ELECTRICAL DRIVES I 

By: ARUAL CHOL MAWIEN 20/458/BSEE-J

DERMAI ABRAHAM OKBAKIRSTOS 19/364/BSEE-J
Introduction
The vast majority of drives of all types draw their power from constant voltage 50 or 60 Hz mains, and in
nearly all mains converters the first stage consists of a rectifier which converts the a.c. to a crude form of
d.c. Where a constant-voltage (i.e. unvarying average) ‘d.c.’ output is required, a simple (uncontrolled)
diode rectifier is sufficient. But where the mean d.c. voltage has to be controllable (as in a d.c. motor
drive to obtain varying speeds), a controlled rectifier is used.
 The Thyristor

The thyristor is an electronic switch, with two main terminals (anode and cathode) and a ‘switch-on’
terminal (gate).
Like a diode, current can only flow in the forward direction. But unlike a diode, which will conduct in the
forward direction as soon as forward voltage is applied, the thyristor will continue to block forward
current until a small current pulse is injected into the gate-cathode circuit, to turn it on

After the gate pulse is applied, the main anode–cathode current builds up rapidly, and the gate pulse can
be removed and the device will remain ‘on’. Once established, the anode–cathode current cannot be
interrupted by any gate signal. The non-conducting state can only be restored after the anode–cathode
current has reduced to zero.
Single-phase Rectifiers
The circuit and waveforms of a single-phase, half-wave rectifier
feeding a resistive load are illustrated in Fig

The average load/armature voltage can be obtained as follows:

which works out to give:

For a resistive load, the thyristor stops

conduction at the angle π, hence =
Further simplifying average load voltage
The circuit and waveforms of a single-phase, half-wave rectifier
feeding a inductive load are illustrated in Fig

The thyristor starts conduction only in the positive half-cycle

at an angle α.The load current waveform also starts at the
angle α, and ends at +α radians calculating average load, we
get:

Further simplifying it, we get:

 Single-phase semi-converter
Each SCR carries one of the pulses of the supply current during each
supply voltage cycle. The load voltages are therefore given by
Relationship between firing angle and average
voltage

OR
 Single-phase full converter
If then current will flow continuously. The continuous current mode
is illustrated in Fig below.
With a fully controlled converter, Fig. , conduction occurs in 180°
pulses of supply current from.

From Fig. it can be deduced that the time average value of the load
voltage is given by

The corresponding average load current is therefore found from

Continuous and Discontinuous conduction
For a thyristor to continuously conduct, , i.e. . However, when dealing with inductive loads, such as a DC motor, the
delay angle, must be taken into account when determining minimum firing for continuous conduction.

Case 1: Case 2:

Current falls to 0 before 2nd pair of SCRs are turned on

For a fully converter drive to continuously conduct, firing angle must be lower than the delay angle, or the angle at
which current falls to 0.
 Power and power factor
The power dissipated in the load branch of Fig is given below, with
appropriate changes of terminology

Component of power represents the output power plus the motor

friction and windage losses.

In terms of motor developed torque T

Neglecting the power loss in the rectifier switches and ignoring the
motor core and rotational losses, the operating efficiency is

Since the input current has an r.m.s. value equal to that (semi converter)
of the motor current the operating power factor is

(full converter)
 Single-Phase Dual-Converter Drives
Two single-phase full-wave converters are connected, as
shown in Fig. Either converter 1 operates to supply a
positive armature voltage, or converter 2 operates to
supply a negative armature voltage,.

It is limited to applications up to 15 kW. The field

converter could be a full-wave, a semi-, or a dual
converter. If converter 1 operates with a delay angle of,
the armature voltage is

If converter 2 operates with a delay angle of, the armature voltage is

Examples
Q1) A separately excited d.c. motor is rated at 10 kW, 240 V, 1000 r.p.m. and is supplied with power from a fully controlled,
single-phase bridge rectifier. The power supply is sinusoidal and rated at 240 V, 50 Hz. The motor armature resistance is
0.42 and the motor constant is 2 volt seconds/radian. Some additional inductance is included in the armature circuit to
ensure continuous conduction but its value is not known. Calculate the speed, power factor and efficiency of operation for
SCR firing-angles α = 0° and α = 20° if the load torque is constant

Solution. The average voltage applied to the load is Assume that the motor delivers its rated power at a = 0°,

Also,
At α = 0°, ; At α = 20°,

Combining equations (a), (b) gives a quadratic equation in

Where I= 51.41 A (taking the negative solution of quadratic equation)

From (a) above, From equation, the full load speed is

The torque is

Convert to from rad/s to rpm

Armature copper loss

The input power is therefore, approximately, given by,

The efficiency is therefore

The above figure is optimistic because of the various losses neglected and the current
approximation. The input power factor is therefore,

Or,
Part ii) Let the firing-angle be retarded to 20°, reducing the average armature voltage to 203 V.
Given that load is unchanged changed, hence torque is constant, current is also unchanged. Reduction
in average voltage reduces back e.m.f.

𝐸𝑏 =𝑉 𝑎 − 𝐼𝑅=203 −51.41 ∗ 0.42=181.4 𝑉

Speed is proportional to

With constant torque, the output power varies proportionally with the speed and back e.m.f.
OR (using T and)

The total power delivered to the motor is

The efficiency is therefore

The power factor is

Or,
Motor Speed-Torque relationship

For separately excited motor, increasing

phase angle shifts Speed-Torque graph
downwards.
Examples
The speed of a separately excited dc motor is controlled by a single-phase full-wave converter in Figure 10. The field circuit
is also controlled by a full converter and the field current is set to the maximum possible value. The ac supply voltage to the
armature and field converters is one phase, 440 V, 60 Hz. The armature resistance is, the field circuit resistance is, and the
motor voltage constant is. The armature current corresponding to the load demand is. The viscous friction and no-load
losses are negligible. The inductances of the armature and field circuits are sufficient to make the armature and field
currents continuous and ripple free. If the delay angle of the armature converter is and the armature current is, determine
(a) the torque developed by the motor, (b) the speed, and (c) the input PF of the drive.

,, , and

a) Average field voltage:

Field current
Developed torque
b) Average armature voltage
Back emf
The speed is

The total input power from the supply is

Effective rms supply current from supply

And the input VA rating,.
The input power factor is (lagging)

Or (lagging)