Practice Problem Set #2

(Q1) Fig. 1 shows a schematic 4 layer device (Thyristor). Answer each of the following in less than
five sentences:-

Out of the four layers which layer is widest? why?

(I) What is the typical gate to cathode voltage when a continuous triggering signal is applied? why?
(II) What happens when thyristor is blocking reverse voltage and a triggering is applied?
(III) What happens when thyristor is blocking forward voltage and triggering signal is applied?
(IV) What happens when thyristor is blocking forward voltage and a large positive voltage spike
appears across thyristor? Explain the effect.

(Q2) Answer the following questions in ‘Yes (Y)’ or ‘No (N)’

(i) Thyristor is also known as SCR (ii) For turn-on of thyristor VAK must be positive (iii) Junction J2 of
Fig.1 blocks most of the negative VAK voltage (iv) Junction J1 blocks the forward VAK voltage (v) High
di/dt at turn-on may cause damage (vi) Gate pulse is applied between gate and anode terminals (vii)
the device may turn-on if high intensity light is shown on junction J1 (viii) The device may turn-on if
VAK is a negative step voltage (ix) an inductor across anode and cathode will limit dv/dt (x) An ideal
diode can block both positive and negative voltage (xi) at steady-state, average voltage across an
ideal inductor is zero (xii) inductor in series helps in making current continuous (xiii) capacitor
provides a low impedance path to high frequency current.
(Q3) Consider the thyristor chopper circuit discussed in lecture and lab classes. Assume load current=
10A (constant), input dc voltage = 100V and commutation circuit inductor = 0.5 milli henry.
(i) Find the minimum magnitude of commutation circuit capacitor to achieve circuit turn-off time of
100 micro-seconds for the main thyristor. [Hint: see answer for Quiz 1 in Black Board]
(ii) For the capacitor value calculated above, what should be the minimum on-time of main thyristor
to allow full charge reversal of commutation circuit capacitor?

(Q4)A dc to dc buck converter (chopper) uses MOSFET type switch (SW) which can be turned on and
off by gate voltage control. The converter is fed from input dc voltage of 100 volts (E). It uses a filter
inductance (L) of 1 milli-henry. The switch duty ratio is 0.5 and the switching frequency is 50 kHz.
Output voltage of the converter is nearly ripple free due to a large output capacitor (C). Load on
output is a resistor (RL) of 25 ohms. Assuming ideal circuit elements (i) calculate the output power of
the converter (ii) Calculate the average current through the inductor, free-wheeling diode and switch.
(iii) calculate the peak to peak ripple in inductor current. [Hint: Only simple basic equations will be
required].

(Q5) For the Thyristor chopper circuit, shown above, explain with the help of diagrams and modes of
operation, the working of the circuit. Why an inductor with series diode has been used in the circuit?
What should be the minimum on-time of the main thyristor (in terms of C and L) so that the inductor
circuit works as intended? Assume ideal devices.
(Q6) (i) Explain, with example, the working of a dv/dt snubber and a di/dt snubber in a thyristor
circuit. Why snubber circuits are used? (ii) What is the difference between a switched mode dc to dc
voltage regulator and a linear mode voltage regulator? Which will be more efficient? Why?

(Q7) The dc to dc boost circuit (shown above) works steadily at switch duty cycle = D. The
inductor current is continuous and input voltage (E) as well as output voltage (V O) are
practically constant. Assuming ideal circuit elements (i.e., neglecting on-state drops of
devices etc.) derive the following relations:-
(I) Relation between ‘E’, ‘Vo’ and ‘D’.
(II) Relation between mean inductor current, load resistance ‘R’, D and ‘E’.
(III) Relation between peak to peak ripple in inductor current, magnitude of inductance
‘L’, ‘D’ and ‘E’.
(IV) Relation between ‘D’ and the ratio (mean input current / mean load current).