CONTROLLED RECTIFIERS

Rectifier is a circuit which employs one or more diodes to convert ac voltage into pulsating dc voltage. The diode
rectifiers provide a fixed output voltage only. To obtain controlled output voltages, phase-control thyristors are used
instead of diodes. The output voltage of thyristor rectifiers is varied by controlling the delay or firing angle of
thyristors. Because these rectifiers convert from ac to dc, these controlled rectifiers are also called ac–dc
converters and are used extensively in industrial applications, especially in variable-speed drives, ranging from
fractional horsepower to megawatt power level.
The phase-control converters can be classified into two types, depending on the input supply: (1) single-phase
converters and (2) three-phase converters. Each type can be subdivided into a (a) Semi converter, (b) Full
converter, and (c) Dual converter.
A semi converter is a one-quadrant converter and has one polarity of output voltage and current. A full converter is
a two-quadrant converter and the polarity of its output voltage can be either positive or negative. However, the
output current of a full converter has one polarity only. A dual converter can operate in four quadrants, and both the
output voltage and current can be either positive or negative.
 PRINCIPLE OF PHASE CONTROLLED CONVERTER OPERATION

Suppose the circuit shown in figure with resistive load with one thyristor. During positive half cycle of input
voltage, the thyristor anode is positive w.r.t. its cathode and thyristor is said to be forward biased. When T1
is fired at 𝜔𝑡 = 𝛼, thyristor T1 conducts and input voltage appears across the load. When the input voltage
starts to be negative at 𝜔𝑡 = 𝜋, the thyristor anode is negative w.r.t. its cathode and thyristor T1 is said to
be reverse biased and it is turned off. The time after the input voltage starts to go positive until thyristor is
fired at 𝜔𝑡 = 𝛼 is called the delay or firing angle 𝛼.

VT If 𝑉𝑚 is the peak input voltage and is instantaneous output

𝑖𝑆 1
voltage, Instantaneous ac voltage across secondary of
𝑖𝑂
A
T1 transformer is, 𝑣𝑠 = 𝑉𝑚 sin 𝑤𝑡.
+
230V 𝑣𝑃 𝑣𝑠 RL 𝑣0 𝟏 𝝅
Average DC voltage across load= 𝑽𝒅𝒄 = ‫)𝒕𝝎(𝒅 𝒗 ׬‬ =
/ 𝟐𝝅 𝜶 𝒔
−
50Hz B
𝟏 𝝅 𝟏
‫𝒕𝝎 𝐧𝐢𝐬 𝑽 ׬‬ 𝒅(𝝎𝒕) ∴ 𝑽𝒅𝒄 = 𝑽𝒎 (− 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕)𝝅
𝟐𝝅 𝜶 𝒎 𝟐𝝅 𝜶
 𝑽𝒎
∴ 𝑽𝒅𝒄 = (𝟏 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝜶) 𝑣𝑆
𝝅
+Vm Waveform of
𝑉𝑚 input voltage
∴ 𝑉𝑑𝑐 can be varied from to 0 by varying 𝛼 from 0 to
𝜋
𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋 4𝜋 𝜔t
𝜋.
𝟏 𝟏
-Vm
𝟏 𝝅 𝟐 𝟐 𝟏 𝝅 𝟐 𝟐 𝝎𝒕𝒅(𝝎𝒕) 𝟐 𝑣𝑂
Vrms = ‫)𝒕𝝎(𝒅 𝒗 ׬‬ = ‫׬‬ 𝑽 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝑣𝑂
𝟐𝝅 𝛼 𝒔 𝟐𝝅 𝛼 𝒎

