Paper accepted for presentation at 2003 IEEE Bologna PowerTech Conference, June 23-26, Bologna, Italy

A Novel Three-phase Full Bridge Thyristor Rectifier Based on the Controlled Third Harmonic Current Injection
Predrag BoioviC, and Predrag Pejovic, Member, IEEE
Abslract-A novel three-phase full bridge thyristor reclifier that applies controlled third harmonic current injection is described in this paper. To compensate for the variations in the bridge firing angle and the rectifier load current, the concept of resistor-free current injection network is adapted applying controlled cnrrent injection method. This approach makes it possible to obtain near optimal current injection resulting in minimum input current THD, while preserving high efficiency of the rectifier. Optimilation of the injected current h attained through the time domain analysis, on the waveform level. Based on this analysis the selection of current injection network parameters is made Feasibility of the proposed concept is verified both experimentally and by
simulation.

Index Terms-AC-DC power conversion, convertem, harmonic distortion,power conversionharmonics, thyristors,rectifiers.

1. INTRODUCTION

O " E A R nature of rectifiers causes harmonic pollution in power distribution systems. Standards and . . recommendations that treat this problem motivate intensive research in harmonic reduction methods. Prominent among these methods is the thud harmonic current injection, an approach that reduces the input current harmonics of threephase rectifiers. The three-phase diode bridge rectifiers that apply passive current injection networks are proposed in [I] and [2]. The output voltage ripple is used to generate the injected current. The networks are characterised by simplicity and robustness. In [31, rectifiers proposed in 111 and [2] are analyzed. Optimal amplitude of the injected current as a function of the injected current phase displacement to the spectral components of the output terminal voltages at the triple of the line frequency is derived. It is shown that a part of rectifier input power has to be taken by the current injection network in order to improve the rectifier input current total harmonic distortions (THD). In the case of the optimal current injection method, derived for the rectifier operating in the continuous conduction mode [3], this power is equal to 8.571% of the input power, resulting in the input current THD of 5.125%.
P. BoioviC is with Pupin Telecorn DKTS, Belgrade 11080, Serbia and Montenegro (e-mil: pbowvic@dkts.co.yu). P. PejoviC is with the Faculty of Elecaical Engineering. University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11120, Serbia and Montenegro, (e-& peja@el.ettbs.ac.yu).

The power is dissipated on the current injection network resistor that should have variable resistance to adjust to the load current variations. Application of passive resistance emulator, reported in [4], increases rectifier efficiency at the expense of its complexity. Current injection network with the emulated resistor contains two resonant circuits that have to be tuned to the third hannonic of the line frequency, making the system performano: sensitive to variations of the resonant circuits parameters. The idea of the resistor-free current injection network, developed in [5], increases rectifier efficiency on the penalty of moderate degradation of the rectifier input current THD. This concept is used as an inspiration for the three-phase thyristor bridge rectifier proposed in this paper. To handle the variations in magnitude and phase of the third harmonic component of the output terminal voltages, caused by variations of the thyristor bridge firing angle, the network proposed in [5] is adapted applying controlled current injection method [6]. In Section U, structure 01' the three-phase thyristor bridge rectifier applying simultaneous current injection in all three of the phases is presented. The spectra of the rectifier output voltage terminal!; are derived and discussed. The resistor-free current injection network that applies controlled injection is presented in Section III. Optimization of the injected current is attained through the time domain analysis, on the waveform level. In that manner, influence of the rectifier output terminal voltage harmonics, other than the third harmonic, on input current THD is included. Simulation results for the input current TllD as function of the bridge fuing angle, rectifier load current and resonant circuit parameters are given in Section IV. Power consumption of current injection network is also discussed. Experimental results are presented in Section V, and conclusions are given in Section VI.

