PHASE

CONTROLLED
RECTIFIERS
Phase Controlled Rectifier
The term PCR or Phase controlled rectifier is a one type of rectifier
circuit in which the diodes are switched by Thyristors or SCRs (Silicon
Controlled Rectifiers). Whereas the diodes offer no control over the o/p
voltage, the Thyristors can be used to differ the output voltage by
adjusting the firing angle or delay. A phase control Thyristor is activated
by applying a short pulse to its gate terminal and it is deactivated due to
line communication or natural. In case of heavy inductive load, it is
deactivated by firing another Thyristor of the rectifier during the
negative half cycle of i/p voltage.
Types
Single-phase Controlled Rectifier
 This type of rectifier which works from single phase AC i/p power
supply
 Single Phase Controlled Rectifiers are classified into different types
Half wave Controlled Rectifier:
This type of rectifier uses a single Thyristor device to provide o/p
control only in one half cycle of input AC supply, and it offers low DC
output.
Full wave Controlled Rectifier:
 This type of rectifier provides higher DC output.
 Full wave controlled rectifier with a center tapped transformer
requires two Thyristors.
 Full wave bridge controlled rectifiers do not need a center tapped
transformer
Types
Three-phase Controlled Rectifier:
This type of rectifier which works from three phase AC i/p
power supply.
• A semi converter is a one quadrant converter that has one
polarity of o/p voltage and current.
• A full converter is a two quadrants converter that has polarity
of o/p voltage can be either +ve or –ve but, the current can
have only one polarity that is either +ve or -ve.
• Dual converter works in four quadrants – both o/p voltage and
o/p current can have both the polarities.
Operation of Phase Controlled Rectifier

The basic working principle of a PCR circuit is explained

using a single phase half wave PCR circuit with a RL load
resistive shown in the following circuit. A single phase half
wave Thyristor converter circuit is used to convert AC to DC
power conversion. The i/p AC supply is attained from a
transformer to offer the required AC supply voltage to the
Thyristor converter based on the o/p DC voltage required. In
the above circuit, the primary and secondary AC supply
voltages are denoted with VP and VS
Operation of Phase Controlled Rectifier

During the +ve half cycle of i/p supply when the upper
end of the transformer secondary winding is at a + ve
potential with respect to the lower end, the Thyristor is in a
forward biased state. The thyristor is activated at a delay
angle of ωt =α, by applying an appropriate gate trigger pulse
to the gate terminal of thyristor.
Operation of Phase Controlled Rectifier

• When the thyristor is activated at a delay angle of ωt =α,

the thyristor behaviors and assuming a perfect thyristor.
The thyristor acts as a closed switch and the i/p supply
voltage acts across the load when it conducts from ωt =α
to π radians For a purely resistive load, the load current io
that flows when the thyristor T1 is on, is given by the
expression.
Io= vo/ RL, for α≤ ωt ≤ π
Single Phase Full Wave Controlled Rectifier
with 'R' load
Single Phase Full Wave Controlled Rectifier with 'R'
load

The single phase fully controlled rectifier allows conversion of single

phase AC into DC. Normally this is used in various applications such as
battery charging, speed control of DC motors and front end of UPS and
SMPS.
All four devices used are thyristors. The turn-on instants of these
devices are dependent on the firing signals that are given. Turn-off
happens when the current through the device reaches zero and it is
reverse biased at least for duration equal to the turn-off time of the
device specified in the data sheet.
In positive half cycle thyristors T1 & T2 are fired at an angle α .

When T1 & T2 conducts
Vo=Vs
IO=is=Vo/R=Vs/R

In negative half cycle of input voltage, SCR's T3 &T4 are

triggered at an angle of (π+α)

Here output current & supply current are in opposite direction

∴ is=-io

T3 & T4 becomes off at 2π.

Single Phase Full Wave Controlled
Rectifier with 'RL' load
 Single Phase Full Wave Controlled
Rectifier with 'RL' load
Operation of this mode can be divided between four modes

Mode 1 (α toπ)
 In positive half cycle of applied ac signal, SCR's T1 & T2 are forward bias
& can be turned on at an angle α.
 Load voltage is equal to positive instantaneous ac supply voltage. The load
current is positive, ripple free, constant and equal to Io.
 Due to positive polarity of load voltage & load current, load inductance will
store energy.
Single Phase Full Wave Controlled
Rectifier with 'RL' load
Mode 2 (π toπ+α)
 At wt=π, input supply is equal to zero & after π it becomes negative. But
inductance opposes any change through it.
 In order to maintain a constant load current & also in same direction. A self
inducedemf appears across 'L' as shown.
 Due to this induced voltage, SCR's T1 & T2 are forward bais in spite the
negative supply voltage.
 The load voltage is negative & equal to instantaneous ac supply voltage
whereas load current is positive.
 Thus, load acts as source & stored energy in inductance is returned back to
the ac supply.
Single Phase Full Wave Controlled
Rectifier with 'RL' load
Mode 3 (π+α to 2π)
 At wt=π+α SCR's T3 & T4 are turned on & T1, T2 are reversed bias.
 Thus , process of conduction is transferred from T1,T2 to T3,T4.
 Load voltage again becomes positive & energy is stored in inductor.
 T3, T4 conduct in negative half cycle from (π+α) to 2π
 With positive load voltage & load current energy gets stored.
Single Phase Full Wave Controlled
Rectifier with 'RL' load
Mode 4 (2π to 2π+α)

