1

Ch6: Phase-Controlled Rectifiers

66- -1 Introduction 1 Introduction
66- -2 Thyristor Circuits and Their Control 2 Thyristor Circuits and Their Control
66- -3 Single 3 Single- -Phase Converters Phase Converters
66- -4 Three 4 Three- -Phase Converters Phase Converters
66- -5 Effect of transformer leakage inductance on 5 Effect of transformer leakage inductance on
rectifier circuit rectifier circuit
66- -6 Harmonics and power factor of rectifiers 6 Harmonics and power factor of rectifiers
66- -7 Inverter mode of operation 7 Inverter mode of operation
66- -8 other converters 8 other converters
2
66- -1 Introduction 1 Introduction
Controlled conversion of ac into dc
block diagram
Two-quadrant conversion
3
6 6- -2 Thyristor Circuits and Their Control 2 Thyristor Circuits and Their Control
6-2-1 Basic Thyristor Circuits
single-phase half-wave controlled rectifier
1) Resistive load (R)
4
Definition:
: triggering delay angle, delay angle or firing angle ;

Circuit analysis:
Quantitative Relation
d
d
U
I
R
=
2 2 2
2
2 sin 1 1
( ) ( ) sin 2
2 4 2
VT
U t U
I I d t
R R
x

x

x x x

= = = +

a) u2>0, 0< t< , t=

b) < t< x; t= x
c) x < t<2x
2
2
DM RM
U U U = = x =
: 180r
5
2) Inductive Load (RL)
Circuit analysis
6
Quantitative Relation
2 2
2
2
0 2
d
u t
u T
t


x
x
+
|
= =
,
+ +
|
2
2 2
0
2
2
VT
t
u T
u t


x
x
+ |
= =
,
+ +
|
2
2
2 2
cos cos( ) 1
2 sin ( ) 0.45
2 2
d
u U t d t U

x
+
+
= =

2 2
0
0
1 1
( ) ( ) 0
2 2 2
d
L L
di L
U u d t L d t di
dt

x x x
+ +
= = = =

d L d R
d
U U U U
I
R R R

= = =
7
3) Load with an Internal dc Voltage (LE)
Circuit analysis
8
Basic thought process of time-domain analysis for
power electronic circuits
The time-domain behavior of a power electronic
circuit is actually the combination of consecutive transients
of the different linear circuits when the power
semiconductor devices are in different states.
a) b)
VT
R
L
VT
R
L
u
2
u
2
9
6-2-2 Thyristor Gate Triggering
10
ICs available
Requirements
a. Pulse width;
b. Pulse magnitude;
c. The power of control circuit;
d. Better temperature coefficient and electrical isolation ;
e. Synchronization with power supply voltage.
11
66- -3 Single 3 Single- -Phase bridge fully Phase bridge fully- -controlled rectifier controlled rectifier
Assumption: Ls=0
1) Resistive load (R)
For thyristor: maximum forward voltage, maximum reverse voltage
Advantages: 2pulses in one line cycle
No DC component in the transformer current
12
Average output (rectified) voltage
Average output current
For thyristor
For transformer
0 x
13
2) Inductive load (RL)
Assumption: L is large enough
Similar to Fig 6-5 and Fig6-6
circuit analysis
14
Commutation
Thyristor voltages and currents
Transformer current

+
= = =
x

x

x
cos 9 . 0 cos
2 2
) ( d sin 2
1
2 2 2 d
U U t t U U
=180r
DM RM 2
U =U = 2U
1
2
dVT d
I I =
1
2
VT d
I I =
2 d
I I =
0
2
x

15
Assumption:
=0r and Ls=0 , so
2 2 2
0
1 2 2
2 sin ( ) 0.9
do
U U t d t U U
x

x x
= = =

0
cos
d
d
U
U
=
See fig. 6-7
Rectifier mode
Inverter mode
Average Power:
2
0 0 0
1 1 1
( ) ( ) 0.9 cos
T T T
d d d d d d d
P p t dt u i dt I u dt I U U I
T T T
= = = = =

16
3) Load with an Internal dc Voltage (RE)
Condition:|u
2
|>E
Circuit analysis
Discontinuous
current i
d

