POWER FACTOR IMPROVEMENT OF SINGLE_PHASE AC VOLTAGE

CONTROLLER EMPLOYING EXTINCTION ANGLE

CONTROL TECHNIQUE
Nabil A. Ahmed' and Emad H. El-Zohri2

Abstract - The general study of power converters is to power factor becomes poor. Such a behavior can be
improve the overall efficiency of the power system by some explained by the fact that a constant supply voltage is
advanced methods of control techniques. Forced usually applied to the machine and under decreasing load
commutation of the power semiconductor switches leads to conditions; the internal impedance of machine becomes
improved power factor in dc converters. Similar techniques mainly reactive [9].
may be applied to improve the performance of ac Trying to solve this problem with simple ac voltage
controllers. For example, an ac controller can be used to converters is an almost impossible task. On the other hand,
adjust the stator voltage of an induction motor running adding a complex controller costing several times the price
under variable load in order to maintain better efficiency. of the motor, is in itself an objectionable solution. Thus, the
With the present semiconductor technology (MOSFET's, present paper describes a simple scheme to generate a
IGBT's, GTO's and improved bipolar transistors), many variable ac voltage directly from the line with few
solutions exist to alter the power factor of dynamic ac loads commutations at each period for speed control of single-
through an ac controller. In this paper, the performance phase induction motors. This is achieved by using the
evaluation of the extinction-angle control technique has extinction-angle control (EAC) control technique to control
been illustrated as applied to a single-phase voltage the extinction angle by making use of forced commutation
converter by examples of static load and the widely used nature of the switches while introducing a freewheeling path
single-phase induction motor to verify the feasibility of the in parallel with the load terminals. The proposed ac voltage
proposed technique. Observations on power factor, converter employs only two controlled switches with the aid
displacement factor and motor efficiency make up the results of two diode bridge rectifiers. Reducing the number of
of this work. controlled switches is essential for the point of view of the
Index Terms - AC voltage controller, extinction angle control simplicity, cost, reliability, decreasing the switching losses;
powerfactor, static load, single-phase Induction motor. a matter which enhances the converter efficiency.
The extinction-angle control (EAC) is similar to that of
I. INTRODUCTION phase-angle control wlhere there is only one pulse pcr lialf-
AC voltage converters are widely used as one of the power cycle. In the phase-angle control the conduction is started at
the required
electronics systems to control an output ac voltage; where a reaches zero delay angle (a ) and continues until the current
variable ac voltage is obtained from a fixed ac voltage, for value naturally, while in the EAC control the
power ranges from few watts (as in light dimmers) up to conduction is started at zero crossing of the supply voltage
fraction of megawatts (as in starting systems of large and forced commutated at a certain angle before the next
induction motors). Phase-angle control (PAC) line zero crossing (/). Fig. I shows the voltage and current
commutated voltage controllers and integral-cycle control of waveforms in the EAC. Of course a freewheeling path is
thyristors have been extensively employed in this type of provided for the load current to discharge the stored energy
regulators for many applications. Such techniques offer of the load inductance. The output voltage is controlled by
some advantages as simplicity and the ability of controlling varying the extinction angle /. The fundamental component
large amount of power economically. However, they suffer of input current leads the input voltage, and the displacement
from inherent disadvantages such as; retardation of the firing factor (and power factor) is leading. In some applications,
angle causes lagging power factor at the input side especially this feature may be desirable to simulate a capacitive load
at large firing angles and high low order harmonic content in and to compensate for line voltage drops. Therefore, the
both of load and supply sides [1-3]. Moreover, a performance of ac voltage converters with extinction-angle
discontinuity of power flow appears at both input and output control is similar to that with phase-angle control, except the
sides [4-8]. power factor is leading while in phase-angle control, the
On the other hand, the efficiency of a squirrel cage power factor is lagging.
induction motor often reaches its maximum value at rated This study is concerned with the investigation of ac
load. At light loads the machine becomes quite inefficient voltage controllers with EAC technique applied to a static
and since the phase of the stator current is lagging, the load and the widely used squirrel cage single-phase
' Nabil A. Ahmed, Assuit University, Faculty of Engineering, Electrical Engineering Depattment, Assuit 71516, Egypt, Nabil eacc.aun.edu.eg
2
Emad H. EI-Zohri, Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, Assiut 500 kV Substation, emadelzohri@yahoo.com
0-7803-8294-3/04/$20.00 ©2004 IEEE
1075
 I I
U

