TOPIC 5

AC TO AC
CONVERTERPrepared By: Mdm Norain Binti Zakaria
Padlet Link: https://padlet.com/norainzakaria133/det40073

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LEARNING OUTCOME
Remember AC to AC Converter
State the function of AC to AC Converter
Describe the principle of thyristor control technique:
 On-off control
 Phase control
Describe the applications of AC Voltage Controllers
State the function of Cycloconverters
Describe the applications of Cycloconverters.

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 THE FUNCTION OF AC TO AC CONVERTER
◦ AC to AC Converter can convert from a fixed AC input voltage into variable AC output voltage.
◦ Voltage controllers use electronic switches to connect and disconnect a load to an ac source at regular
intervals.

AC TO AC
CONVERTERS

AC VOLTAGE
CYCLOCONVERTER
CONTROLLER

Same frequency variable Variable frequency AC

AC power
magnitude AC power power

Classification of AC to AC converters
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Classification of AC to AC converters
1
AC voltage controller
Converts a fixed AC voltage source to a variable AC voltage source with the
output frequency is always equal to the input frequency

2
Cycloconverter
Converts AC power at one input frequency to output power at a different
frequency

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 APPLICATIONS
AC voltage controller
◦ Lighting Control;
◦ Domestic and Industrial Heating;
◦ Speed Control of Fan,
◦ Pump or Hoist Drives,
◦ Soft Starting of Induction Motors,
◦ Static AC Switches (Temperature Control,
Transformer Tap Changing, etc)
Cycloconverter
◦ High-Power Low-Speed Reversible AC
Motor Drives;
◦ Constant Frequency Power Supply with
Variable Input Frequency;
◦ Controllable VAR Generators for Power
Factor Correction;
◦ AC System Interties Linking Two
Independent Power Systems.
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 AC VOLTAGE CONTROL TECHNIQUES
There are two different types of thyristor control used in practice to control the AC power flow
1. On-Off control
 In On-Off control technique
Thyristors are used as switches to
connect the load circuit to the input
AC supply, for a few cycles of the
input AC supply and then to
disconnect it for a few input cycles.
 The Thyristors thus act as a high
speed contactor (or high speed ac
switch).
2. Phase control
 In phase control the Thyristors are used
as switches to connect the load circuit to
the input AC supply, for a part of every
input cycle.
 That is the ac supply voltage is chopped
using Thyristors during a part of each
input cycle.
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AC VOLTAGE
CONTROLLER
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 LEARNING OUTCOME
Apply the principle operation of AC Voltage Controller
 Explain the principle operation of on-off control with the aid of relevant circuit.
 Explain the principle operation of phase control for the following AC Voltage Controller:
 Single-phase Unidirectional Controllers with resistive and inductive load.
 Single-phase Bidirectional Controllers with resistive and inductive load.
 Sketch the circuit diagram of AC Voltage Controller
 Sketch the input voltage, thyristor current, gating pulse, output voltage and conduction
angles of AC Voltage Controller
 Calculate the output voltage, output current and output power of AC Voltage Controller with
resistive load.

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 INTRODUCTION
V0 (RMS)
AC Vs AC Va ria b le AC
In p ut Vo lta g e RMS O /P Vo lta g e
Vo lta g e fs C o ntro lle r
fs fS

◦ An AC voltage controller (or called regulator) converts a fixed AC voltage source to a variable AC
voltage source with the output frequency is always equal to the input frequency
◦ The input voltage source is AC and the output voltage is also AC, so the circuit is an AC- AC converter.
◦ An AC voltage controller is a type of thyristor power converter. SCR is more capable as a switch than
TRIAC in high power voltage controllers.
◦ The RMS value of the AC output voltage and the AC power flow to the load is controlled by varying
(adjusting) the trigger angle ‘’

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 1. ON-OFF CONTROL TECHNIQUE
(INTEGRAL CYCLE CONTROL)
◦ The basic principle of on-off control technique is explained with reference to
a single phase full wave ac voltage controller circuit
◦ The thyristor switches T1 and T2 are turned on by applying gate trigger
pulses to connect the input ac supply to the load for ‘n’ number of input cycles
during the time interval TON.
◦ The thyristor switches T1 and T2 are turned off by blocking the gate trigger
pulses for ‘m’ number of input cycles during the time interval TOFF.

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AC voltage controller (ON-OFF control)
: Circuit diagram

◦ AC voltage controller circuit composed of

a pair of SCRs connected back-to-back
(also known as inverse-parallel or anti
parallel) between the AC supply and the
load

◦ Instead of using two SCRs in parallel, a

TRIAC also can be used.