II. STRUCTURE. OF THE THYRISTOR BRIDGE RECTIFIER

Structure of the proposed rectifier is presented in Fig. 1. The rectifier is supplied by a balanced three-phase voltage system 2n vi =V, cos(q,t+(i-l)-), (1) 3 where i E #,2,3}. It is assumed that i, > 0 and i, > 0 in every time point during the line period, causing the thyristor

0-7803-7967-5/03/$17.00 Cl2003 IEEE

bridge to operate in the continuous conduction mode. The rectifier consists of a thyristor bridge, a current injection device, and a current injection network. The current injection is achieved applying a magnetic current injection device realized as a zigzag autotransformer.

harmonics at the triples of the line frequency. In the case of thyristor bridge rectifier that operates in continuous conduction mode, the magnitude and phase of vA harmonics are given by

a
'pAr

9k2 -1

(5)

= arctan

@-])sin((% +1)l)-(3k + ~ ) s i n ( ( ~ - l ) n ) (3k - l)cos((3k + 1)~)- (3k + l)coS((3k - 1)l) (6)

vow

To compute the spectra of v A and vB it is sufficient to compute the spectra of vA. while the spectrum of vB is
determined by

-[%I 50

'!L
40

30 20

100 0

12

15

18

21

"

Fig. 2. Spectra of the output terminal voltages. Filled bars: bridge firing ' 0 angle of. Hollow bars: bridge firing angle of 30".

I,+%

for 0' < u,f < 60' +a and 300' +a < m o t < 360' for 6W + a < u,f < 120' +a and 240' +a < mot < 300' +a
(4)

lY I I -- , _ _

3,

Equation (4) is valid for the input currents of the remaining two phases, with the phase displacement of 120' and 240. Output terminal voltages v A and vB drive current injection network, producing injected current i,. Beside the dc component, the spectra of these signals contain only

The output terminals voltage spectra of the thyristor bridge rectifier are presented in Fig. 2. Spectral components are normalized to the third harmonic component. Filled bars represent spectral components corresponding to the rectifier that operates with bridge firing angle of a = 0' , while the hollow bars represent spectral components corresponding to the rectifier that operates with a = 3 0 ' . Significant increase of higher order components in the output terminal voltages spectra with increase of the bridge firing angle could be observed. The analysis of the injected current neglecting spectral components other than the component at the triple of the line frequency, applied in [3] in diode bridge rectifier, is inappropriate in the case of the thyristor bridge rectifier. In order to include the influence of the higher order components of the output terminal voltages on the injected current, the analysis in this paper is conducted through the time domain analysis performed on the waveform level. According to (5), the variation in the optimal amplitude of

the injected current is associated not only to the variations of the rectifier load current, but also to the variations of magnitude of the third harmonic driving voltage. From (6) it can be concluded that phase of the third harmonic driving voltage changes faster than the bridge firing angle, deteriorating the optimal phase condition [3]. The current injection network presented in [5] should be modified to compensate the variations in the bridge fxing angle and the load current.

Ill.STRUCTURE AND OPERATION OF THE

RECTIFIER

-LOo

L
60

120

180

d
240 300 360

+ A as0 60 120 180 240 300 36C

Fig. 3. Rectifier.

The three-phase ac-to-dc rectifier proposed in this paper is presented in Fig. 3. The current injection network consists of a transformer with the 1:l turns ratio, an inductor, two capacitors and one pair of antiparallel connected thyristors. The capacitors and the inductor are applied to filter spectral components of the thyristor bridge output terminal voltages v A and vB at the triple of the line frequency. The resonant frequency of the current injection network is determined by
O R= 3 0 , =

b -'0

60

120

180

240

3W

360

1
~

E'

(9)

Although the harmonic components of i,A and i,B at even triples of the line frequency do not affect injected current i , , they increase the input curent THD [7]. The path for these harmonic components is blocked applying the 1:l transformer. Control over magnitude and phase of injected current is achieved by insertion of antiparallel thyristors, Q, and Q, , in series with filter. In that way variations in bridge fuing angle and load current could be compensated for. Typical waveforms of the proposed rectifier are presented in Fig. 4. The output terminal voltages v A and v. are shown for the phase voltages specified by (1) and . .