1
2
sin
2
E
U
H

=

H x H
17
Single Single- -Phase bridge half Phase bridge half- -controlled rectifier controlled rectifier
half-control
comparison with fully-
controlled rectifier
additional freewheeling diode
circuit analysis
18
Summary of some important points in analysis
When analyzing a thyristor circuit,start from a diode circuit with
the same topology. The behavior of the diode circuit is exactly
the same as the thyristor circuit when firing angle is 0.
A power electronic circuit can be considered as different linear
circuits when the power semiconductor devices are in different
states. The time-domain behavior of the power electronic circuit
is actually the combination of consecutive transients of the
different linear circuits.
Take different principle when dealing with defferent load
For resistive load: current waveform of a resistor is the
same as the voltage waveform.
For inductive load with a large inductor: the inductor
current can be considered constant.
19
6-4-1 Three-phase half-wave controlled rectifier
(the basic circuit among three-phase rectifiers)
6-4-2 Three-phase bridge fully-controlled rectifier
(the most widely used circuit among three-phase
rectifiers)
6 6- -4 Three 4 Three- -Phase Converters Phase Converters
20
1) Resistive load
6-4-1 Three-phase half-wave controlled rectifier
0 = r
Common-cathode connection
Natural commutation point
Circuit analysis
21
30 = r
22
60 = r
23
Quantitative analysis Quantitative analysis
When , load current i
d
is continuous.
When , load current i
d
is discontinuous.
30 r
5
6
2 2 2
6
1 3 6
2 sin ( ) cos 1.17 cos
2
2
3
d
U U td t U U
x

x
x
+
+
= = =

30 > r
2 2 2
6
1 3 2
2 sin ( ) 1 cos( ) 0.675 1 cos( )
2
2 6 6
3
d
U U td t U U
x
x

x x

x
x
+

= = + + = + +

| |

24
Average load current
Average thyristor current
Thyristor voltage
d
d
U
I
R
=
1
1
3
dVT d
I I =
2 2 2 RM
45 . 2 6 3 2 U U U U = = - =
2
2
DM
U U =
5
0
6
x
25
2) Inductive load
L is large enough
Load current i
d
is always continuous.
5
6
2
6
1
2 sin ( )
2
3
d
U U td t
x

x
+
+
=

2 2
3 6
cos 1.17 cos
2
U U
x
= =
Thyristor voltage and currents
2
1
0.577
3
VT d d
I I I I = = =
( )
0.368
1.57
VT
VT av d
I
I I = =
2 2
2 6 2.45
DM RM l
U U U U U = = = =
0
2
x

26
6-4-2 Three-phase bridge fully-controlled rectifier
Circuit diagram:
Common-cathode group and common-anode group of thyristor.
Numbering of the 6 thyristors indicates the trigger sequence.
1) Resistive load
27
0 = r
28
30 = r
29
60 = r
30
90 = r
31
2) Inductive load (RL)
0 = r
32
30 = r
33
90 = r
34
Average output voltage
3) Quantitative analysis 3) Quantitative analysis

x

x
cos 34 . 2 ) ( sin 6
3
1
2
3
2
3
2 d
U t td U U = =

+
+
For resistive load, when ,load current i
d
is discontinuous.
60 > r

+ + = =

+
)
3
cos( 1 34 . 2 ) ( sin 6
3
2
3
2 d

x

x
x

x
U t td U U
Average output current (load current)
I
d
=U
d
/R
35
Transformer current
d d d d
I I I I I 816 . 0
3
2
3
2
) (
3
2
2
1
2 2
2
= =

'
+

'

- + - = x x
x
Thyristor voltage and current
Same as three-phase half-wave rectifier
EMF load, L is large enough
All the same as inductive load except the calculation of
average output current .
R
E U
I

=
d
d
The average power:
d d
P U I =
36
6 6- -5 Effect of transformer leakage inductance on 5 Effect of transformer leakage inductance on
rectifier circuit rectifier circuit
in practical, the transformer
leakage inductance has to be
taken into account.
commutation between
thyristors thus can not happen
instantly, but with a
commutation process.
1) Three 1) Three- -phase half phase half- -wave rectifier wave rectifier
37
Commutation Commutation process analysis process analysis
Circulating current i
k
during commutation
Commutation angle
Output voltage during commutation
) / ( 2 dt di L u u
k B a b
=
2 d
d
d
d
b a k
B b
k
B a d
u u
t
i
L u
t
i
L u u
+
= = + =
38
Reduction of average output voltage due to the
commutation process
Calculation of commutation angle
Quantitative analysis Quantitative analysis
d B
0
B
6
5
6
5 B
6
5
6
5 B b b
6
5
6
5 d b d
2
3
d
2
3
) ( d
d
d
2
3
) ( d )]
d
d
( [
2
3
) ( d ) (
3 / 2
1
I X i L t
t
i
L
t
t
i
L u u t u u U
I
x

x
x

x

x

x

x

x

= = =
= = A


+ +
+
+ +
+
+ +
+
d
k
k
k
2
d B
6
2
) cos( cos
U
I X
= +
-- I
d ,

-- X
B ,

-- for , ,
Z Z
Z Z
90 r
]

Z
39
2) Three 2) Three- -phase bridge rectifier phase bridge rectifier
1) AC-side inductance Ls is included
2) Load inductance L is large enough
Assume:
40
Current Commutation Waveforms
41
During the current commutation interval (u) ,T1 and T5
conduct simultaneously and ua and uc are shorted together
through Ls in each phase.
ia: 0Id ic: Id 0 fig 6-25c
Output voltage during commutation