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 Conduction angle

Input voltage AC voltage

controller
: On-off
Output voltage & Control
current
Waveforms

Gate pulse of

Gate pulse of
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 AC voltage controller
: The principle operation of on-off control
Positive cycle (0<ωt<π)
◦ The SCR T1 is turned on at the beginning of
each positive half cycle by applying the gate
trigger pulses to T1, during TON
◦ The load current flows in the positive
direction, which is the downward direction as
shown in the circuit diagram when T1
conducts.
Negative cycle (π<ωt<2π)
◦ The thyristor T2 is turned on at the beginning of each
negative half cycle, by applying gating signal to the gate of T2
, during TON .
◦ The load current flows in the reverse direction, which is the
upward direction when T2 conducts.
◦ Thus we obtain a bi-directional load current flow (alternating
load current flow) in an ac voltage controller circuit, by
triggering the thyristors alternately.
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Example 1

◦ The thyristor switches T1 and T2 are turned on for n=2 and turned off for
m=2 of supply cycles.

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Example 2

◦ The thyristor switches T1 and T2 are turned on for n=3 and turned off for
m=1 of supply cycles.

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AC Voltage Controllers (ON-OFF control)
: Equations
◦ For a sine wave input supply voltage
𝑉𝑚
𝑣 𝑠 =𝑉 𝑚 sin𝜔𝑡=√ 2𝑉 𝑆 sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑣𝑠=
√2
◦ If the input ac supply is connected to load for ‘n’ number of input cycles and
disconnected for ‘m’ number of input cycles, then
tON  nT
tOFF  mT
TO  tON  tOFF  nT  mT
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AC Voltage Controllers (ON-OFF control)
: Equations

◦ RMS output voltage n

Vo ( RMS )  VS k  VS
nm

n
◦ Duty cycle, k k
nm

◦ Output AC power 𝑃 𝑜=𝐼 2𝑜 (𝑅𝑀𝑆) × 𝑅 𝐿

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2. PHASE CONTROL TECHNIQUE
◦ By controlling the phase angle or the trigger angle ‘’ (delay
angle), the output RMS voltage across the load can be controlled.
◦ The trigger delay angle ‘’ is defined as the phase angle (the value
of ωt) at which the thyristor turns on and the load current begins to
flow.

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TYPE OF AC VOLTAGE
CONTROLLERS
Single phase

Unidirectional Bidirectional

Resistive load Inductive load Resistive load Inductive load

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Single Phase Half Wave AC
Voltage Controller
(Unidirectional Controller)
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Half Wave AC voltage controller (Unidirectional Controller)
: Circuit diagram

◦ uses one thyristor and one diode

connected in parallel across each other in
opposite direction
◦ anode of thyristor T1 is connected to the
cathode of diode D1 and the cathode of T1
is connected to the anode of D1
◦ the ac power flow to the load is controlled
by varying the trigger angle α

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 Half Wave
AC voltage
Input voltage
controller
(Unidirectional
Controller)
Output voltage &
current : Phase
Control
Gate pulse of Waveforms

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 Half Wave AC voltage controller (Unidirectional Controller)
: The principle operation of phase control
Positive cycle (0<ωt<π)
◦ The SCR T1 is forward biased and turned on
by applying the gate trigger pulses
◦ When T1 is triggered it conducts and the
load current flows through the T1 and the
load
◦ T1 turns off at ωt = π
Negative cycle (π<ωt<2π)
◦ The supply voltage reverses and becomes negative
◦ the diode D1 becomes forward biased and hence
turns ON and conducts.
◦ The load current flows in the opposite direction and
the output voltage follows the negative half cycle
of input supply.
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Half Wave AC voltage controller (Unidirectional Controller)
: Output voltage, output current and output power

◦ RMS output voltage

𝑉 𝑜(𝑅𝑀𝑆) =𝑉 𝑆
√ 1
2𝜋 [
( 2𝜋 −𝛼 )+ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝛼
2 ]
◦ RMS output current 𝑣0
𝑖𝑜(𝑅𝑀𝑆)=
𝑅𝐿

◦ Output AC power 𝑃 𝑜=𝐼 2𝑜 (𝑅𝑀𝑆) × 𝑅 𝐿

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Exercise 3
A single phase half wave ac regulator using one SCR in anti-parallel
with a diode feeds 1kW, 230 V heater. Find load power for a firing
angle of 45°.
[ans: 954.56W]

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Single Phase Full Wave AC
Voltage Controller
(Bidirectional Controller)
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 Full Wave AC voltage controller with resistive load (Bidirectional
Controller) : Circuit diagram

 The SCRs cannot conduct simultaneously.

