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1. SCR is four layer PNPN device, whereas transistor is three layer (PNP or NPN) device.
2. SCR turns on by regeneration but there is no regeneration in BJT.
3. Gate has no control over the conductiononce SCR turns on. BJT can be turned off by base drive.
4. BJTs have higher switching frequencies than SCRs.
Answer
Q3. What are the advantages of MOSFETs over BJTs?
i) MOSFETs have simpler gate drive circuits.
ii) They have high switching frequencies.
iii) MOSFETs are majority carrier devices.
iv) MOSFETs have positive temperature coefficients.
Answer
Q4. Why pulsed gate drive is used for SCR?
Once SCR is turned on, gate drive is no more required. Hence if pulsed gate drive is used, SCR turns
on at particular pulse. The remaining pulses are not used. But pulsed drive reduces losses in gate
cathode of the SCR.
Answer
Q5. Define the delay angle of phase-controlled rectifier.
It is the angle at which thyristors are triggered after zero crossing. After zero crossing of supply
voltage, one pair of thyristor is forward biased. After delay angle (), the SCRs are triggered.
Answer
Q6. Why is power factor of semiconverter better than full converter?
Answer
Q7. What are the differences between freewheeling diode and feedback diode?
Freewheeling diode is used to circulate the load energy in the load itself. Feedback diode is used
totransfer the load energy to the source. Feedback diode is normally used in inverters. Freewheeling
diode is normally used in controlled rectifiers.
Answer
Q8. What is inverting operation of the converter?
Converters are basically AC to DC controlled rectifiers. The power flows from AC supply to DC load. In
inverting operation, the power flows from DC load to AC supply. Under such situation, the DC load is
normally a battery. Thus the power of DC battery load is given to AC supply through
controlled rectifier. For this operation, firing angle is greater than 90.
Answer
Q9. What are control strategies of chopper?
Choppers have following control strategies:
1. Fixed frequency operation: in this type of control, the frequency of chopper remains fixed , but on
and off periods of chopper change as per the duty cycle.
2. Variable frequency operation: in this type of control, the on or off period remains fixed. Hence
frequency of the chopper changes when duty cycle is changed.
3. Current limit control (CLC) : in this type of control, the output is sensed, when output current falls
below reference level, chopper is turned on. And when output current rises above reference level,
chopper is turned off.
Answer
Q10. Explain the use of step-up chopper.
Step-up chopper is normally used for energy transfer. The load energy is transferred to source by stepup operation.
Answer
Q11. What is four quadrant chopper?
Four quadrant chopper operates in all the four quadrants of Vo Io plane. It can perform forward and
reverse motoring as well as forward and reverse regeneration.
Answer
Q12. What is the main difference between voltage source inverter and current source inverter?
1. In the voltage source inverter, input voltage remains fixed and current varies according to load
variations. But in current source inverter, input current remains fixed and voltage varies according to
the load.
2. In voltage source inverters, short circuit of the devices can damage them. In current source
inverter short circuit cannot damage the circuit.
3. Voltage source inverters need freewheeling diodes. But current source inverters doesnt need
freewheeling diodes.
Answer
Q13. What are PWM inverters?
PWM inverters are basically pulse width modulated inverters. Voltage control in such inverters is
achieved by varying width of the pulse. In one half cycle there can be single or multiple pulses.
Number of pulses determine lowest order harmonic present in inverter output voltage. Thus PWM
inverters provide voltage control as well as harmonic reduction simultaneously.
Answer
Answer
Q15. What are the advantages and disadvantages of AC voltage controller?
Advantages:
1. They use line communication, hence no extra communication circuits are required.
2. They have high efficiencies since device losses are reduced.
Disadvantages:
1. Large ripple and harmonics are present in the output.
2. Output waveforms are not sinusoidal.
Answer
Q2. What are main applications of Power electronics?
Power supplies is Computers, medical equipments, Communication systems, telephone
exchange, Satellite systems etc.
