Laboratory Nr.5.

THE ANALYSIS OF AC
VOLTAGE CONTROLLER (ACVC)

1. THE PURPOSES of the laboratory work are:

a. To present the power circuit and the control possibilities of the electronic
power converters for AC loads
b. To present simple applications that can be included in control systems.

2. TEHNICAL SUPPORT consists of a series of dedicated circuits : mono-phase

alternating voltage controller using triacs, thyristors or transistors (L51), , control
circuit with pulse width modulation (L52) and other control circuits from the
laboratory nr.3.

3. THEORETICAL SUPPORT:

The alternating voltage controllers (VTA) are power circuits , able to

change the r.m.s. value of the output voltage as a function of a control voltage (Ucd).
Because the power supply exhibits a constant value voltage, the (VTA) are also known
as “static transformers”.
The general structure of (VTA) (figure 5.1.) contains:
a. the input circuit (M)
b. power circuit (DP).
The control strategies can be :
a. phase control (on each half wave)
b. “proportional “ control
c. pulse width modulation (PWM)
 The phase control is implemented using the dedicated circuits (MAA 436) or (βA
145). The drawback of this strategy consists in the generation of high order current
harmonics .(figure 5.2.a.).
The “proportional” control is applied usually to processes with high value of time
constants (typically, thermal processes). In a time period (T), much grater than the line
period (20msec , 50 Hz ) it is changed the time (ta) in which the waves of the power line
are directed to the load. During the rest of the time period (∆t=T-ta) the load is
disconnected to the line. The duty-ration (µ=ta/T) controls the r.m.s. value of the output
voltage. In order to reduce the high order harmonics by switching ON , it is chosen the
“zero cross switching“ .
The third strategy , PWM , is perhaps a promising alternative , being possible to
operate with a line current in phase with the line voltage and with the near sinusoidal
shape. The typical power semiconductors must switch at higher frequencies (kHz).

The power circuits for one phase (VTA) are based on triacs, thyristors or on
rectifying bridge and transistors.
For three phase (VTA)’s, the most common versions of power circuits are given
in figure 5.4.
In the laboratory work is important to determine the static diagrams : r.m.s. of the
output voltage as function of the control voltage (Ucd). By phase control strategy the
output variable may be the phase angle (α).
 4. EXPERIMENT PROCESS:

As a first step it is necessary to identify the dedicated circuits. In the first case, the
main circuit (L.5.1.)has the electronic diagram given in figure 5.5.. As load may be
chosen either a resistive one : resistor Rs1 and the lamp Rs2 or resistive-inductive load
by inserting the inductance L11 for smaller inductivity, or the inductances L11,L12 for a
higher inductance. For the resistive load is used the connector (G), for small inductance
the connector (AAb) and for higher inductance (An).
The AC controller is supplied from the AC power supply (SMP 2x17 by 2x17=34
Vrms) in different modes.
 4.4.a. A.C.V.C. in phase control strategy with triac

The circuit from figure 5.5. is supplied with the conductors (A- the phase) and AG
(the neutral). The load is an incandescent lamp (RSL=L), the terminals being connected
to the point (A2) of the triac.
The gate–pulse generator for the triac is given in the figure 3.8. (circuit MAA436)
being used three terminals : F (phase : 1x17Vac), neutral (N), connected to the terminal
(A1 figure 5.5.)and the gate (G), connected to the triac’s gate (G).
With the resistor (R5, figure 3.8) is modified the phase angle. The load voltage
can be observed on the oscilloscope’s screen.

4.4.b. A.C.V.C. in phase control strategy with two thyristors

(counter -connected)

The connector (G) – figure 5.5. – is now connected to the terminal (K5) and the
point (K6) is connected to the ground (point AN).
The gate pulses are given by the circuit from figure 3.10 , supplied in AC by
(1x17Vrms). The gate pulses are obtained from the secondary windings of the
transformer (10) , figure 3.10 : terminal (01) to the gate (C6), terminal (02) to the cathode
(C3): it was used the output (10) of the integrated circuit (A145). The terminal (14) of the
circuit A145 is used in connection with the second transformer : (05->C2),(06->C1),not
represented in the figure.
In order to avoid wrong connections , this can be made only in one way due to the
special connectors.

4.4.c. A.C.V.C. in phase control strategy with one thyristor and a power
rectifying bridge

Now, the connector (G)- figure5.5 - is connected to the bridge terminal (K3): the
terminal (K4) is grounded (K4-AN). It was selected the thyristor (Th1), so that are
necessary the connections (AN1-K6) and (RAB – K5).
The gate pulses are given by the circuit from the figure (3.10) , using both
terminal (10 ) and (14). The logical AND is achieved with the rectifiers (d7) and (d8).
It is important to see the load voltage shape for different phase angle ( α ∈ 0 ÷ π ) ,
with or without rectifying bridge (4.4.b, 4.4.c.).

4.4.d A.C.V.C. with PW Modulation

The scheme of the modulator is given in the figure (5.6.) with the terminal (C11)
– for the base of the transistor switch – and (C12) for the emiter. The duty ratio (µ) is
changed with the potentiometer (P1). The modulated wave can be viewed on the
oscilloscope’s screen.
 The power current asks for the connections (G->K8; C11-Base;C12 to the emitter
of the transistor (T1)).
The load voltage and current can be analyzed using an oscilloscope. The load
current , filtered , is available on the special connector (for oscilloscope). It is important
to draw the voltage and current shape – and to observe the light radiation of the lamp – as
function of the duty ratio (µ) .
5. CONCLUSIONS:

Based on the voltage and currents wave shapes it is recommended to outline the
advantages and the drawbacks of each strategy: phase control, PWM .