 The load voltage is the same as the source voltage when either SCR is on.
 The load voltage is zero when both SCRs are off.

◦ Two SCRs connected back-to- ◦ A TRIAC is used as a

back switch. 27
 Input voltage Full Wave AC
voltage
controller with
resistive load
(Bidirectional
Controller)
Output voltage &
current : Phase
Control
Gate pulse of Waveforms

Gate pulse of
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Full Wave AC voltage controller with resistive load (Bidirectional Controller)
: The principle operation of on-off control

Positive cycle (0<ωt<π) Negative cycle (π<ωt<2π)

◦ T1 is forward biased, ◦ T1 is reverse biased and T2 conducts

◦ when T1 is fired at ωt=, T1 conduct when T2 is fired at ωt=π+

◦ the current flow through the T1 and load R ◦ the current flow through the load R

◦ the output voltage is positive ◦ the output voltage is negative

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Full Wave AC voltage controller with resistive load (Bidirectional Controller)
: Output voltage, output current and output power

◦ RMS output voltage

𝑉 𝑜(𝑅𝑀𝑆) =𝑉 𝑆
√[1
𝜋
( 𝜋 −𝛼 ) + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝛼
2 ]
◦ Duty cycle, k 𝑣0
𝑖𝑜=
𝑅𝐿

◦ Output AC power 𝑃 𝑜=𝐼 2𝑜 (𝑅𝑀𝑆) × 𝑅 𝐿

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Full Wave AC voltage controller with inductive load (RL load) -
Bidirectional Controller : Circuit diagram

◦ In practice most of the loads are of RL type.

◦ For example, a single phase full wave ac
voltage controller controlling the speed of a
single phase ac induction motor.
◦ The load which is the induction motor
winding is an RL type of load, where R
represents the motor winding resistance and
L represents the motor winding inductance.

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 Input voltage Full Wave AC
voltage
controller
with inductive
load (RL
Output voltage & load) -
current Bidirectional
Controller

Gate pulse of
: Phase
Control
Gate pulse of Waveforms
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Full Wave AC voltage controller with inductive load (RL load) - Bidirectional
Controller
: The principle operation of on-off control

Positive cycle (0<ωt<π) Negative cycle (π<ωt<2π)

◦ T1 is forward biased, when T1 is fired at ◦ T1 off, due to inductance in the circuit, the current of T1
ωt=, T1 conduct would not fall to zero at ωt=π.
◦ the current flow through the load R, therefore ◦ T1 continues to conduct until its current falls to zero at
the output voltage is positive. ωt=β

◦ Due to inductance in the circuit, the current of ◦ T2 start conducts so the current flow through the load R
and the output voltage is negative.
T1 would not fall to zero at ωt=π
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Full Wave AC voltage controller with inductive load (RL load) -
Bidirectional Controller
: Output voltage, output current and output power

◦ RMS output voltage 𝑣 𝑜=𝑉 𝑠

√(
1
𝜋
( 𝛽−𝛼 )+ sin 2 𝛼 sin 2 𝛽
2
−
2 )
◦ Duty cycle, k 𝑣0
𝑖𝑜=
𝑅𝐿

◦ Output AC power 𝑃 𝑜=𝐼 2𝑜 (𝑅𝑀𝑆) × 𝑅 𝐿

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Full Wave AC voltage controller with inductive load (RL load) -
Bidirectional Controller
: Output voltage, output current and output power

Load impedance Z  R 2  (L) 2

Maximum Average Thyristor Current, for α = 0 Im V

I T ( Avg )  , where I m  m
 Z

Im
Maximum RMS Thyristor Current, for α = 0 I T ( rms ) 
2

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CYCLOCONVERTERS
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LEARNING OUTCOME
Apply the principle operation of Single Phase Cycloconverter with resistive
load.
 Explain the principle operation of the Single-phase Cycloconverters with
resistive load.
 Sketch the circuit diagram of Single Phase Cycloconverter with resistive
load.
 Sketch the output voltage and gating signals waveforms Single Phase
Cycloconverter with resistive load.

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 CYCLOCONVERTERS
◦ Cycloconverters are used in high power applications driving induction and
synchronous motors. They are usually phase-controlled and they traditionally
use thyristors due to their ease of phase commutation
◦ The cycloconverter is defined as a frequency changer that converts ac power
at one input frequency to output power at a different frequency.
◦ Cyclo-converters are mainly used for producing low frequency AC voltage.
◦ The main application of such requirement is the electric traction system where
low frequencies, typically 25 Hz or 16 Hz are preferred.