-1.ot

Fig. 4. Typical waveforms of the thyristor renifier.

the bridge thyristor firing angle of a = 30' . The voltage effectively applied across current injection network is presented in the second diagram of Fig. 4. According to (7) and (8) this voltage is periodic with the period equal to the one third of the line period, containing spectral components at the odd triples of the line frequency. Thyristors Q, and Q8 firing angles are measured starting v +v Both of the from the zero crossings of the voltage c.

has to be solved, for the presumed value of the filter thyristor fving angle p . The voltage applied across current injection resonant circuit is

:os(o,1-60~),

0' <w0t<a
120- +a<oor<180'++a 300' +a< mot < 360'

thyristors are switched at the triple of the line frequency. The corresponding thyristors gate drive signals are given in the thud diagram of Fig. 4. Since the thyristors conduct symmetrically with the on time varying between zero and the one sixth of the line period, the injected current i, is discontinuous, as depicted in the fourth diagram. Gaps in the input current that exist in the case the current injection is not applied, could be observed in the fifth diagram of Fig. 4. Patching these gaps by injecting the current i hack to , the supply lines, results in the rectifier input current with the minimum of the harmonic distortion, as depicted in the sixth diagram. Since one thud of the inductor current i, is injected back to each of the rectifier inputs, its steady-state time waveform has to be constructed in order to determine the input current THD. Due to the symmetry of the current injection network at the odd triples of the line frequency, spectral components of the i,A and i,, have the same amplitude and phase, resulting in
I I A =1,11

:os(wOt 60'), +

a < w0t c 60' +a 180- +a<mot < 2 4 0 O +a

60' +a <mot<120' +a
240' <wOt<300'+a

-cos(w,t),

(12)
Current i, is derived from

i,

dvc =2c-

dt

Applying boundary conditions

i,(O) = i Y ( f p )= O
v,

(14)

(0) = -vc

(Ip ) =

v,

(15)

=-Iy.

1.

(10)

(11) is solved, and vc and thus i, are expressed as functions of unknowns f,and V,. In (14) and (IS), f p is the time point when conducting thyristor switches off. Simple iteration method is applied to find approximate solutions for f,and V,. In that manner, the waveform of T i, is constructed for 0 < f < - . Determination of i, for
6

v1+yB

T . - < t < - is based upon relation

6 3

2
Fig. 5.Equivalent Circuit of current injection network for odd hiples of line kequency .

ir (f -) = -iy +6

(t)

O<I<-.

T
6

(16)

For odd triples components of output terminal voltages the voltage developed across the windings of current injection network transformer is zero. Hence, the equivalent circuit of current injection network presented in Fig. 3 could be simplified and reduced to a circuit of Fig. 5. A resistance of the equivalent circuit, denoted as R , is inherent to reactive elements of the current injection network and the current injection device, modelling their losses. To obtain i, , the second order differential equation for LCR resonant circuit

After i is calculated, the input rectifier current i, is , determined in accordance to (4). As already stated, to provide the current injection it is required to take some power from the thyristor bridge output terminals. The power taken by the current injection network, influenced by i, and the harmonic components of the output terminal voltages at the odd triples of the line frequency, is given by

This power is dissipated on the parasitic current injection network resistance R .

IV. SIMULATION RESULTS

Applying the analysis decsribed in the previous section, a numerical simulation is performed for a rectifier that operates with the phase voltage amplitude of V, = 140 V , at the line frequency of fa = 50 Hz , The current injection network parasitic resistance is R = 2.8 Q , and the resonant constraint of 2LC =1.12.10"s2 is satisfied. Dependence of the optimal filter firing angle Po, input current THD and rectifier efficiency q on I , , for two different values of the current injection network inductor L and a = 3V are presented in Fig. 6, from top to bottom. It can be concluded that improvements in the input current THD could be obtained by increasing the value of L . However, this results in significant increase of the current injection network capacitor voltages. Due to the imposed condition that rectifier operates in the continuous

conduction mode, for lower load currents and current injection network inductance of L = 5 . 1 2 mH the on time
of thyristor Q, and Q, are much shorter ulan in the case of L = 80 mH , resulting in highor value of optimal current

