the time integral of the voltage that is absorbed by the rectifying element or by the control reactor while delaying the current transfer to the succeeding phase, In fig. 7.Sa this voltage-time integral is withheld from the d-c cireut six times during each cycle; three times at the positive side, and three times atthe negative side. In fig. 7b itis also six times retained, 3. The basic law, (Ea, — Eup = C08 a, can be applied either to the total system or to each individual group, as shown atthe right of these illustrations,86 D-C Characteristics Example (3-Phase bridge connection) ‘The direct voltage of a 3-phase bridge connection with By, = 100 V is reduced by phase control to 60 V. Determine (a) the angle of phase control, (}) the time integrat of the voltage absorbed during each delay by the device that causes the delay, f= 60 eps. Solution, (a) We compute Fy — Bs INI 9.6 = cosa ‘eo 100 [V] a= 53° ‘This value is shown in fig. 74 at (Eye — Ba)/ Eas = 0.6. (8) The voltage reduction is 40 V, and the voltage-time integral under consideration is six times withheld from the d-e cirouit during each cycle Hence the value of this integral is = 111 [msec]Reactive Voltage Drop The current transfer between the commutating phases causes the reactive voltage drop. For computing this voltage drop, we interpret the transfer as the result of a short circuit in the commutating loop : and define the “line-to-neutral commutating inductance”. In Chapter 1 it was shown that a rectifier connection must consist of at least two alternately conducting branches if a continuous current flow is demanded. The periodic transfer of the current from one branch to the other causes a reduction of the direct voltage andis therefore of special interest. This transfer is called commutation and will now be investigated. ‘The Principle of Commutation For the following investigation we select ‘the 3-pulse midpoint connection as the “commutating group” of most of the ‘more complex rectifier systems. This con- nections shown in fig. 8.1, and the curves Fig. 8:1. Commutation ia a 3+ of potential and current are presented by Pulse midpoint connection, ig. 8.2. Starting at oy, of fig. 8.2 the “Potential of phase 2exoeeds that of phase 1. This causes the diode of phase {2to conduct since otherwise it would have to absorb voltage in the forward | direction. The diode of phase 1 is also conducting, because it still carries the load current. Thus the potential difference between phases 1 and 2 is | suddenly forced to be absorbed in a circuit that contains only the resistance land the inductance of the transformer windings and of the bus bars of hases 1 and 2 (disregarding the diodes, which have nearly the same forward voltage drop). ‘This condition is comparable to a short circuit. fit existed permanently, the current curve would be displaced in relation 7