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39
TYPES OF CYCLOCONVERTERS
◦ They are classified depending upon the number of phases of the output voltage as

1. Single phase cycloconverters with resistive load

a) Centered tapped cycloconverter
b) Bridge cycloconverter
2. Three phase cycloconverters with resistive load

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CENTERED TAPPED
CYCLOCONVERTE
R
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Centered tapped Cycloconverters: Circuit diagram

◦ There are two group of SCRs

◦ SCR T1 and T3 generates
positive half cycle
◦ SCR T2 and T4 generates
negative half cycle.
◦ SCR 1, 2, 3 & 4 connected
antiparallel

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 Centered tapped Cycloconverters

Input voltage
:Waveforms
for

Output voltage &

current

Gate pulse of

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Centered tapped Cycloconverters: Circuit Operation (positive
cycle)

◦ Point A is positive and point B is negative, T1 is turned

on, the current passes from point A, T1, load and point C
◦ Point B is positive and point A is negative,T1 turned off
and T3 is turned on. Current flow from point B, T3, load
and point C.
◦ Next moment, Point A is positive and point B is negative,
T1 is turned on, the current passes from point A, T1, load
and point C
◦ Thus the three positive half cycles are being obtained
across the load to produce one combined positive half
cycles as output.

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Centered tapped Cycloconverters: Circuit Operation (negative
cycle)

◦ Point B is positive and point A is negative, T1 is automatically

turned off. Now T2 is trigger instead of T3. Current flow from
point B, load, inductor L, T2 and point C.
◦ Point A is positive and point B is negative, Th2 is automatically
turned off,Th4 is turned on. Current flow from point a, load,
inductor L, Th4 and point b.
◦ Point b is positive and point a is negative, Th4 is automatically
turned off, Th2 is turned on. Current flow from point b, load,
inductor L, Th2 and point a.
◦ Hence, one negative half cycle at the output is produce by
combining three negative half cycles of the input cycles.
◦ From the waveform, frequency of output voltage and current is

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 Waveform of the output voltage of cycloconverter
(a) without phase control
(b) constant  and with phase control
(c) adjustable α.

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 BRIDGE
CYCLOCONVERTE
R
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Bridge Cycloconverters: Circuit diagram

◦ Bridge type cycloconverter is a fully

controlled bridge circuit both for positive
and negative group converter.
◦ Bridge 1 is formed by 4 SCR T1,T2, T3
and T4. Similar to bridge 2 is formed by
4 SCR T5,T6, T7 and T8.
◦ Positive converter supplies load current
in the positive half of the output cycle
and negative converter supplies current
P-converter N-converter in the negative half cycles.
◦ The two bridges should not conduct
simultaneously because that would
produce short circuit at the input.
◦ The firing pulses to the SCRs from the
other bridge are blocked
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 Bridge Cycloconverters

Input voltage
:Waveforms
for
Output voltage

Output current

P-converter N-converter

T/2 T

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 Bridge Cycloconverters: Circuit Operation (POSITIVE
CONVERTER)

During the first half period of the output frequency 0<ωt<

T/2, operate Positive converter;
◦ Point A is positive and point B is negative, T1 and T2 are
forward biased, and when these two are fired simultaneously
at ωt=, the load is connected to the input supply
◦ When point B is positive and point A is negative, T3 and T4
are forward biased, and when these two are fired
simultaneously at ωt=+π, the load is connected to the
input supply
◦ Thus the TWO positive half cycles are being obtained
across the load to produce one combined positive half cycles
as output.

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 Bridge Cycloconverters: Circuit Operation (NEGATIVE
CONVERTER)
◦ During the second half period of the output frequency
T/2<ωt<T, operate Negative converter;
◦ Point A is positive and point B is negative, T5 and T6 are
forward biased, and when these two are fired
simultaneously at ωt=+3π, the load is connected to the
input supply
◦ When point B is positive and point A is negative, T7 and T8
are forward biased, and when these two are fired
simultaneously at ωt=+4π, the load is connected to the
input supply
◦ Hence, one negative half cycle at the output is produce by
combining TWO negative half cycles of the input cycles.

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Conclusion
◦ Thyristor based ac voltage controllers have high efficiency, flexibility in
control and require less maintenance.
◦ The disadvantage of ac voltage controllers is the introduction of harmonics in
the supply current and load voltage waveforms particularly at low output
voltage levels.

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THANKS
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