PO

injection filter iiring angle P o . 'that means lower rms value of the injected current, and thus lower power consumed by the current injection network, yielding higher rectifier efficiency, that could be observed in the third diagram of Fig. 6. A current injected waveforms with higher crossover are insufficient to fully patch the gaps in the rectifier input currents, causing higher THD. A.s load current increases, the current injection network with 1, = 5.12 mH becomes much effective in input current THD reduction, at the expense of reduction in rectifier efficiency. It can 1 concluded that x almost for all values of rectifiar load current the rectifier 01, efficiency is significantly higho: than 9 ' 0 due to the fact that the injected current is discontinuous. Dependence of the optimal filter firing angle Po and input current THD on a ,for two different values of the current injection network inductor L and I , = 5 A is presented in Fig. 7. In the case of L = 5.12 mH ,as thyristor bridge fKing angle increases, the magnitude of third harmonic driving function also increases, causing higher current injection filter tiring angle, and thus deteriorating input current THD.

L.'2

Po

L = 5.12 &

....., ....

11
5O

.~ ......... .i.. ..............

L = 80 mH ..............i ...............

... Lt.
7

10

20

30

40

50

60

4O

10

20

30

40

50

60

[.I

l o [AI
Fig. 6. Optimal current injection filter firing angle, input current THD and rectifier effificiencyas a function of rectifier load current and bridge firing angle as a parameter.

Fig. 7. optimal current injection filter Sing angle 2nd input current THD as a function of thyriaor bridge f ~ n g angle and rectifier load cu(Tent as parameter.

V.EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
To verify the analysis of the current injection network a rectifier presented in Fig. 3 is built and tested. 'lhe rectifier is designed to operate with the phase voltages whose rms values are equal to IOOV, at the line frequency of fo = 50 Hz.The constant current load is realized applying a series combination of a huge inductor and a resistor. The component values of the current injection network are C = l l O g , L=5.21mH and R=9.2C2. Thyistors TlC126M are applied for QI to QS. The phase control of the thyristors is realized applying TCA 785 circuits. For the thyristor bridge tiring angle of a = 12', output current of I , = 3 A and the set of specified current injection network parameters, according to simulation the optimum current injection filter f i n g angle is bo = 12', resulting in the input current THD of 9.42%. Waveforms of the input voltage and the input current at the output power of 670W are presented in Fig. 8, for the case before and after the current injection network is applied.
. . . . . . . .
. .

all three of the rectifier phases are presented in Table I. Distortions of the input voltages of about 2.5% negligibly affected the input current distortions that are ahout 9%.
TABLE I TOTAL HARMONIC D~STORTIONS

8.66% 2.67%

8.60%

2.29%

. , .
. .

. . .
. .

,.

. . .

. .,

. ..

. , .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .............................................................. . . . . . . . . . .. ..

;.., ..... i.......... :. .................... . .

,.

.. ..

,. .

..

.. .

....
. .

...

...

..

. .

..

.. .
.

.. .
.

~ . i

........ ~; . . . . . . . I :... . ................... .. ...... ~ . .....,... ...... . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . , . . . : . .

. ...,.... .. .. .

. ..:........
.. .. .

Fig. 9. Waveforms of

and ir . Voltage scale POVidiv , arrent

scale 2 Aldiv ,time scale 2 d d i v

Fig. 8. Waveforms of Vi and

i, without (upper diagram) and with (lower

.. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. .. .. . . . . . . . . .................................................................................. . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . ................................................................................ , . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... .............. <..................... ...... ..,........I ...........,. ...................
1..~

d i a p m ) anent injection network applied. Voltage scale SOV/div, arrent a l e 1 Aldiv ,time scale 2 d d i v .