Power control in resistance welding, induction heating, electrolysis process and etc,
Power conversion for HVDC and HVAC transmission systems.
Answer
Q3. What is SCR?
Silicon Control Rectifier (SCR) belongs to the thyristor family, it is three terminal four layer PNPN
diode.
Answer
Q4. What are merits and applications of SCR?
Merits:
i) Very small amount of gate drive is required.
ii) SCRs with high voltage and current ratings are available.
iii) On-state losses in SCRs are reduced.
Applications:
i) SCRs are best suitable for controlled rectifier.
ii) AC regulators, lighting and heating applications.
iii) DC motor drives, large power supplies and electronic circuit breaker.
Answer
Q5. What is TRIAC?
TRIAC can be considered as antiparallel SCR. TRIAC conducts in both the directions and it has single
gate.
Some Important Points:
i) All the power electronic devices are used as on/off switches.
ii) Power converter converts input power in the form suitable for load.
iii) All power devices are solid state. Hence they are called power electronic devices.
Answer
Q6. Differentiate between SCR and BJT.
SCR:
i) Four layer PNPN device.
ii) Turns on by regeneration.
iii) Gate has no control once SCR is turned on.
iv) External circuits are required to turn off the SCR.
v) Switching frequencies are low.
BJT:
Answer
Q7. What are the differences between BJT and MOSFET?
BJT:
i) This is bipolar device.
ii) Controlled by base.
iii) Current controlled device.
iv) Negative temp coefficients.
v) Losses are low.
MOSFET:
i) This is majority carrier device.
ii) Controlled by gate.
iii) Voltage controlled devices.
iv) Positive temp coefficients.
v) Losses are high than BJTs.
Answer
Q8. What are the different ways to Turn-on and Turn-off the Thyristor.
Turn-on:
i) Gate drive.
ii) High forward voltage.
iii) Dv/dt
iv) Light
v) High temperature.
Turn-off:
i) Natural commutation.
ii) Forced commutation.
Answer
Q9. What is turn0on and turn-off time of a thyristor?
Turn-on: it is defined as the time from initiation of gate drive to the time when anode current reaches
to its full value.
Turn-off time: it is the time required to achieve forward blocking capability after commutation is
initiated.
Answer
Q10. List the thyristor current and voltage ratings.
Current ratings:
i) Average current rating.
ii) RMS current rating.
iii) Surge current rating.
Answer
Q11. What is DIAC, and why it used?
The DIAC is the two terminal and four layer device. It is mainly used for triggering TRIACs. it
conducts in either direction. It is low power triggering device, and there are no control terminal on the
DIAC.
[Q]
What
is
AC
voltage
controller?
It is defined as the power electronics converter which converts the fixed AC voltage
into a variable AC voltage without change in the frequency.
[Q]
What
is
inverter?
What
are
the
types
of
Inverter?
A device which converts dc power into ac power at desired output voltage and
frequency
Inverters
Voltage
is
called
are
as
broadly
Source
classified
Inverter
Inverter.
into
(VSI)
What
is
chopper?
down
chopper:
In this circuit, the average output voltage [VO = D . VS] is less than the input supply
voltage. It is also known as Buck converter.
Step
up
chopper:
It is also known as Boost converter. Here the average output voltage [VO = VS / 1 D] is more than the input supply voltage.
[Q]
What
is
load
commutation?
In load commutation, the load current flowing through the thyristor either becomes
zero or is transferred to another device from the conducting SCR.
[Q] What is meant by pulse triggered devices?
As the name indicates, to trigger these devices just a pulse is sufficient. Continuous
gate voltage of entire on time is not required. The advantage of pulse triggering is,
it will avoid the hard triggering. Ex. Thyristor, GTO
[Q] What is level-sensitive devices? give some examples
Some of the level sensitive devices are
MOSFET
IGBT
MCT
IGCT
In order to keep these devices in the ON state condition, we have to apply gate
current/voltage continuously to these devices.
