Experiment 9

Single Phase Inverters

Objectives
Understanding the operation and function of a single phase inverter in different configurations.
Pre-Lab Reading
Chapter 6, Power Electronics Circuits, Devices and Applications by M.H Rashid, 3rd
Edition
Lecture Notes for inverter circuits
Equipment
DC supply, oscilloscope, MOSFETs, TLP494, Multi-turn variable resistances, STM board, connecting wires and breadboard. DC supply and oscilloscope will be available in the lab remaining
components should be brought by the students as the part of component box. Please bring required resistances and capacitor as well.

9.1

Half Bridge Inverter

Figure 9.1(a) shows the circuit diagram for a half bridge inverter. A DC supply can be divided
into two equal voltage levels using the capacitors. Use high values of capacitor (100s of F) to
ensure the constant voltage division. Alternatively two separate supplies can be used as shown
in Figure 9.1. Switches S1 and S2 are switched in complimentary form such that S1 + S2 = 1.
The four switching states of the inverter operation are shown in Figure 9.2. Switches S1 and S2
must not be turned on at the same time. If S1 and S2 are switched on at the same time, there
will be a dead short, and destroys IGBTs/MOSFETs. If, on the other hand, both of them are
turned off, the inverter enters a stage called the dead-time.
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(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 9.1: Half Bridge circuit for DC to AC inversion

During state A), S1 is conducting therefore we have a positive voltage across our load and there
is a current through the load. This current is slowly getting larger, since our load is inertial
(inductive).
During state B), the polarity of the load voltage is flipped (inverted). Therefore, the current
through inductor decreases. Notice that during this state, the current of the load is opposing
the voltage as if it was a current source. Note what happens with the load current: it flows
through S2 s diode, flowing against the barrier of potential created by the bottom voltage source.
During state C), the load current has already changed its polarity, so it can safely flow
through S2 . This phase is symmetrical to phase A). State D) is analogous to phase B) the
current cannot find any escape path other than S1 s diode.
This should suffice to explain why are flyback diodes used with inductive loads. Since an
IGBT can conduct current in one direction only, and does not have an intrinsic body diode of
a MOSFET, this is why IGBTs need to have protective freewheeling diodes in parallel.
Using a diode in parallel with a unidirectional device is common practice. Should the device
be subjected to a reverse-polarity voltage, a dangerous situation might occur. If the voltage
is high enough, an electric arc might destroy the device. With a diode, however, applying a
reverse voltage will result in current flowing through the diode. This may only destroy the
diode, which can be easily and inexpensively replaced.
Task
Setup the half bridge circuit circuit as shown in Figure 9.1. Use IR2104/IR2103 Gate
Driver IC for complimentary switching of S1 and S2 . Use RL = 5 10 and an appropriate value of Inductance (in the range 300 H) with a switching frequency of 50 Hz. C1
and C2 should be large value capacitors (100s of uF). Insert a small resistance in range of

9.1. HALF BRIDGE INVERTER

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Figure 9.2: Four switching states of half bridge inverter.

0.1 in series with load to observe the current waveform in terms of voltage. Set input
voltage equal to 30V and supply current limit to 2 A.
Set a duty cycle of 50%. Observe the load voltage and current waveform ans save for your
report. Also record the RMS voltage VLrms and ILrms. Measure the input current from
the power supplies. Calculate the efficiency of the inverter.
Generate a switching waveform of frequency 10 kHz with variable duty cycle and perform
AND operation with previously generated 50 Hz 50 @ 50% duty cycle. Observe the load
voltage and current waveform ans save for your report. Also record the RMS voltage
VLrms and ILrms. Measure the input current from the power supplies. Calculate the
efficiency of the inverter.
Design the value of series resonance filter capacitor Cf to obtain a resonance frequency
equal to the switching frequency of 10 kHz. This capacitor is to be connected in series
with the inductor L.
Obtain the waveform across the load resistor RL with capacitor Cf connected. Observe
the load voltage and current waveform ans save for your report. Also record the RMS
voltage VLrms and ILrms. Measure the input current from the power supplies. Calculate
the efficiency of the inverter.

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EXPERIMENT 9. SINGLE PHASE INVERTERS

Vary the duty cycle of PWM waveform (the duty cycle of 50 Hz gate signal is 50 %, do not
change) and measure the RMS load voltage at different duty cycle and sketch the trend.
Vary the switching frequency and observe the effect over spectrum of load current and
voltage waveform.

9.2

Full Bridge Inverter

Circuit diagram of the full bridge inverter circuit is shown in the Figure 9.3. When T1 and T2
are turned ON, the input voltage Vd appears across the load. If T3 and T4 are turned ON, the
voltage across the load is Vd . Table 9.1 shows the main principle of a single phase full bridge
inverter.

Figure 9.3: Single phase full bridge inverter

Figure 9.4: Single phase switching sequences

Tasks
Setup the full bridge circuit circuit as shown in Figure 9.3. Use Two IR2104/IR2103 Gate
Driver IC for complimentary switching of T1 ,T4 and T3 ,T2 . Use RL = 5 10 and an

9.3. SINOSOIDAL PWM FOR SINGLE PHASE INVERTER

91

appropriate value of Inductance (in the range 300 H). Generate gate pulses for square
wave 50 Hz operation. Insert a small resistance in range of 0.1 in series with load to
observe the current waveform in terms of voltage. Set input voltage equal to 30V and
supply current limit to 2 A.
Set a duty cycle of 50%. Observe the load voltage and current waveform ans save for your
report. Also record the RMS voltage VLrms and ILrms. Measure the input current from
the power supplies. Calculate the efficiency of the inverter.
Generate a switching waveform of frequency 10 kHz with variable duty cycle and perform
AND operation with previously generated 50 Hz 50 @ 50% duty cycle waveform. Observe
the load voltage and current waveform ans save for your report. Also record the RMS
voltage VLrms and ILrms. Measure the input current from the power supplies. Calculate
the efficiency of the inverter.
Design the value of series resonance filter capacitor Cf to obtain a resonance frequency
equal to the switching frequency of 10 kHz. This capacitor is to be connected in series
with the inductor L.
Obtain the waveform across the load resistor RL with capacitor Cf connected. Observe
the load voltage and current waveform ans save for your report. Also record the RMS
voltage VLrms and ILrms. Measure the input current from the power supplies. Calculate
the efficiency of the inverter.
Vary the duty cycle of PWM waveform (the duty cycle of 50 Hz gate signal is 50 %, do not
change) and measure the RMS load voltage at different duty cycle and sketch the trend.
Vary the switching frequency and observe the effect over spectrum of load current and
voltage waveform.

9.3

Sinosoidal PWM for single phase inverter

You can get extra/bonus credit if you implement sinusoidal PWM for single phase inverter.
Check the end notes.
Two bonus marks for running all the inverter circuits such that you have 220 Vrms output.
Use a 100 Watt bulb as a load.
This manual is to be completed in two lab sessions before 2nd December 2016

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9.3. SINOSOIDAL PWM FOR SINGLE PHASE INVERTER

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