𝟏
𝑽𝟐𝒎 𝝅 𝟏−𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐𝝎𝒕 𝟐 𝛼 𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋 4𝜋 𝜔t
∴ 𝑽𝒓𝒎𝒔 = ‫׬‬ 𝒅(𝝎𝒕) 𝑖𝑂
𝟐𝝅 𝛼 𝟐 𝑣𝑜
𝑖𝑂 =
𝑅𝐿
𝑽𝟐𝒎 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟐𝝎𝒕 𝝅 𝟏 𝑽𝟐𝒎
∴ 𝑽𝒓𝒎𝒔 = ω𝒕 − 𝟐 = ቂ (𝞹 −𝛼+ 𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋 4𝜋 𝜔t
𝟒𝝅 𝟐 𝛼 𝟒𝝅 VT1
𝟏
𝟐𝛼 𝟐
𝒔𝒊𝒏 )ቃ
𝟐 𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋 4𝜋 𝜔t
𝑽𝒎 𝟏 𝟐𝛼 𝟏
∴ 𝑽𝒓𝒎𝒔 = [ (𝝅 − 𝛼 + 𝒔𝒊𝒏 )]𝟐
𝟐 𝝅 𝟐
 SINGLE PHASE SEMICONVERTER
The circuit arrangement of single phase semi converter is as shown in the figure with highly inductive load. The load
current is continuous. During positive half cycle, thyristor T1 is forward biased. When T1 is fired at 𝜔𝑡 = 𝛼, the load is
connected to input supply through T1 and D2 during the period 𝛼 ≤ 𝜔𝑡 ≤ 𝜋.
During the period 𝜋 ≤ 𝜔𝑡 ≤ 𝜋 + 𝛼 , the input voltage is negative and freewheeling diode Dm is forward biased. Dm
conducts to provide the continuity of current in the inductive load. The load current is transferred from T1 and D2 to Dm.
During negative half cycle of input voltage, thyristor T2 is forward biased and firing of T2 at 𝜔𝑡 = 𝜋 + 𝛼 will reverse bias
Dm. the diode Dm is turned off and the load is connected to the supply through T2 and D1.
𝑖𝑆
The regions for converter operation and waveforms for
𝑖𝑂
input voltage, output voltage, input current and currents A
through T1, T2, D1 and D2 are shown. T2 L
+
T1
Average DC voltage across load= 𝑽𝒅𝒄 = 𝑣𝑂
230V/ 𝑣𝑆 Dm
𝟐 𝝅 𝟐 𝝅 50Hz 𝑣𝑃 −
‫)𝒕𝝎(𝒅 𝒗 ׬‬
𝟐𝝅 𝜶 𝒔
= ‫𝒕𝝎 𝐧𝐢𝐬 𝑽 ׬‬
𝟐𝝅 𝜶 𝒎
𝒅(𝝎𝒕)
D1 D2 R
𝟐 B
∴ 𝑽𝒅𝒄 = 𝑽𝒎 (− 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕)𝝅
𝜶
𝟐𝝅
 𝑣𝑆
Waveform of
𝑽𝒎 input voltage
∴ 𝑽𝒅𝒄 = (𝟏 + 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝜶)
𝝅
2𝑉𝑚
𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋 4𝜋 𝜔t
∴ 𝑉𝑑𝑐 can be varied from to 0 by varying 𝛼 from 0 to 𝜋.
𝜋
𝟏 𝟏 𝑣𝑂
𝟐 𝝅 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝝅 𝟐 𝟐 𝝎𝒕𝒅(𝝎𝒕) 𝟐
Vrms = ‫׬‬ 𝒗𝒔 𝒅(𝝎𝒕) = ‫׬‬ 𝑽𝒎 𝒔𝒊𝒏
𝟐𝝅 𝛼 𝟐𝝅 𝛼
𝜔t
𝟏
𝛼 𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋
𝑽𝟐𝒎 𝝅 𝟏−𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐𝝎𝒕 𝟐
∴ 𝑽𝒓𝒎𝒔 = ‫׬‬ 𝒅(𝝎𝒕)
𝝅 𝛼 𝟐 𝑖 𝑇1
𝟏
𝜋 2𝜋 𝜔t
𝑽𝟐𝒎 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟐𝝎𝒕 𝝅 𝟏 𝑽𝟐𝒎 𝟐𝛼 𝟐 3𝜋
∴ 𝑽𝒓𝒎𝒔 = ω𝒕 − 𝟐 = (𝞹 − 𝛼 + 𝒔𝒊𝒏 )
𝟐𝝅 𝟐 𝛼 𝟐𝝅 𝟐 𝑖𝐷𝑚

𝑽𝒎 𝟏 𝟐𝛼 𝟏 𝜔t
∴ 𝑽𝒓𝒎𝒔 = [ (𝝅 − 𝛼 + 𝒔𝒊𝒏 )]𝟐 𝑖𝑂
𝟐 𝝅 𝟐 𝐼𝑎
𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋
𝜔t
𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋
 SINGLE PHASE FULL CONVERTER
The circuit arrangement of single phase full converter is as shown in the figure with highly inductive load. The load
current is continuous. During positive half cycle, thyristor T1 and T2 are forward biased. When both are fired at 𝜔𝑡 = 𝛼,
the load is connected to input supply through T1 and T2 during the period 𝛼 ≤ 𝜔𝑡 ≤ 𝜋 + 𝛼. T1 and T2 will continue to
conduct beyond 𝜔𝑡 = 𝜋. During negative half cycle of input voltage, thyristor T3 and T4 are forward biased and firing of
T3 and T4 at 𝜔𝑡 = 𝜋 + 𝛼 will reverse bias T1 and T2 and the load is connected to the supply through T3 and T4.

