CHOPPER

By

Dr. Ananyo Bhattacharya

Assistant Professor
EE Department
NIT Jamshedpur
 INTRODUCTION
Chopper is a static device.
A variable dc voltage is obtained from a constant dc
voltage source.
Also known as dc-to-dc converter.
Widely used for motor control.
Also used in regenerative braking.
Thyristor converter offers greater efficiency, faster
response, lower maintenance, smaller size and smooth
control
 Definition of Chopper
A chopper is an electronic switch that is used to
interrupt one signal under the control of another.

In other words we can say that, a chopper is a kind

of switch which allows the power flow in the circuit
for a required duration.

Thus, the chopper is also known as a d.c. to d.c

converter.
 Types of Choppers

Step-down choppers:
In step down chopper output voltage is
less than input voltage.

Step-up choppers:
In step up chopper output voltage is more
than input voltage.
 Step-up chopper

Definition :

The chopper can be use to produced higher voltages

at the load than the input voltage (i.e., E0 ≥ Edc ). This is
called as Step-up chopper
 Working
Case 1 : When the chopper is on the current IL flows
through inductor and it stores the energy during on period.

Case 2 : When the chopper is on the inductor force to

permit the flow of current through the diode and the load.
Therefore the load voltage becomes E0 = Edc + EL .
E0 = Edc + L. d/dt .(IL)
When the inductor current decreases to zero, the polarity
across inductor gets reversed and the process is repeated.
 Step-Down chopper

Definition :

When the output voltage is less than the input dc voltage (E0 < Edc )
then it is called as Step-down copper.
i.e., E0 < Edc
 Working :

Case 1 : During the ON period of chopper the input

voltage Edc connected to the load and the inductor
stores the energy across it.

Case2 : During the OFF period of chopper the

inductor current and load current because of
freewheeling diode get short circuited through the
load and inductor. Therefore the load voltage is zero
during the off period.
The output voltage E0 is expressed as,
E0 = Edc × (TON )/ (TON +TOFF ) ...(1)
Hence,
E0 = Edc (TON / T ) ...(2)
Here,
TON +TOFF = T = Chopping Period
TON = ON period of chopper
TOFF = OFF period of chopper
α = TON / T
The ratio of TON / T is called as duty cycle and represented as ‘α’.
E0 = Edc . α
Where,
the chopping frequency control the output voltage.
E0 = Edc . TON .F
Where, F = 1/T = Chopping frequency
Chopper Configuration
 Chopper Configuration

•Figure shows the quadrant based chopper

classification according to the nature of voltage and
current .

•The dc chopper circuit is the combination of all these

quadrants , in which the dc motor has to be operated
as a load.
In quadrant second and fourth, the direction of energy
flow is reversed and the motor is used as a generator
rather than drive (motor).

In quadrant first and third , the motor is used as a drive

in clockwise and anticlockwise direction respectively.
 Classification Of Choppers
Choppers are classified as:
– Class A Chopper

– Class B Chopper

– Class C Chopper

– Class D Chopper

– Class E Chopper

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

 Class A Chopper

i0 v0
+

Chopper
L
O v
V A 0 V
FWD D

 i0

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

 Working
When chopper is ON, supply voltage V is connected
across the load.

When chopper is OFF, vO = 0 and the load current

continues to flow in the same direction through the
FWD.

The average values of output voltage and current are

always positive.

Class A Chopper is a first quadrant chopper

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Class A Chopper is a step-down chopper in which power
always flows form source to load.

It is used to control the speed of dc motor.

The output current equations obtained in step down

chopper with R-L load can be used to study the
performance of Class A Chopper.

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

 Waveforms
ig Thyristor
gate pulse

t
i0
Output current

CH ON
t
v0 FWD Conducts
Output voltage

t
tON
T
 Class B Chopper

D
i0 v0
+
R

V L v0

Chopper
E i0

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
When chopper is ON, E drives a current through L and
R in a direction opposite to that shown in figure.

During the ON period of the chopper, the inductance L

stores energy.

When Chopper is OFF, diode D conducts, and part of

the energy stored in inductor L is returned to the supply.

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Average output voltage is positive.

Average output current is negative.

Therefore Class B Chopper operates in second quadrant.

In this chopper, power flows from load to source.

Class B Chopper is used for regenerative braking of dc

motor.

Class B Chopper is a step-up chopper.

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Waveforms
ig
Thyristor
gate pulse

t
i0 tOFF tON

T
t
Output current
Imax
Imin
D
conducts Chopper
conducts
v0 Output voltage

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

 Class C Chopper

CH1 D1
i0 v0
+

V R

CH2 D2 L v0

Chopper
i0
E


Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Class C Chopper is a combination of Class A and Class
B Choppers.

For first quadrant operation, CH1 is ON or D2 conducts.

For second quadrant operation, CH2 is ON or D1

conducts.

When CH1 is ON, the load current is positive.

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

The output voltage is equal to ‘V’ & the load receives
power from the source.

When CH1 is turned OFF, energy stored in inductance

L forces current to flow through the diode D2 and the
output voltage is zero.
Current continues to flow in positive direction.

When CH2 is triggered, the voltage E forces current to

flow in opposite direction through L and CH2 .

