COPPERSTONE UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
SESSIONAL EXAMS – 30TH NOVEMBER 2022
POWER ELECTRONICS - FULLTIME

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Time allowed is 3 hours for this paper

2. This paper has 60 marks.
3. Answer question 1 (compulsory) and any other 4 questions.
4. Candidates who break the examinations regulations of COPPERSTONE
UNIVERSITY OR commit any misconduct shall be disqualified from the
examination.
5. All queries should be directed to the invigilator.

DO NOT TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO

SO.
 Question 1. [12 Marks]

1. Draw and explain the block diagram of a power electronic controller. [3 Marks]
2. Write brief notes about the following power diodes stating their merits and demerits.
a. General-purpose diodes [3 Marks]
b. Fast-recovery diodes [3 Marks]
c. Schottky diodes [3 Marks]

Question 2. [12 Marks]

A step down dc chopper uses dc source voltage VS = 200V and resistive impedance of 20Ω.
The duty cycle of the chopper is 0.5. Calculate

a. Average and rms values of output voltage and current [2 Marks]

b. Average and rms thyristor current [2 Marks]
c. Average source current and input voltage [2 Marks]
d. Input resistance of chopper [2 Marks]
e. dc output power delivered and input dc power [2 Marks]
f. Percentage chopper efficiency [2 Marks]

Take voltage drop across switch when on to be 2V.

Question 3. [12 Marks]

1. Discuss the requirements of a pulsed gate drive. [2 Marks]

2. Draw the protection circuit of an SCR and discuss the different types of protection that are
required. [5 Marks]
3. A thyristor is placed between a constant dc voltage source of 200V and resistive load RL.
The specified limits for di/dt and dv/dt for SCR are 40A/µsec and 200V/µsec respectively.
Determine the values of di/dt inductor and snubber circuit parameters. Take damping ratio
as 0.4 [5 Marks]

Question 4. [12 Marks]

1. Explain the different types of losses that occur in a thyristor. [4 Marks]

2. A thyristor is rated to carry full load current with the allowable case temperature of 80 °C,
for a maximum junction temperature of 100°C and thermal resistance between case and
ambient of 0.4°C/W. Find the sink temperature for an ambient temperature of 45 °C. Take
thermal resistance between sink and ambient as 0.2°C/W. [4 Marks]
3. The maximum junction temperature of the thyristor is 150 °C. Thermal resistance for the
thyristor-sink combination is 0.015 °C/W and 0.08 °C/W. determine the total average power
loss in the tyristor-sink combination if the heat sink temperature is 60 °C. If the heat sink
temperature is reduced to 50 °C by forced air cooling. [4 Marks]

Question 5. [12 Marks]

1. Explain briefly about the types of power electronic converters and state their application in
the industry. [4 Marks]
2. Explain the modes of operation of a thyristor with the help of its characteristics. [4 Marks]
3. Explain the different ways that can be used to turn on the SCR. [4 Marks]

Question 6. [12 Marks]

1. Explain the following terms with regard to a thyristor

i. Latching current [3 Marks]
ii. Holding current [3 Marks]
2. The latching current of an SCR used in a phase controlled circuit, comprising of an inductive
load of R = 10Ω and L = 0.3H is 10mA. The input voltage is 230 sin 200 t. Obtain the
minimum gate pulse width required for reliable triggering of the SCR if gated at π/3 angle
in every positive half cycle. [6 Marks]