 At wt=2π, input voltage passes through zero.

 Inductive load will try to oppose any change in current if in order to maintain load

current constant & in the same direction.

 Induced emf is positive & maintains conducting SCR's T3 & T4 with reverse polarity

also.

 Thus VL is negative & equal to instantaneous ac supply voltage. Whereas load

current continues to be positive.

 Thus load acts as source & stored energy in inductance is returned back to ac supply.

 At wt=α or 2π+α, T3 & T4 are commutated and T1,T2 are turned on.
Single Phase Half Wave Controlled
Rectifier with 'R' load
• As shown in figure above primary of transformer is connected
to ac mains supply with which SCR becomes forward bias in
positive half cycle. T1 is triggered at an angle α, T1 conducts
and voltage is applied across R.
• The load current i0 flows through 'R‘.
• The waveforms for voltage & current are as shown above.
• As load is resistive ,Output current is given as,

• Hence shape of output current is same as output voltage

As T1 conducts only in positive half cycle as it is reversed bias in negative
cycle, the ripple frequency of output voltage is-
fripple= 50 Hz (supply frequency)
Average output voltage is given as

i.e Area under one cycle.

Therefore T=2π&Vo(ωt) = Vmsinωt from α to π& for rest of the
period Vo(ωt)=0
Power transferred to load,

Thus, power & voltage can be controlled by firing angle.

Single Phase Half Wave Controlled
Rectifier with 'RL' load
Single Phase Half Wave Controlled
Rectifier with 'RL' load
Figure above shows the single phase half wave rectifier with
RL Load.
Normally motors are inductive loads
 L= armature of field coil inductance
 R= Resistance of coil.
Single Phase Half Wave Controlled
Rectifier with 'RL' load
 In positive half cycle, SCR starts conduction at firing angle “α”.

 Drop across SCR is small & neglected so output voltage is equal to

supply voltage.

 Due to 'RL' load, current through SCR increases slowly.

 At 'π', supply voltage is at zero where load current is at its max value.

 In positive half cycle, inductor stores energy & that generates the
voltage.
 In negative half cycle, the voltage developed across inductor,
forward biases SCR & maintains its conduction.
Single Phase Half Wave Controlled
Rectifier with 'RL' load
Basically with the property of inductance it opposes change in current.
Output current & supply current flows in same loop, so all the time
io=is.
After π the energy of inductor is given to mains & there is flow of 'io'.
The energy reduces as if gets consumed by circuit so current also
reduces.
At 'β' energy stored in inductance is finished, hence 'io' becomes zero &
'T1' turns off.
'io' becomes zero from 'β' to '2π+α' hence it is discontinuous conduction.
3 Phase Controlled Rectifiers
 Operate from 3 phase ac supply voltage.

 They provide higher dc output voltage.

 Higher dc output power.
 Higher output voltage ripple frequency.

 Filtering requirements are simplified for smoothing out

load voltage and load current.
 Extensively used in high power variable speed industrial
dc drives.
3 Phase Controlled Rectifiers
• Controlled Three Phase Half Wave Rectifiers
• Controlled Three Phase Half Wave Rectifiers with
Freewheeling Diode
• Controlled Three Phase Full Wave Rectifiers
• Three Phase Full Wave Half Controlled Rectifiers
Controlled Three Phase Half Wave Rectifiers
Controlled Three Phase Half Wave
Rectifiers
• The thyristor will conduct (ON state), when the anode-to-
cathode voltage is positive and a firing current pulse is applied
to the gate terminal. Delaying the firing pulse by an angle α
controls the load voltage.
• The possible range for gating delay is between α = 0◦ and α =
180◦ , but because of commutation problems in actual
situations, the maximum firing angle is limited to around 160◦.
Controlled Three Phase Half Wave
Rectifiers
• When the load is resistive, current id has the same
waveform of the load voltage. As the load becomes more
and more inductive, the current flattens and finally
becomes constant. The thyristor goes to the non-
conducting condition (OFF state) when the following
thyristor is switched ON, or the current, tries to reach a
negative value
Controlled Three Phase Half Wave
Rectifiers
For resistive load
• 0°<=α<=30º, output voltage is continuous.