[Q] What is meant by GTO?
It is a three terminal, four layer PNPN Power Semiconductor device that can be
turned on by a positive gate current and can be turned off by a reverse gate current.
[Q] What are the types of GTO?
Asymmetrical GTO
Symmetrical GTO
[Q] What does 10V AC mean? Is it the RMS voltage or Peak voltage or Average
voltage?
In general, AC voltages and currents are mentioned in RMS values only. It is
Because MOSFETs are low voltage devices. ie, Their voltage rating is lesser
than IGBT.
General rule is MOSFETs are suitable for applications which has breakdown
voltage less than 250V.
The IGBTs are suitable for applications which has breakdown voltage upto
1000V.
[Q-15] For High frequency applications will you prefer MOSFET or IGBT? Why?
For High frequency applications, MOSFET is the right choice of the device.
For high frequency applications having frequency range of more than 200kHz,
we have to use MOSFET.
So you should be familiar with other basic topologies like Flyback, Boost , Buckboost....
[Q-2] Which is the good choice among the 2 options mentioned below to get the
12V as an output? why?
Option I: Input voltage = 48V,
Option II: Input voltage = 24V
Answer: We know that
Duty cycle D = Vout / VInput
For case I
D = 12/48 = 0.25
For case II
D = 12/24 = 0.5
So for case II, the duty cycle is more than case I.
It means device is turned ON more time in the second case. while designing SMPS
we have to consider the principle mentioned in Q-3.
[Q-3] What is effect of having more duty cycle and less duty cycle? ( continuation
of above question)
If the duty cycle D is greater than 0.5, the core would not be completely
demagnetized at the end of the off-period, and a DC magnetization of the core
By knowing all these values we can get the required inductor value for the buck
converter.
[Q-6] What are the various parameters we have to consider, while selecting
IGBT?
In IGBT datasheet, we have to focus on following parameters
Collector to emitter voltage VCES
Collector Current IC
Collector Dissipation PC
Junction Temperature Tj
[Q-6] For Selecting MOSFET, what are the major parameters we have to consider
in the datasheet?
In MOSFET datasheet, we have to focus on following parameters:
Drain to Source Voltage VDSS
On state Drain to Source Resistance RDS(ON)
Reverse Recovery Current IRR
Reverse Recovery Charge QRR
Gate Charge QG
Body Diode Characteristics
ID at ambient temperature
Channel power dissipation
Channel temperature
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[Q] What are the advantages of free wheeling diode in rectifier circuit?
The input power factor is improved. It prevents the output voltage from becoming
negative. Load current waveform is improved.
[Q]
What
is
meant
by
commutation?
The process of changing the direction of current flow in a particular path of the
circuit. It is used to turn off the SCR.
[Q]
What
are
the
types
of
commutation?
Natural
commutation
Forced commutation
[Q]
What
is
natural
commutation?
The process of the current flowing through the thyristor goes through a natural zero
and enable the thyristor to turn off is called as natural commutation.
[Q]
What
is
forced
commutation?
The process of the current flowing through the thyristor is forced to become zero by
external circuitry is called as forced commutation.
[Q] What are the types of commutation with respect to commutation process?
Voltage
commutated
chopper
Current
commutated
chopper
What
is
meant
by
cyclo-converter?
What
are
Step
Step down cyclo-converter.
the
up
types
of
cyclo-converters?
cyclo-converter
[Q]
What
is
step
down
cyclo-converter?
It is the converter whose output frequency is less than the input frequency.
[Q]
What
is
step
up
cyclo-converter
It is the converter whose output frequency is more than the input frequency.
[Q] What does the Voltmeter in AC mode show? Is it RMS value or peak value?
Multimeter in AC mode shows RMS value of the voltage or current. Also when it is
DC mode it will show the RMS value only.
[Q]
What
is
the
necessity
to
use
the
special
machines?
are neither
precision speed nor precision position motors. For many automated systems require
high precise speed and high precise positioning motors. In such cases special
purpose motors like stepper motors, PMDC motors etc. are used.