Improvement in the input current shaping could be observed. Spikes in the input voltages are due to the switching of the thyristors in the rectifier bridge. From the input current waveform of the first diagram in Fig. 8 it can be concluded that sixth harmonic component dominates over output voltage ripple. This component is higher in magnitude than corresponding component of diode rectifier output voltage [3], that is in accordance with (5). Total harmonic distortions of the input currents and voltages for

-~ ., . .
.

, ,

...

..

. .

..

.,

..

.. .,
.

. ...
.

.. .

.. . .

.. . .

in injected current waveform can be observed. The waveform of rectifier current i, in Fig. 10 proves that rectifier operates in continuous conduction mode. Efficiency of 90.8%is measured at the specified load.

VI. CONCLUSIONS
A new three-phase thyristor bridge rectifier is proposed in this paper. The rectifier consists of a thyristor bridge and a resistance free current shaping network. The current shaping network consists of two capacitors, one inductor, a low volt-ampere rated transformer, and a pair of antiparallel connected thyristors, that enables controlled current injection. The influence of a bridge fuing angle on spectra of the output terminal voltages, used to drive current shaping network, is discussed. It is shown that the harmonic components at the triple of the line frequency change in magnitude and phase with the bridge firing angle variations. To include influence of these effects on the input current THD, the operation of the rectifier is analyzed in time domain. Application of this analysis makes it possible to obtain near optimal third harmonic current injection regardless variations of the thyristor bridge firing angle and the load current, preserving high efficiency. To verify the analytical results, the current injection method is tested on 670 W experimental rectifier. Experimental results are in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions. REFEENCES
[I]
S . Kim. P.Enjeti, P. Packebush, and I. Pitel, "A new approach to improve power factor and reduce harmonics in a three-phase diode rectifier type utility interface," IEEE Trans. Ind. Applicot.. vol. 30, pp. 15~7.1564, Novmec. 1994. [21 W. B. Lawrence and W. Mielczarski, "Harmonic current reduction in a three-phase diode bridge redtier,"IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 39, pp. 571-576. Dec. 1992.

131 P. Pejavif, 2. Jan& "An analysis of three-phase low-harmonic reaifiers applying the third harmordc arrent injection," IEEE Trans. Power Electron., vol. 14, pp. 397407, May 1999. 141 P. Pejorib, "Three-phase high power factor rectifier based on the ulird harmonic Current injection with passive resistance emulation," PESCZWO Conference Record, p 1342.1347. p [SI P. Boiovib and P. PejoriC, "Three-phase high power faetor rectifier based on the third harmonic airrent injection in discontinuous conduction mode," PCIMZOOZ Conference Record, pp. 501-506. 161 W. Mielczarski, W. B. Lawrence, R. Novacki, and D. G. Holmes, "Harmonic current reduction in ttuee-phase bridgwectifier circuits using conmlled current injection," IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol. 44, pp. 60441 1, Oct. 1997. [7l P. Pejovib, "An improved current injection network for three-phase high-power-factor rectifiers that ;apply the ttdrd harmonic current injection," IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron.. vol. 47, pp. 497-499. Apr. 2000.

Predrag BoZoviC was born in Rijeka, Yugoslavia, in 1970. He received the 8.6:. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1994 and 2000. respectively. He is currently working towards the Ph.D. degreeat the UniversityofBelgrade. Since 1994, he has been research and development engineer in Pupin Telecom DKTS, leading Serbian manufacturer of telephone switching publii: systems. His research intereSts include three-phase low harmonic rectifiers, and power semiconductor devices modelling.
Predrag PejoviC (S91-M96) was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1966. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering tom the University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1990 and 1992, respectively. and the Ph.D. degm: from the LMniversity of Colorado, Boulder, in 199% In 1995. he wjained the University of Belgrade, where he is preiently an Associate Rofessor. His research interests are in dynamics of nonlinear systems, analog circuit design, three-phase high power factor rectifiers, demonic measurements, and techniques for computer-aided analysis and design of power elecuonic systems.