Commutation process analysis Commutation process analysis

) ( u t +
( )
2 2 2
,
2 2 2
d p b
a c
p a S c S
a c d
a c
a c a c a c
p
a c ab cb
d b
u u u
di di
u u L u L
dt dt
i i I
di di
dt dt
u u di di u u Ls
u
dt dt
u u u u
so u u
=
= =
+ =
=
+ +
= + =
+
= = +
Q
42
Quantitative analysis Quantitative analysis
Reduction of average output voltage due to the commutation
process:
1 1 3
( ) ( )
3 3
u u
a
d Ls B d
di
U u d t Ls d t X I
dt



x x
x
+ +
A = = =

Calculation of commutation angle:
0
2
2
2 2
2
2
2
( )
2
2 2
, cos cos( )
2 6
d
a ac LL
s
a LL
s
I u
LL
a
s
B B
d d
LL
di u U sin t
L
dt
di U sin t
d t L
U
di sin td t
L
X X
so u I I
U U

= =

=
=
+ = =

Q
43
input line input line- -current waveform current waveform
44
Summary of the effect on rectifier circuits Summary of the effect on rectifier circuits
Conclusions:
commutation process actually provides additional working
states of the circuit.
di/dt of the thyristor current is reduced.
The average output voltage is reduced.
Positive du/dt.
Notching in the AC side voltage.
45
Originating of harmonics and power factor issues
in rectifier circuits
Harmonics: working in switching states-nonlinear
Power factor: firing delay angle causes phase delay
66- -6 Harmonics and power factor of rectifiers 6 Harmonics and power factor of rectifiers
Harmful effects of harmonics and low power factor
Standards to limit harmonics and power factor
46
Basic concepts of harmonics and power factor
For periodic non-sinusoidal waveform
0
1
0
1
( ) ( cos sin )
: ( ) sin( )
n n
n
n n
n
u t a a n t b n t
or u t a c n t

=
= + +
= + +

1) Fundamental component
2) Harmonic component (harmonics)
47
Content of nth harmonics:
1
100%
n
n
I
HRI
I
= -
Total harmonic distortion:
1
100%
h
i
I
THD
I
= -
Power factor:
1 1 1
1 1
cos
cos cos
UI I P
S UI I

v = = = =
48
66- -7 Inverter mode of operation 7 Inverter mode of operation
Assume : Ls = 0 and i
d
(t) = I
d
1) Review of DC generator- motor system:
Fig. a) E
G
>E
M
b) E
M
>E
G
c) should be avoided
49
2) Rectifier and inverter mode operation of converter:
u
d
> E
M
Rectifier mode
u
d
< E
M
Inverter mode
50
for single-phase bridge rectifier:
2
0.9 cos
d
U U =
for three-phase bridge rectifier:
2
2.34 cos
d
U U =
When U
d
< 0
2
x
>
51
3) Necessary conditions for the inverter mode 3) Necessary conditions for the inverter mode
operation of controlled rectifiers operation of controlled rectifiers
There must be DC EMF in the load and the
direction of the DC EMF must be enabling current
flow in thyristors. (in other word, EM must be
negative if taking the ordinary output voltage
direction as positive. )
2
x
>
so that the output voltage U
d
is also negative.

M d
E U >
52
4) Inverter mode operation of 3 4) Inverter mode operation of 3- -phase bridge rectifier phase bridge rectifier
F
inversion angle (extinction angle)
F x + =
53
With finite ac-side inductance Ls
54
5) Quantitative analysis 5) Quantitative analysis
2 2
2.34 cos 1.35 cos
d l
U U U F F = =
d M
d
U E
I
R
L

=
3
d
dVT
I
I =
3
d
VT
I
I =
2
d d M d
P R I E I

= +
55
6) Inversion failure and minimum inversion angle 6) Inversion failure and minimum inversion angle
Possible reasons of inversion failures:
malfunction of triggering circuit
Failure in thyristors
Sudden dropout of AC source voltage
Insufficient margin for commutation of thyristors
Minimum inversion angle (extinction angle)
F
min
=H ++
56
66- -8 other converters 8 other converters
There are several other types of converters:
1) 12-pulse bridge converters
2) Higher pulse number bridge converters
The choice of converter topology depends on the application.
57
summary summary
1) Line-frequency controlled rectifiers and inverters are used
for controlled transfer of power between the line-frequency
and the adjustable magnitude dc. By controlling the delay
angle of thyristors in these converters, a smooth transition
can be made from the rectification mode to the inversion
mode or vice verse. The dc-side voltage can reverse polarity
but the dc-side current remains unidirectional.
2) The phase-controlled converters are mostly used at high
power levels.
3) Phase-controlled converters inject large harmonics into the
utility system. Additionally, these converters produce
notches in the line-voltage waveform (with Ls).
4) The relationship between the control input and the average
converter output in the steady state can be summarized as
shown in fig.6-36.
58
Exercise Exercise
1. In the circuit, assume that L is large enough. Analyze the
working process , calculate the average Ud and plot all the
corresponding curves.
59
2. P155 6-3, 6-5, 6-6, 6-13
3. P156 6-12,
4. P157 6-18