[Q] What are the control strategies of chopper?
The control strategies of chopper are
1. Pulse width modulation PWM (Variable TON, Constant frequency)
2. Frequency modulation (Constant TON or TOFF, Variable frequency)
3. Current Limit Control (CLC)
[Q] What is delay angle or what is firing angle of phase controlled rectifier?
The delay angle is the angle at which thyristors are triggered after zero crossing.
After zero crossing of supply voltage, one pair of thyristors is
forward biased. After delay angle() these SCRs are triggered.
[Q] What is Universal Motor?
It is defined as a motor which can be operated either on DC or single-phase AC
supply at approximately the same speed and output.
The universal motor is built exactly like a series DC motor. But a series DC motor
cannot be run as a universal motor, even though both motors look the same
internally and externally.
We cannot use these motors in the industrial applications due to the low efficiency
(25% -35%). It has high starting torque and a variable speed characteristic. It runs
at dangerously high-speed on no load.
[Q] Give some examples of power electronics applications in the day-to-day life?
We can list a huge number of power electronics applications. Few of the
applications which we can see in our daily life are
UPS - Uninterruptible Power Supply
SMPS - Switch Mode Power Supply
Speed Control of Motors
ICU
[Q] What is meant by PMDC?
PMDC stands for Permanent Magnet DC Motor
A Permanent Magnet DC Motor is similar to an ordinary dc shunt motor except
that its field is provided by permanent magnets instead of salient-pole wound field
structure.
There are three types of permanent magnets used for such motors namely;
(i) Alnico Magnets
(ii) Ceramic magnets
(iii) Rare-earth magnets
The major advantages are low noise, small size, high-efficiency, low
manufacturing cost.
Here, We had given only the definition of electrical drive. But if you face this
question in the face to face interview try to explain in detail. Draw the Block
diagram of the electrical drive first. During the time, you recall about the basics
and every part of the electrical drive system and explain as detail as possible. Click
here to know about Electrical Drives basics and types
[Q] What are the different factors for the selection of electrical drives?
Steady state operation requirements
Transient operation requirements
Requirements related to the source
Capital and running cost, maintenance needs, life
Space and weight restrictions
Environment and location
Reliability
[Q] What are the parts of electrical drives?
Electrical motors and load
Power Modulator
Sources
Control Unit
Sensing unit
[Q] What are modes of operation of electrical drives?
Steady state
Acceleration including starting
Deceleration including stopping
[Q] What is meant by four quadrant operation?
A motor operate in two modes-motoring and braking. In motoring, it converts
electrical energy into mechanical energy, which supports its motion. In braking, it
works as a generator converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, and thus,
opposes the motion. Motor can provide motoring and braking operations for both
forward and reverse directions.
[Q] What is meant by regenerative braking?
Regenerative braking occurs when the motor speed exceeds the synchronous
speed. In this case, the induction motor would run as the induction generator is
converting the mechanical power into electrical power, which is delivered back to
the electrical system. This method of braking is known as regenerative braking.
[Q] What is the function of the free wheeling diode in a phase controlled rectifier?
To improve input power factor
To make the load current continuous
[Q] What is meant by chopper?
Chopper converts fixed dc voltage into variable dc voltage
[Q] What is brushless DC motor?
An inverter fed trapezoidal permanent magnet AC motor drive operating in selfcontrolled mode is called brushless dc motor.
[Q] What is a PMSM?
PMSM = Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor. In medium and small size
synchronous motors dc field can be produced by permanent magnets.
[Q]Classification of PMSM?
According to construction
1. Surface mounted PMSM
2. Interior mounted PMSM
According to the nature of voltage induced
1. Sinusoidally excited
2. Trapezoidally excited
(1) The main field flux gets weakened or gets demagnetized. This effect is called
Demagnetization effect.
(2) The main field flux gets distorted. This effect is called Cross-magnetization
effect.
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