Symmetrical Semi converter

Symmetrical Semi converter is also known as a half controlled converter. A

Symmetrical semi converter utilizes SCRs(thyristor) and diodes to convert AC power to
DC power. Due to the utilization of diodes & thyristors, it provides limited control over
the level of DC output voltage.

Circuit diagram of Symmetrical semi converter

The figure below shows the circuit dig. Of Symmetrical semi converter bridge
circuit. The bridge circuit consist of two thyristors(T1,T2) and two diodes(D1,D2) are
utilizing in the bridge connection while another diode (FD) is connected across thr
bridge circuit or load. The free wheeling diode (FD) finds it’s application in partialling
recovering the energy stored in the inductor back to the source.

The waveforms of Symmetrical semi converter

Operation
The operation of a Symmetrical semi-converter is discussed based on the above
waveform for definite time intervals.

1. At ωt=0 to ωt=π
During the interval of ωt =0 to ωt=α, thyristor T1 and diode D1 come into operation.
After ωt=0, thyristor T1 becomes forward biased only if Vmsinωt is greater than the load
circuit emf E. The thyristor T1 is then triggered at ωt=α during which Vmsinα > E.
When T1 is triggered, it gets ON and the load current io flows through the RLE load
through thyristor T1 and diode D1. The thyristor T1 will be conducting from ωt =α to
ωt=π.

During ωt=α to ωt=π, the voltage waveform across the load terminal(Vo) will be a
replica of the source voltage(VS).

2. At ωt =π to ωt=2π
Just after the ωt=π i.e. ωt=πt, the supply voltage gets negative, this causes thyristor T1 to
be reverse biased and it gets turned off. But on the other side, this reversal of supply
voltage at ωt=πt causes the freewheeling diode (FD) to be forward biased. So now the
load current io gets transferred from T1D1 to FD. As the freewheeling diode (FD) gets
forward biased, load terminals get short-circuited and the voltage across the load(Vo)
becomes zero.

During this period, thyristor T2 will be in reverse biased condition only if the source
voltage is greater than E. For ωt=π+α, source voltage (Vs) is greater than E, and T2 is
triggered from FD to T2 D2. After the T2 gets triggered, FD gets reverse biased.

3. After ωt=2π
Just after ωt=2π, the thyristor T2 gets reverse biased and is turned off and on the other
hand, FD gets forward biased, and load current io gets transferred to FD.

Role of Freewheeling Diode

In the Symmetrical semi converter, we can observe from its waveform that for time
intervals α to π, T1 D1 conducts and for the interval (π+α) to 2π, T2D2 conducts during
which power is supplied from the source o the RLE load.
During this period, a certain amount of energy is stored by the inductor(L), a definite
amount in the load circuit emf, and in the resistor (R), a certain amount of energy is
dissipated in the form of heat.

During the period π to π+α and 2π to 2π+α, the energy stored in the inductor is partially
fed back to the load circuit through the freewheeling diode(FD). This energy that is
being fed back to the load circuit is partially dissipated in the resistor as heat and
partially added to the load circuit emf E.

Hence, the freewheeling diode(FD) provides a freewheeling path for the energy that is
stored in the inductor during a certain interval to be fed back to the load again.

Average and RMS Output Voltage

The expression for average output voltage (V o) of Symmetrical semi-converter is given
by

The expression for RMS output voltage (V orms) is