Line Commutated and voltage

source converters
 Converters
• There are two type of converters
• Line Commutated(Current source) Converters
(LCC) and
• Voltage Source Converter (VSC)
• The basic configuration of a three phase converter (both
LCC and VSC) is a bridge converter (also called Graetz
Bridge) which can be feed from transformer windings
connected in star or delta. The converter transformer
feeding a Graetz bridge serves the objectives of
providing
• 1. galvanic separation between AC and DC sides
• 2. voltage transformat ion between AC and DC networks
• 3. adjustment of the applied AC voltage by On Load Tap
Changer (OLTC) .
• Th ere are 6 switches numbered in the order in
which they are turned on .
• ln a LCC , the switches are made of thyristor valve s,
whereas in a VSC, they are made up of IGBT valves
 LINE COMMUTATED CONVERTER
• Analysis of Graetz Bridge Neglecting Overlap
• In a LCC , the Graetz Bridge is connected to three
balanced sinusoidal voltage sources on the AC side and
constant DC current source on the DC side as show n
• Note that the current can flow only in one direction through the
thyristor switch (from anode to cathode) when it is on.
• Thus, the switches S1, S3 and S5 carry current towards the terminal 'P '
while the switches S 2 , S 4 and S 6 carry current from the terminal 'N ' .
• The direct current Id has to flow through at least one valve in the upper
group (S1 , S3 and S5) and one valve in the lower group (S 2 , S4 and
S6) .
• Neglecting overlap between any two valves in a group , we can state
that only one valve conducts in the upper group or lower group .
• Thus, in a cycle of the applied AC voltage , these are six equal intervals
as shown in Fig . 2.4.
• We assume that the switch S3 is turned on at ωt = α . Prior
to this, switches S1 and S2 are conducting and we also
assume that the switch S1 turns off as soon as the switch S3
turns on
• Overlap between the switches S1 and S3 cannot be
neglected if there are inductors in the circuit (due to leakage
reactance of the converter transformer) .
• Table 2 .1 shows the DC voltages across the converter (VPN)
for each of the six intervals.
DC voltage harmonics
 Valve voltage waveform
• Figure shows the valve voltage
waveform which shows three voltage
jumps that arise due to the
commutation from one valve to the
next in the same commutation group.
• The valve voltage waveform can be
obtained from the expression for a
valve voltage given in Table 2.2.
• The voltage jumps are all of the same
magnitude given by
 AC current waveform
• It is assumed that the direct current has no ripple (no
harmonics). This is normally valid because of the smoothing
reactor provided in series with the bridge circuit. The AC current
flowing through the valve (secondary) and primary winding of
the converter transformer contain harmonics. The waveform of
the current in a valve winding (say phase b) is shown in fig. .
 AC current waveform
• For example, the current in the phase 'b' , ib (see
Fig. 2.2) is i3 when valve 3 is conducting and - i6
when valve 6 is conducting. Note that each valve
conducts for 120° and valve 6 is turned on 180°
after the firing of valve 3..
AC current waveform
The power factor
Choice of Converter Configuration
• The configuration for a given pulse number is
so chosen in such a way that the valve and
transformer are used to the maximum.
Choice of Converter Configuration
• A converter configuration can be defined by the
basic commutation group and the number of such
groups connected in series and parallel.
• If there are ‘q’ valves in a basic commutation group
and r of those are connected in parallel and s of
them in series then,
• p=qrs

A commutation group is defined as the group of valves in

which only one (neglecting overlap) conducts at a time.
 Valve Rating:
• The valve rating is specified in terms of Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV).
The ratio of PIV to average DC voltage is an index of valve
utilization.
• So, average maximum DC voltage across the converter is given by,
Transformer Rating:
 # Problem
• For a 12 pulse converter with q=4, s=3, and
r=1, Calculate the maximum DC power and
transformer rating (Valve windings) if PIV
rating of the valve is V and the rms current
rating is I. Rework the problem if q=3, s=4, r=1.