0
V.,

Si I--pm.
Ain

H .I'l i

.i

+/~ I
induction motor. The operation of this controller as a
variable voltage source employing EAC is evaluated and
compared with conventional PAC from supply power factor
improvement point of view. The simulation results are
verified experimentally.

I
I' -
i i

I
S

52

-4-- I1
on
ii

T
deed time
4

Fig. I Input voltage, output voltage, Input current and output

current waveforms with extinction-angle control.

11. CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION AND PRINCIPLE OF

OPERATION
Fig. 2 shows the schematic representation of the power
circuit configuration which consists of a single-phase
induction motor connected to an ac source through an ac
voltage controller. The forward switch S I is used
periodically to connect and disconnect the load to the supply
in the EAC technique, i.e. regulates the power delivered to
the load. The parallel switch S2 provides a freewheeling
path for the load current to discharge the stored energy of the
load inductance when the forward switch SI is turned off.
Switch S I is turned on at at = 0 and is turned off by forced
commutation at (t0 = - p as shown in Fig. I to supply
power to the load during the active mode. For an inductive
r''on
mcivi. n,x,& fri-whcciistg mesde

r7*K~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I2

t
stored energy during the freewheeling mode. The
fundamental component of the input current leads the input
voltage, and the displacement factor (and hence the power
factor) is leading.
The switching pulses shown in Fig. I are synchronized
with the supply voltage and the output voltage is controlled
by varying the extinction ariile p from 0 to nc to vary the
rms value of the output voltage from rated input voltage to
zero. The gating pulses of thw freewheeling switch S2 are the
complemenit of the gating pulsp of the forward SI.

Fig. 2 Configuration of ac voltage converter fed

single-phase induction motor.

Due to non ideality of the switching devices, a dead time is

load, a freewheeling path for the load current must be
provided for the period from 1= ir_--fl toot=,r by the
freewheeling switch S2 to discharge the load inductance
requiisite to avoid comimiliutationi problcim. A by-pass
capacitor Cb is added parallel to the load in order to provide
a path for the current during the dead tiime whien botli
switches are opened. The operation is divided ilto tlhree
modes: active, dead time and freewheeling modes. The
current flows through the input and output sides, providing
energy to the load during the active mode, freewheels
through the freewheeling path during the freewheeling mode
and bypasses during the dead time mode. Detailed analysis
of the operation modes and circuit description can be found
in [101
111. PERFORMANCE OF THE TEST CONVERTER
This section presents the performance evaluation of
the proposed ac voltage converter with the EAC
technique by simulation using MATLAB Simulink
package and experimentally by using a prototype
model where the used power electronic switches are
MG5OJ2YS1 (600V, 50A) IGBT'S and PSB 35/14
(1400V, 35A) diode bridge rectifier. An experiment on
1.1 KVA (220V, 5A) laboratory model was performed
in order to verify the feasibility of the circuit and to
investigate the validity of the simulated results.
The ac voltage controller with the EAC technique is
applied to a static load and a dynamiiic load represented by a

