Thyristor Controller Starters

The moving parts and metal contacts etc., of the resistance

starters can be eliminated by using thyristors which can short
circuit the resistance sections one after another. A thyristor can
be switched on to the conducting state by applying a suitable
signal to its gate terminal. While conducting, it offers zero
resistance in the forward (i.e., anode-to-cathode) direction and
thus acts as a short-circuit for the starter resistance section
across which it is connected. It can be switched off (i.e., brought
back to the non-conducting state) by reversing the polarity of its
anode-cathode voltage. A typical thyristor-controlled starter for
d.c. motors is shown in Fig. 30.49.

After switching on the main supply, when switch S1 is pressed,

positive signal is applied to gate G of thyristor T1 which is,
therefore, turned ON. At the same time, shunt field gets
established since it is directly connected across the d.c. supply.
Consequently, motor armature current Ia flows via T1, R2, R3
and R4 because T2, T3 and T4 are, as yet in the non-conducting
state. From now onwards, the starting procedure is automatic as
detailed below :

1. As S1 is closed, capacitor C starts charging up with the

polarity as shown when Ia starts flowing.

2. The armature current and field flux together produce torque

which accelerates the motor and load.

3. As motor speeds up, voltage provided by tachogenerator (TG) is

proportionately increased because it is coupled to the motor.
4. At some motor speed, the voltage provided by TG becomes
large enough to breakdown Zener diode Z2 and hence trigger T2
into conduction. Consequently, R2 is shorted out and now Ia
flows via motor armature, T1, T2, R3 and R4 and back to the
negative supply terminal.

5. As R2 is cut out, Ia increases, armature torque increases,

motor speed increases which further increases the voltage output
of the tachogenerator. At some speed, Z3 breaks down, thereby
triggering T3 into conduction which cuts out R3.

6. After sometime, R4 is cut out as Z4 breaks down and triggers

T4 into conduction. In fact, Zener diodes Z2, Z3 and Z4 can be
rated for 1/3, 1/2 and 3/4 full speed respectively.

For stopping the motor, switch S2 is closed which triggers T5 into

conduction, thereby establishing current flow via R1.
Consequently, capacitor C starts discharging thereby reverse-
biasing T1 which stops conducting. Hence Ia ceases and, at the
same time, T2, T3 and T4 also revert back to their non-
conducting state.

Incidentally, it may be noted that the function of C is to switch

T1, ON and OFF. Hence, it is usually called commutating
capacitor.

The function of the diodes D1 and D2 is to allow the decay of

inductive energy stored in the motor armature and field when
supply is disconnected. Supply failure will cause the thyristors to
block because of this current decay, thereby providing protection
usually given by no-voltage release coil.

Recently, thyristor starting circuits have been introduced which

use no starting resistance at all, thereby making the entire
system quite efficient and optimized as regards starting time.
These are based on the principle of ‘voltage chopping’ (Art.
30.12). By varying the chopping frequency, the ratio of the time
the voltage is ON to the time it is OFF can be varied. By varying
this ratio, the average voltage applied to the motor can be
changed. A low average voltage is needed to limit the armature
current while the motor is being started and gradually the ratio is
increased to reach the maximum at the rated speed of the motor.