The output voltage is zero.

On turning OFF CH2 , the energy stored in the

inductance drives current through diode D1 and the
supply.

Output voltage is V, the input current becomes negative

and power flows from load to source.
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Average output voltage is positive

Average output current can take both positive and

negative values.

Choppers CH1 & CH2 should not be turned ON

simultaneously as it would result in short circuiting the
supply.

Class C Chopper can be used both for dc motor control

and regenerative braking of dc motor.

Class C Chopper can be used as a step-up or step-down

chopper.
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Waveforms
ig1
Gate pulse
of CH1

t
ig2 Gate pulse
of CH2
t
i0
Output current

D1 CH1 D2 CH2 D1 CH1 D2 CH2

ON ON ON ON
V0
Output voltage

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

 Class D Chopper

v0
CH1 D2

R i0 L E
V
+ v0  i0

D1 CH2

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Class D is a two quadrant chopper.

When both CH1 and CH2 are triggered simultaneously,

the output voltage vO = V and output current flows
through the load.

When CH1 and CH2 are turned OFF, the load current
continues to flow in the same direction through load, D1
and D2 , due to the energy stored in the inductor L.

Output voltage vO = - V .

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Average load voltage is positive if chopper ON time is
more than the OFF time

Average output voltage becomes negative if tON < tOFF

Hence the direction of load current is always positive

but load voltage can be positive or negative.

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

 WAVEFORMS
ig1
Gate pulse
of CH1

t
ig2 Gate pulse
of CH2
t
i0
Output current

t
CH1,CH2 D1,D2 Conducting
ON
v0
Output voltage
V
Average v0
t

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

 Class E Chopper

CH1 D1 CH3 D3

i0 R L E
V
+ 
v0
CH2 D2 CH4 D4

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

 Four Quadrant Operation
v0
CH2 - D4 Conducts CH1 - CH4 ON
D1 - D4 Conducts CH4 - D2 Conducts

i0

CH3 - CH2 ON D2 - D3 Conducts

CH2 - D4 Conducts CH4 - D2 Conducts

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Class E is a four quadrant chopper

When CH1 and CH4 are triggered, output current iO

flows in positive direction through CH1 and CH4, and
with output voltage vO = V.

This gives the first quadrant operation.

When both CH1 and CH4 are OFF, the energy stored in
the inductor L drives iO through D2 and D3 in the same
direction, but output voltage vO = -V.

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Therefore the chopper operates in the fourth quadrant.

When CH2 and CH3 are triggered, the load current iO

flows in opposite direction & output voltage vO = -V.

Since both iO and vO are negative, the chopper operates

in third quadrant.

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

• When both CH2 and CH3 are OFF, the load
current iO continues to flow in the same direction
D1 and D4 and the output voltage vO = V.

• Therefore the chopper operates in second

quadrant as vO is positive but iO is negative.

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Jones Chopper
 Working :
o Figure shows the basic power circuit of Jones chopper.
This chopper circuit is an example of Class D
commutation. In this circuit, SCR T1 is the main thyristor
, whereas SCR T2 , capacitor C , D2 , and
autotransformer (T) forms the commutating circuit for the
main thyristor T1 .

o Therefore , the special features of this circuit is the

tapped autotransformer T through a portion of which the
load current flows. Here , L1 and L2 are closely coupled
so that the capacitor always gets sufficient to turn off the
main SCR T1.
• If the main thyristor T1 is on for a long period , then
the motor will reach the maximum steady-state speed
determined by the battery voltage , the motor and the
mechanical load characteristics. If thyristor T1 is off ,
the motor will not rotate. Now , if thyristor T1 is
alternatively on and off in a cyclic manner , the motor
will rotate at some speed between maximum and zero.

• Let us assume that initially capacitor C is charged to a

voltage Edc with the polarity shown in figure . As
shown in fig. , SCR T1 is triggered at time t = t1 ,
current flows through the path CA – T1 – L2 – CB and
capacitor C charges to opposite polarity , i.e. Plate B
positive and plate A negative.
• However , diode D1 represents further oscillation of the
resonating L2 C circuit. Hence capacitor C retains its charge
until SCR T2 is triggered. The capacitor voltage waveform
are drawn at bottom plate B of capacitor.

• Now , at time t = t3 , SCR T2 is triggered. Current flow

through the path CB – T2 – T1 – CA . Therefore, discharge of
capacitor C reverse biases SCR T1 and turns it off. The
capacitor again charges up with plate A positive and SCR T2
turns off because the current through it falls below the
holding current value when capacitor C is recharged.
The cycle repeats when SCR T1 is again triggered. The use of
autotransformer insures that whenever current is delivered from
dc source to the load , a voltage is included in L2 in the correct
polarity for changing the commutating capacitor to a voltage
higher than Edc . Thus , the autotransformer measurably enhances
the reliability of the circuit.

At t5 , the bottom plate (B) of capacitor C reaches a peak value.

Since at t5 , the capacitor is charged to a voltage greater than Edc ,
diode D1 is again forward biased . Capacitor C now discharges to
a value lower than Edc . The time duration t3 to t4 is the circuit
turn off time presented to SCR T1.