During the period from 𝛼 𝑡𝑜 𝜋, the input voltage and input 𝑖𝑆

current are positive and the power flows from the supply 𝑖𝑂
A
to load. The converter is said to be operated in
T3 L
+
T1
rectification mode. During the period from 𝜋 to 𝜋 + 𝛼, the 𝑣𝑂
230V/ 𝑣𝑆
input voltage is negative and the current is positive. There 50Hz 𝑣𝑃 −
will be reverse power flow from the load to the supply. It is
T4 T2 R
called inversion mode. B
The regions for converter operation and waveforms for 𝑣𝑆
input voltage, output voltage, input current and currents
through T1, T2, T3 and T4 are shown.
𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋 4𝜋 𝜔t
Average DC voltage across load= 𝑽𝒅𝒄 =
𝟐 𝝅+𝜶 𝟐 𝝅+𝜶
‫׬‬ 𝒗𝒔 𝒅(𝝎𝒕) = ‫׬‬ 𝑽𝒎 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝝎𝒕 𝒅(𝝎𝒕) 𝑣𝑂
𝟐𝝅 𝜶 𝟐𝝅 𝜶

𝟐 𝜔t
∴ 𝑽𝒅𝒄 = 𝑽𝒎 (− 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒕)𝝅+𝜶
𝜶 𝛼 𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋
𝟐𝝅
𝑖 𝑇1
𝟐𝑽𝒎
∴ 𝑽𝒅𝒄 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝜶 𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋 𝜔t
𝝅
𝑖𝑡3
2𝑉𝑚 −2𝑉𝑚
∴ 𝑉𝑑𝑐 can be varied from to by varying
𝜋 𝜋 𝜔t
𝑖𝑂 3𝜋
𝜋 2𝜋
𝛼 from 0 to 𝜋. 𝐼𝑎
𝜔t
𝜋 2𝜋 3𝜋
 𝟏
𝟐 𝝅+𝛼 𝟐 𝟐
Vrms = rms value of load voltage = ‫׬‬ 𝒗𝒔 𝒅(𝝎𝒕)
𝟐𝝅 𝛼

𝟏
𝝅+𝛼 𝟐
𝟐
= න 𝑽𝟐𝒎 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝝎𝒕𝒅(𝝎𝒕)
𝟐𝝅
𝛼

𝟏
𝑽𝟐𝒎 𝝅 𝟏−𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐𝝎𝒕 𝟐
∴ 𝑽𝒓𝒎𝒔 = ‫׬‬ 𝒅(𝝎𝒕)
𝝅 𝛼 𝟐

𝑽𝟐𝒎 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟐𝝎𝒕 𝝅+𝛼 𝟏

∴ 𝑽𝒓𝒎𝒔 = ω𝒕 − 𝟐
𝟐𝝅 𝟐 𝛼

𝑽𝒎
∴ 𝑽𝒓𝒎𝒔 =
𝟐
 SINGLE PHASE FULL CONVERTER

Single phase full converters allow two quadrant operation. If these two converters are connected back to back, both
the output voltage and current are reversed. The system provides four quadrant operation and is called dual
converter. If 𝛼1 and 𝛼2 are delay angles of converters 1 and 2 respectively, the corresponding average output voltages
are 𝑉𝑑𝑐1 and 𝑉𝑑𝑐2 . The delay angles are controlled such that one converter operates as rectifier and the other
converter operates as an inverter. But both converters produce same average output voltage. Waveforms for output
voltages of two converters are as shown.

𝐿𝑟 𝐿𝑟
2 2
𝑖𝑂
T1 T3 + T2’ T4’
+
A 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 A
𝑣𝑆 𝑣𝑂1 𝑣𝑂2 𝑣𝑆
B B
T3’ T1’
T4 T2 − −
The average output voltages are

𝟐𝑽𝒎
𝑽𝒅𝒄𝟏 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝜶𝟏
𝝅
𝟐𝑽𝒎
And 𝑽𝒅𝒄𝟐 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝜶𝟐
𝝅

Since one converter is rectifying and other one is inverting,

𝑽𝒅𝒄𝟏 = 𝑽𝒅𝒄𝟐
∴ cos 𝛼2 = − cos 𝛼1 = cos(π − 𝛼1 )
∴ 𝛼2 = 𝜋 − 𝛼1
As instantaneous output voltages of the two converters are out of phase, there will be an instantaneous
voltage difference and it will result circulating current between two converters. It will not flow through load.
The circulating current is normally limited by circulating core reactor Lr .
 𝑣𝑆 𝑣 = 𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡

𝜋 2𝜋 𝜔t

Converter 1 output
𝑣𝑂1
𝑣 = −𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡

𝛼1 𝜋 2𝜋 𝜔t

𝑣 = 𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡
Converter 2 output
−𝑣𝑂2
𝑣 = −𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡
𝜔t
𝜋 − 𝛼1 2𝜋 − 𝛼1 2𝜋

𝐼𝑟 𝑣 = 𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡
Voltage generating circulating current

𝜔t
𝜋 2𝜋