1076
 lItf lAK
squirrel cage single-phase induction motor. The obtained good agreement between the simulated and measured results
simulated and experimental results will be discussed in the is evident.
following: It is worth to mention that the input power factor is
improved gradually from its lagging value and becomes
(A) Static R-L Load leading after the extinction angle exceeds the load angle and
Table I shows the simulated and experimental circuit as the extinction angle increases, the input power factor gets
parameters for the ac voltage converter with an more improved and this feature gives more importance for
inductive load. EAC technique. The positive sign in Fig. 4 refers to lagging
power factor while the negative sign refers to leading power
TABLE I factor.
SIMULATED AND TEST CIRCUIT PARAMETERS Fig. 5 shows the simulated and measured variation of
Parameter Symbol Value the supply power factor with the rms output voltage for the
Maximum supply voltage Vsm 220-li [V] same loading conditions as in Fig. 4. As the rms output
50 [Hz]
voltage decreases, i.e. the extinction angle increases), the
Supply frequency f supply power factor is improved gradually from its lagging
Switching frequency As 100 (Hz] value and becomes leading after the extinction angle exceeds
By-pass capacitor Cb 1 pF the load angle and goes more leading as the extinction angle
Bleeding resistance Rb 2.1 kfi increases. This feature in EAC technique is mainly due to
the fact that the fundamental component of the supply
Load resistance Ro 18 [Q] current leads the supply voltage because the displacement
Load inductance Lo 99 [mH] angle goes from lag to lead as the extinction angle increases.
I
Fig. 3 shows the variation of the simulated and
experimental rms values of the output voltage V0 with the
extinction angle J over the complete range of control. 0.5
0
S.
0 | -S§mtJlaled 0.
0
+ Meas
0
0
0
-
_K o6

-0.5
as

X
r

0 .1
Extinction angle (A)
)s

- e - - --1- -- - z - - - e -- -- - - w
1- t-
xI Fig. 4 Variation of the Input Power factor with the extinction angle.
t_ I
0°0 20
1
40 60
..
80 100 120 140 160 1
Extnction angle (p)
Fig. 3 Variation of the rms output voltage with the extinction angle. 0.5
0
Fig. 4 shows the variation of the supply power factor
versus the extinction angle over the complete range of
control for three different load conditions, resistive (O = 00) S.
0

and two inductive loads (D = 450, 60° ). The measurement of

the input power factor is done by two ways, by using the 4-.5
power analyzer and for verification by using a digital
wattmeter to measure the values of the input power and nms
values of the voltage and current at the supply side. Dividing -1
the measured input power by the product of the rms values Output volage [V]
of the supply voltage and current results the average input
power factor and the two ways lead to the same results. A Fig. 5 Variation of the Input power factor with the otitput voltage.

1077
 Fig. 6 demonstrates the simulated and mecasured varying the extinction anigle, a wide range of motor speed
variation of the total harmonic distortion factor TIlDF of the conitrol can be achieved.
input current versus the rms output voltage for different load
conditions. In this Figure as the output voltage decreases; the 200
extinction angle increases and hence the THDF in the supply ISO.....
current increases. Also, as the load power factor decreases, Simulated
the THDF increases. However, it is a compromise between Measured
the increase in THDF and the improvement in displacem-ent
factor. It can be concluded that for the same load condition, 14go ....
......... ....
although the increase in the THDF with increase in the > 6
extinction angle, the input power factor goes from lag to lead 420 . . . . . . .
.:. . .
... .
... . . . . . . . . . .

as well as displacement factor. Althoughi the increase in

THDF will reduce the value of the supply power factor, 200 . .. .. ..... . .
... ............

however, it will not affect its leading nature.

4 I z
II
3.5 -I ................. ........ ........

0 18 36 54 72 90 log 126 144 162 180

................... Simulated Extinction angle ( 0 )
t! 34
v
t: Measured
:3 2.5
=1 Fig. 7 varilation of the motor applied voltage.
Om 2 - ... ..............I........ I........I .......

Z0 I OR8
V.

El,
1.5 -
Q 0. .6 ... ..... .... .. . . . .. ....
I - ........ ... .......

0.
4 ~~~~~~~~~~Measured
0.5 - ..........

u.-
A -
-, -- 4

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220

to0
Output voltage [VI 4.0 0
.2 4 3 7 198 1?6 l 622
Fig. 6 Variation of TI-IDF of Input current with the outpuit voltalge. 4 .. . . . ~ ~~~~~~~~~~.........
-0
....

