Anand Jain, HoD EE, Govt.

Polytechnic Hanumangarh
Thysistor
Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) is a compact solid state
switching device used for power control in DC and AC
system. Thyristor has four alternate pnpn layer. Between
four layers, three p-n junctions are shown by J1, J2 & J3.
Its three terminals are called anode, cathode, and gate.

Thyristor is a unidirectional device

and allows flow of current only in
one direction. Gate terminal is
used to trigger or start conduction
in the SCR. It has two stable
blocking and conduction state,
which are inter changeable.
Ratings
Each thyristor or SCR is manufactured to a particular current, voltage, power,
temperature and switching frequency limits. The safe and reliable operation of the SCR
can be ensured only if these limits of SCR are not exceeded.
These limits of operation are called ratings, which can be minimum or maximum values
that decide capability of an SCR. Exceeding these limits even for short duration transient
could damage the SCR or malfunction.
Therefore, for the benefit of users, the manufacturer gives a list of current, voltage,
power, temperature, switching frequency ratings, etc. of the device. In practice SCRs with
ratings higher than the required working conditions are selected to allow safety margin.
These ratings can be continuous, repetitive peaks or non-repetitive, surge ratings.
Depending on the unilateral or bilateral devices, continuous ratings are denoted in terms
of average or RMS values. Surge and repetitive ratings are corresponding to peak values
of the SCR.
Different voltage and current ratings are assigned
with one or more subscripts for easy identification.
The first subscript indicates the state of the SCR
and includes

R- Reverse blocking state with gate open

T- Forward conduction ON state

D- Forward blocking state with gate open

Subscript letter M indicates maximum or peak value

and Av & RMS represents average and root mean square value.
Some time we use subscript G for gate and A for anode. Vgmax, Igmin
Current Ratings of SCR
Basically an SCR is a unilateral device and hence average current
rating is assigned to it (while RMS current rating is assigned to
bilateral devices).

An SCR has low thermal capacity and short time constant. The
junction temperature exceeds even for short time over current to
damage the SCR. Therefore, current ratings of an SCR are very
important. Since conduction on state voltage of SCR is almost
constant. So average current magnitude represent proportional
power loss and temperature rise of device .
Average ON-state Current Rating ITAV
This is the maximum repetitive average value of forward current that can flow through SCR such that
the maximum temperature and RMS current limits are not exceeded. The forward voltage drop across
the SCR is almost constant in conduction mode. So the power loss in the thyristor is entirely
proportional to the forward current ITAV. In case current exceeds the rating, the SCR may get damaged
due to intensive heating at the junctions.
The current rating ITAV and Irms can be
improved by better cooling of thyristor
body. The variation of average on state
current ITAV with variation of SCR case
temperature is as shown.
In phase controlled SCRs, average forward
current depends on the firing angle. For the
given average forward current, the RMS value
of the current is increased with decrease in
conduction angle.
Heating or temperature rise has a relation
with RMS value of current. In phase
controlled SCRs, average forward current
OA and OB is same for different value of
firing angle. For the given average forward
current, the RMS value of the current is
increased with decrease in conduction
angle. This results in increase of device
temperature from specified limits.

In order to limit the maximum junction

temperature, the permissible average
forward current has to be lowered with
decrease in conduction angle. The
variation of average current for different
conduction angles is as shown.
RMS ON-state Current ITRMS
For SCR like unidirectional device average current rating is more meaningful
than RMS value. But we specify the maximum repetitive RMS current at a
maximum junction temperature that can flow through the SCR safely.

RMS rating is important for SCRs

subject to low duty waveforms with
peak currents. In these conditions
the average current is very small but
heating of device may be significant.
This RMS rating is related to heating
in leads, metallic joints and
interfaces of SCR.
• 
Rating
This rating is used to coordinate fuse or
other short circuit protective equipment
employed for the SCR.
For a reliable protection of SCR by the
fuse or other protective equipment, the
 rating of the fuse (or any other protective
equipment) must be less than the  rating
of the SCR.
Surge Current Rating :
When a thyristor is working under repetitive current ratings
its operating temperature may remain in permissible limit.
But due to faults or a short circuit, unusual high surge of
current of few cycles may damage our device. Such surge
currents may occur once in awhile during the life span of
device.
For 3 cycle period such ITSM may be 2000A for a 1200A
rated current SCR.
di/dt Rating
It is the maximum allowable rate of rise of anode to cathode on state conduction current during
turn on without any damage or harm to an SCR. If the rate of rise of anode current in turn on
period is very rapid compared to the spreading velocity of the charge carriers, local hot spots are
created.

This is due to concentration of

carriers (on account of high
current density) in the
restricted area of the junctions.

This raises the junction

temperature above the safe
limit and hence the SCR may be
damaged. It lies in the range 50
to 800 ampere/microseconds.
Latching Current IL
It is the minimum forward blocking
state current required to trigger the
SCR in conduction state. In turning ON
process of the SCR, the anode current
when attain latching current level we
can remove the gate pulse. If anode
current is less than latching, the SCR
will be turned OFF if the gate signal is
removed. Latching current is associated
with turn on process and its value is
slightly more than holding current level.
Holding Current IH
This is the minimum value of the anode
conduction state current below which
SCR stops conducting and turns OFF,
when reverse voltage is applied.
Holding current is associated with turn
off or commutation process and its
value is slightly less than latching
current level.
Gate Triggering Current IGT
For safe and
reliable turn
ON of the SCR
maximum and
minimum gate
currents is
specified.
Turn ON Time Ratings

The turn ON time is the time interval between the instant at which the
gate signal is applied and the instant at which the ON-state current
reaches 90 percent of its final value.

Turn ON time will reduce, if

the gate drive is increased
and increase if circuit has high
series inductance. After delay
time of turn on process one
can remove gate pulse and
device will stay on.
Turn OFF Time Ratings

Turn OFF time is the time interval between the instant at which
the anode current goes zero or negative and the instant positive
voltage is reapplied to the SCR. For fast switching inverter grade
SCRs both turn OFF time values should be very low.

For series and parallel operation of many SCRs all should have
nearly the same turn on and turn off times.