• 30°<=α<=120º, output voltage is discontinuous and has some intervals in

which output voltage is zero.
• α >150°, output voltage is zero.

For Inductive load

• There is no discontinuous conduction mode for three-phase controlled
rectifier if L>>R.
• But if L ≈ R or firing angle is very large, discontinuities can be seen in
output as output voltage can become zero in certain intervals (those intervals
in which inductor has quickly dissipated its energy and firing angle hasn’t
reached).
Controlled Three Phase Half Wave Rectifiers with Freewheeling Diode
Controlled Three Phase Half Wave
Rectifiers with Freewheeling Diode
A 6 pulse Bridge Rectifier Circuit Diagram with freewheeling diode
across the load terminals is shown. As has already been explained, the
diode participates in conduction only when the instantaneous load
voltage tends to become negative. This occurs for firing angles greater
than 60°. For α ≤ 60° the bridge operates as a fully controlled one and
the mean output voltage is
Controlled Three Phase Full Wave Rectifiers
Controlled Three Phase Full Wave
Rectifiers
Controlled Three Phase Full Wave
Rectifiers
In 3-phase power rectifiers, conduction always occurs in
the most positive diode and the corresponding most negative
diode. Thus as the three phases rotate across the rectifier
terminals, conduction is passed from diode to diode. Then
each diode conducts for 120o (one-third) in each supply
cycle but as it takes two diodes to conduct in pairs, each pair
of diodes will conduct for only 60o (one-sixth) of a cycle at
any one time as shown above.
Controlled Three Phase Full Wave Rectifiers
Therefore we can correctly say that for a 3-phase rectifier
being fed by “3” transformer secondaries, each phase will be
separated by 360o/3 thus requiring 2*3 diodes. Note also that
unlike the previous half-wave rectifier, there is no common
connection between the rectifiers input and output terminals.
Therefore it can be fed by a star connected or a delta connected
transformer supply.
Controlled Three Phase Full Wave
Rectifiers
• So the average DC value of the output voltage waveform
from a 3-phase full-wave rectifier is given as:

• Where: VS is equal to (VL(PEAK) ÷ √3) and where VL(PEAK) is

the maximum line-to-line voltage (VL*1.414).
Three Phase Full Wave Half Controlled Rectifiers

3-phase semi-converters are three phase half controlled bridge

controlled rectifiers which employ three thyristors and three diodes
connected in the form of a bridge configuration. Three thyristors are
controlled switches which are turned on at appropriate times by
applying appropriate gating signals. The three diodes conduct when
they are forward biased by the corresponding phase supply voltages.
The power factor of 3-phase semi-converter decreases as the
trigger angle α increases. The power factor of a 3-phase semi-
converter is better than three phase half wave converter.
Three Phase Full Wave Half Controlled
Rectifiers
Applications

Phase controlled rectifier applications include paper mills,

textile mills using DC motor drives and DC motor control in
steel mills.
AC fed traction system using a DC traction motor.
electro-metallurgical and Electrochemical processes.
Reactor controls.
Magnet power supplies.
Portable hand instrument drives.
Flexible speed industrial drives.
Battery charges.
High voltage DC transmission.
UPS
Power Factor
• In AC circuits, the power factor is the ratio of the real
power that is used to do work and the apparent power that
is supplied to the circuit.
• The power factor can get values in the range from 0 to 1.
• When all the power is reactive power with no real power
(usually inductive load) - the power factor is 0.
• When all the power is real power with no reactive power
(resistive load) - the power factor is 1.
Power Factor
Power factor definition
The power factor is equal to the real or true power P in watts (W)
divided by the apparent power |S| in volt-ampere (VA):

PF = P(W) / |S(VA)|

• PF - power factor.

• P   - real power in watts (W).

• |S| - apparent power - the magnitude of the complex power in
volt⋅amps (VA).
Power Factor
Power factor calculations
For sinusouidal current, the power factor PF is equal to the
absolute value of the cosine of the apparent power phase
angle φ (which is also is impedance phase angle):

PF = |cos φ|
 PF is the power factor.
 φ   is the apparent power phase angle.
The real power P in watts (W) is equal to the apparent power |
S| in volt-ampere (VA) times the power factor PF:

P(W) = |S(VA)| × PF = |S(VA)| × |cos φ|

Effect of Source Inductance

Most of the converter analysis is generally simplified under

the ideal conditions (no source impedance). But this statement
will not be justified as source impedance is basically inductive
with a small resistive element.
Source inductance will have major impact on the converter
performance as its existence will change the output voltage of
the converter. Consequently, output voltage will be decreased
when the load current decreases. Additionally, input current and
output voltage waveforms will be changing considerably.
Effect on Single Phase