(II) Induction Motor Control 1.6

The proposed extinction-angle control technique has
been applied, also, to a dynamic load represented by a .I I.
1/6 Hp, 180 V, 1.8 A, 50 Hz split-phase squirrel cage
induction motor coupled to a fan as a mechanical load &Extinction angle ( fi)

to obtain variable speed operation. The test motor

Fi'g. 8 Variation input angle.
paramneters are: of the power factor with the extinction

Rm=7.2 5 C Xm =7.8lI 2 0.1.8

M l01.81 C2 P= 2
Rr= (l 0.1 .6
7.08 Xr 3.9fl ..6.
SimFulated.
4~~~~~~L~~~MeasuMasred
.. . .. . . . . . .. . ..
..

R 1 5.6 Ql Xa IL.2 0.
Detailed analysis of the motor performance equations .

can be found in literature [I11]. The obtained simulated and 0.

experimental results will be discussed in the following:
Fig. 7 depicts the variation of the computed and L. 2 ....60 .0 lI $o 120 140 160
measured rms value of the motor applied voltage with the 06

~.4
extinction angle. A significant improvement in the input .0.
power factor with the extiniction angle control is showni in .6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~..............
Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 10 gives the variation of the computed 0.0
and mneasured THDF of the input current withi the mnotor -fix
applied voltage. IV]
The computed and measured variation of the motor RMS notor voltage

speed versus the extinction angle is shown in Fig. Il1. By Fig. 9Variation of the Input power factor with the niotor voltage.

1078
 3.S ^ 900, . . ,
3 ~~~~~~~~~Simulated80 -Cmue
_700 0--Measured
a2.5 .......... .......... ... ... ..........0........... 2-i600
2 . ........... ........0 0
5- 00 o.400-
0~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ o300

..... . ..... . ...... .........

100
200*
0 I 1 1 1 § 1 1 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 slpl
RMS motor voltage [VJ
Fig. 13 Variation of the input power with slip.
Fig. 10 THDF of the input current with the output voltage. I
1600___________________________________________ _ 0.8 _ $

140 .7........ . . . .. ...........G5-

Measured -Computed
1200->
@ 8 i > <,, Q~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~.2
*Measured

goo ............ ............

.............I.............I........... ' ....-0.2
0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
,600t-teX -@--------- ........ ... .0.4 *-
-0.4
-¢ ,,,
,*4 .... t

200 -........................-...........- ...........

.........................
-.........--- .8 Slip I p.u
V .1 . . f . .Fig. 14 Variation of the input power factor with slip.
0 18 36 54 72 90 108 126
Extincton angle ( p ) 2.5 -

Fig. IiVariation of the motor speed loaded by a fan with 2 -Computedl

the extinction angle. Meaured
The steady state characteristics of the test motor Z 1.5
with extinction angle control technique, such as motor
input current, input power, input power factor
developed torque and motor efficiency, are shown in 0.5
Figs. 12-16. It must be mentioned that the supply
power factor is improved gradually and becomes
' -- 0 15o- 0.2.l o0.25
0
leading
0.0 after the extinction angle exceeds the load
.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 0 0.1
0 0 0.3
0 0.35
0 0.4
0
angle as shown in Figs. 8 and 14. SlipIpuI
Fig. 15 Torque-slip characteristics.
Copue 0.7

0.1
0 0.05 -Computed
0.1 00.
0 7 -

0O

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0 O.OS 0.1 0.1S 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
Slip [P.UI Slip [ p.u I
Fig. 12 Variation of the motor input current with slip. Fig. 16 Variation of the motor eMciency with slip.

1079
 V. CONCLUSIONS
The paper presents the EAC technique for single-
phase ac-ac voltage converters. The EAC technique
provides a considerable improvement in the input
power factor. This improvement is mainly due to the
improvement in the displacement factor. The ac
voltage controller with the EAC technique has been
applied to a static load and a dynamic load which is a
squirrel cage single-phase induction motor loaded by a
fan. A full control range of the ac output power and a
wide control range of the motor speed can be
achieved. Thus, this technique is suitable for speed
control of single-phase induction motor as it is
required a simple and less costly technique. A good
agreement is obtained between the simulated and the
experimental results.
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