Kalyani Government Engineering College

[College Road, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal 741235]

❑ Name – Rahul Moi

❑ Department - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
❑ University Roll Number - 10200321038
❑ Third Year (Fifth sem)
❑ Power Electronics(PE-EC505C)
 TURN ON
METHODS OF
SCR
CONTENTS
 Introduction
 2. What is SCR triggering
 3. SCR Triggering Methods
 4. Forward Voltage Triggering
 5. Temperature Triggering
 7. Gate Triggering
 8. Light Triggering
 9. Conclusion
Introduction

• The SCR is one kind of semiconductor device and it

is specially designed to utilize in high-
power switching applications.

• The operating of this device can be done in a

switching mode only and acts as a switch.
When the SCR is triggered by its gate terminal into the
transmission, then it will supply the
current constantly.
• The working of the entire region of the SCR circuit
mainly depends on the way of its
triggering.
What is SCR Triggering
 We know that SCR includes two stable states namely forward conduction and forward blocking.
 SCR triggering method can be defined as, when the SCR is switching in forward blocking state to
 forward conduction state which means OFF state to ON state, then it is termed as SCR turn ON
 methods or SCR triggering.

SCR Triggering Methods

 The SCR triggering mainly depends on different variables such as temperature, voltage
supply, gate
 current, etc. When the voltage is applied to the SCR if the anode terminal can be made +ve relating
 to the cathode, then the SCR turn into forwarding biased.
 This can be made to activate into conduction mode and it performs by using any type of the SCR
 Turn ON methods. There are different methods for activating the SCR which include the following.
 1. Forward Voltage Triggering
 2. Temperature Triggering
 3. dv/dt Triggering
 4. Light Triggering
 5. Gate Triggering
Forward Voltage Triggering
Principle: When a forward voltage (Vf) is applied across the anode and
cathode of the SCR, the P-N junctions become forward-biased. This leads to
the injection of holes from the P-region into the N-region. Due to the positive
feedback mechanism, the current starts to flow from the anode to the
cathode, triggering the SCR into conduction.

Triggering Mechanism:
Off-State Condition: No current flows through the SCR due to reverse-biased P-N
junctions.
Forward Voltage Application: Applying a forward voltage Vf across the anode and
cathode.
Regenerative Feedback: Conduction starts as a small current flows, creating a voltage drop
across the anode-cathode. This voltage drop reinforces the forward-biased condition,
causing more current to flow, leading to SCR conduction.
Temperature Triggering:

Principle:
The temperature triggering mechanism takes advantage of the relationship
between temperature and semiconductor characteristics. At elevated
temperatures, the energy barrier at the P-N junctions of the SCR decreases,
facilitating the movement of charge carriers (electrons and holes) across the
junctions. As the temperature increases, the barrier potential diminishes, leading
to a higher diffusion of charge carriers. In an SCR, this phenomenon enables the
device to transition from its non-conductive state to a conductive one.

Triggering Mechanism:
To employ temperature triggering, the SCR is subjected to an environment where the
temperature can vary. As the junction temperature of the SCR rises, it eventually surpasses
a specific threshold value, known as the critical temperature. Once this critical
temperature is exceeded, the SCR starts to conduct, allowing current to flow between its
anode and cathode terminals.
Gate Triggering
Gate triggering is a common method used to initiate conduction in a Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR). By
applying a controlled voltage or current signal to the gate terminal, the SCR transitions from its non-conductive
state to a conductive one, allowing current to flow between the anode and cathode terminals.
Principle of Operation:
Off-State Condition: In its natural state, an SCR is in the off-state, with no current flowing between its anode
and cathode. The P-N junctions within the device are reverse-biased, preventing conduction.
Applying Gate Signal: To turn on the SCR, a gate signal is applied. This signal can be a voltage or current pulse
that is applied between the gate and cathode terminals.
Conduction Initiation: The gate signal reduces the barrier potential at the P-N junction near the gate, allowing
charge carriers to flow across the junction. This initiates a regenerative process, leading to avalanche breakdown
and the establishment of conduction.
Light Triggering:-
An SCR turned ON by light radiation is also called as Light Activated SCR (LASCR). Hence, Light
Triggering is also known as Radiation Triggering.
Generally, this type of triggering is employed in phase controlled converters in HVDC transmission
systems.
In this method, light rays with appropriate wavelength and intensity are allowed to strike the
junction J2 . The bombarded energy particles from the light (neutrons or photons) causes to break
electron bonds as as result, new electron – hole pairs are formed in the device.
As the number of charge carriers are increased, there is an instantaneous increase in the flow of
current, causing the SCR to turn ON.
Conclusion

 Today, the world is witnessing energy crises. This necessitates the efficient
utilization of electrical energy. Power electronics helps in accomplishing this
task of efficient energy usage. Thyristor is an important family of devices in
power electronic system. SCR (Silicon Control Rectifier) is an important
device in the thyristor family. As the SCR is used more widely hence SCR is
known as a thyristor. SCRs are mainly used in devices where the control of
high power, possibly at high voltage, is needed. The ability to switch large
currents on and off makes the SCR suitable for use in medium to high-voltage
AC power control applications, such as lamp dimming, regulators and motor
control. In addition, unintentional SCRs can form in integrated circuits and
when these SCRs get triggered circuit malfunction or even reliability problems
and damage can result.