Assume that the converter is operating in conduction mode

and the ripple from the load current is going to be negligible.
Here, open circuit voltage will become equal to average DC
output at a firing angle of α. Below diagram describes a fully
controlled converter with the source in single phase. Thyristors
T3 and T4 will be assumed to be in conduction mode when t =
0 and alternatively, T1 and T2 fire when ωt = α
Effect on Single Phase
When the source inductance is not available,
commutation will be occuring at T3 and T4 and the
thyristors T1 and T2 will be switched ON instantly. This will
result in the input polarity for changing immediately. When
s is available, polarity change and commutation will not
occur immediately. Therefore, T3 and T4 will not be
commutating as soon as T1 and T2 are switched ON.
Effect on Single Phase
At some point of time all the four thyristors will conduct
and this conducting interval is known as the overlap interval
(μ).
Overlap at the time of commutation will reduce the DC
output voltage and the angle of extinction γ will result in
failed commutation when αis close to 180°. This is shown
by the waveform below.
Effect on Single Phase
Effect on Three Phase

Similar to the single-phase converter, there will not be

any immediate commutations because of the presence of the
source inductances. Considering source inductances, the
effects (qualitative) on the converter performance will be
same as in a single phase converter and this is shown in
below diagram.
Effect on Three Phase
Thyristor

A thyristor is a four-layer device with alternating P-type and N-type

semiconductors (P-N-P-N).
In its most basic form, a thyristor has three terminals: anode (positive
terminal), cathode (negative terminal), and gate (control terminal). The gate
controls the flow of current between the anode and cathode.
The primary function of a thyristor is to control electric power and current by
acting as a switch. For such a small and lightweight component, it offers
adequate protection to circuits with large voltages and currents (up to 6000 V,
4500 A).
It is attractive as a rectifier because it can switch rapidly from a state of
conducting current to a state of non-conduction.
How do thyristors work?

A thyristor with a P-N-P-N structure has three junctions: PN, NP, and PN.
If the anode is a positive terminal with respect to the cathode, the outer
junctions, PN and PN are forward-biased, while the center NP junction is
reverse-biased. Therefore, the NP junction blocks the flow of a positive
current from the anode to cathode. The thyristor is said to be in a forward
blocking state. Similarly, the flow of a negative current is blocked by the outer
PN junctions. The thyristor is in a reverse blocking state.
Another state a thyristor can exist in is the forward conducting state,
whereby it receives a sufficient signal to switch on, and it starts conducting.
Thyristor triggering
• Triggering means turning ON of a device from its off
state. Turning ON of a thyristor refers to thyristor
triggering. Thyristor is turned on by increasing the anode
current flowing through it. The increase in anode current
can be achieved by many ways.
Thyristor triggering
Voltage Thyristor Triggering:-
Here the applied forward voltage is gradually increased
beyond a pt.known as forward break over voltage VBO and
gate is kept open. This method is not preferred because
during turn on of thyristor, it is associated with large voltage
and large current which results in huge power loss and
device may be damaged.
Thyristor triggering
Thermal Thyristor Triggering:-
If the temperature of the thyristor is high, it results in
increase in the electron-hole pairs. Which in turn increase
the leakage current α1 and α2 to raise. The regenerative
action tends to increase (α1 + α2) to units and the thyristor
may be turned on. This type turn on is not preferred as it
may result in thermal turn away and hence it is avoided.
Thyristor triggering
Light Thyristor Triggering:-
These rays of light are allowed to strike the junctions of the
thyristor. This results in an increase in the number of electron-hole pair
and thyristor may be turned on. The light-activated SCRs are triggered by
using this method.
dv/dt Triggering:-
If the rate of rise of anode to cathode voltage is high, the charging
current through the capacitive junction is high enough to turn on the
thyristor. A high value of charging current may destroy the thyristor
hence the device must be protected against high dv/dt.
Thyristor triggering
While designing gate thyristor triggering circuit following points should
be kept in mind.
• When thyristor is turned on the gate signal should be removed
immediately. A continuous application of gate signal even after the
triggering on and thyristor would increase the power loss in the gate
junction.
• No gate signal should be applied when thyristor is reversed biased;
otherwise thyristor
• The pulse width of the gate signal should le longer than the time
required for the anode current to rise to the holding voltage value IH.
Thyristor triggering
Gate Triggering:-
This method of thyristor triggering is widely employed because of
ease C8 control over the thyristor gate triggering of thyristor allows us to
turn of the thyristor whenever we wish. Here we apply a gate signal to
the thyristor. Forward biased thyristor will turn on when gate signal is
applied to it. Once the thyristor starts conducting, the gate loses its
control over the device and the thyristor continues to conduct. This is
because of regenerative action that takes place within the thyristor when
gate signal is applied.
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