Power Electronics and Drives
EE042-4-3-PED / VE1
Controlled Rectifiers
Topic & Structure of the Lesson
• Single-phase half-wave fully-controlled rectifier
• Single-phase full-wave fully-controlled rectifier
• Three-phase half-wave fully-controlled rectifier
• Three-phase full-wave fully-controlled rectifier
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 2
Learning Outcome
At the end of this topic,YOU should be able to:
• Investigate power electronic converters for industrial
applications towards sustainability. (C4, PLO4)
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 3
Key Terms You Must be Able to Use
• If you have mastered this topic, you should be able
to use the following terms correctly in your
assessments: -
– Average Voltage and Current
– RMS Voltage and Current
– Power Absorbed by Load
– Half-Wave
– Full-Wave
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 4
Introduction
• Diode rectifiers provide a fixed output voltage only. To obtain
controlled output voltage, phase-control thyristors are used
instead of diodes.
• The output voltage of thyristor rectifiers is varied by
controlling the delay or firing angle of thyristors.
• A phase-control thyristor is turned on by applying a short
pulse to its gate and turned off due to natural or line
commutation.
• For highly inductive load, it is turned off by firing another
thyristor of the rectifier during the negative half-cycle of input
voltage.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 5
Single-Phase Half-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Resistive Load
A gate signal is applied to the thyristor at
𝜔t=𝛼, where 𝛼 is the delay angle.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 6
Single-Phase Half-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Resistive Load
• When the thyristor is triggered at 𝛼 during positive half cycle,
the thyristor is forward biased and the load current will
increase in a finite-time through the resistive load.
• Due to resistive load, the current waveform will be identical
to the applied voltage.
• At 𝜋, the supply voltage reverses, the thyristor turns off (is
reverse biased).
• By varying 𝛼, the output voltage can be controlled.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 7
Single-Phase Half-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Resistive Load
1 𝜋 𝑉𝑚
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = න 𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑤𝑡) 𝑑(𝑤𝑡) = [1 + cos 𝛼 ]
2𝜋 𝛼 2𝜋
𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑚
𝐼𝑑𝑐 = = [1 + cos 𝛼 ]
𝑅 2𝜋𝑅
1 𝜋 2
𝑉𝑚 𝛼 sin(2𝛼)
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = න 𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑤𝑡) 𝑑(𝑤𝑡) = 1− +
2𝜋 𝛼 2 𝜋 2𝜋
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑉𝑚 𝛼 sin(2𝛼)
𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = = 1− +
𝑅 2𝑅 𝜋 2𝜋
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 8
Example
For the half-wave controlled rectifier with resistive load of R and
the delay angle is 𝛼 = 𝜋/3. Determine
(a) efficiency
(b) form factor
(c) ripple factor
(d) transformer utilization factor
(28.36%, 1.87, 1.58, 0.18)
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 9
Example
A single-phase half-wave controlled converter is operated from a
120V, 50Hz supply. Load resistance R=10Ω. If the average output
voltage is 75% of the maximum possible average output voltage,
determine
(a) firing angle
(b) average and rms output currents
(c) average and rms SCR currents.
(𝜋/3, 4.04A, 7.61A)
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 10
Example
Design a circuit to produce an average voltage of 40 V across a
100-Ω load resistor from a 120-V rms 60-Hz ac source.
Determine the power absorbed by the resistance and the power
factor.
(57.1W, 0.63)
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 11
Single-Phase Half-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Inductive Load
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 12
Single-Phase Half-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Inductive Load
• When the thyristor is triggered at 𝛼 during positive half cycle,
the thyristor is forward biased and the load current will
increase in a finite-time through the inductive load.
• Due to inductive load, the increase in current is gradual.
Energy is stored in inductor from 𝛼 to 𝜋.
• At 𝜋, the supply voltage reverses, but the thyristor is kept
conducting. This is due to the fact that current through the
inductance cannot be reduced to zero.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 13
Single-Phase Half-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Inductive Load
• During negative half-cycle, current continues to flow till the
energy stored in the inductor is dissipated in the load resistor
and part of it is fed back to the source.
• Current continues to flow up to 𝛽. At 𝛽, the load current is
zero and the thyristor turns off due to negative voltage.
1 𝛽
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = න 𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑤𝑡) 𝑑(𝑤𝑡)
2𝜋 𝛼
𝑉𝑚
= [cos 𝛼 − cos 𝛽 ]
2𝜋
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 14
Freewheeling Diode
• Freewheeling diode serves two main functions:
➢ It prevents reversal of load voltage except for small diode
voltage-drop.
➢ It transfers the load current away from the main rectifier.
Therefore, thyristor is regaining their blocking states.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 15
Single-Phase Half-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Inductive Load with
Freewheeling Diode
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 16
Single-Phase Half-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Inductive Load with
Freewheeling Diode
• When the thyristor is triggered at 𝛼 during positive half cycle,
the thyristor is forward biased and the load current will
increase in a finite-time through the inductive load.
• The freewheeling diode is reverse biased due to negative
voltage across the diode.
• At 𝜋, the supply voltage reverses, inductor reverses its polarity
and dischargers the stored energy.
• The thyristor is reverse biased while the freewheeling diode is
forward biased.Therefore, current freewheels via the diode.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 17
Single-Phase Half-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Inductive Load with
Freewheeling Diode
• With freewheeling diode, thyristor will not be able to conduct
beyond 𝜋. Similarly, no power will be returned to the source.
• Hence, the total reactive power flows from the input to the
total power consumed in the load is less with freewheeling
diode.
• In other words, the freewheeling diode improves the input
power factor.
𝑉𝑠 𝐼 sin ∅
= less
sin ∅
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 18
Single-Phase Full-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Resistive Load
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 19
Single-Phase Full-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Resistive Load
• Thyristors T1 and T2 must be fired simultaneously during the
positive half wave of the source voltage vs so as to allow
conduction of current. Current flows through T1-P-R-N-T2.
• Alternatively, thyristors T3 and T4 must be fired simultaneously
during the negative half wave of the source voltage. Current
flows through T3-P-R-N-T4.
• To ensure simultaneous firing, thyristors T1, T2 and T3, T4 use
the same firing signal.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 20
Single-Phase Full-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Resistive Load
1 𝜋 𝑉𝑚
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = න 𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑤𝑡) 𝑑(𝑤𝑡) = [1 + cos 𝛼 ]
𝜋 𝛼 𝜋
𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑚
𝐼𝑑𝑐 = = [1 + cos 𝛼 ]
𝑅 𝜋𝑅
1 𝜋 2
1 𝛼 sin(2𝛼)
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = න 𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑤𝑡) 𝑑(𝑤𝑡) = 𝑉𝑚 − +
𝜋 𝛼 2 2𝜋 4𝜋
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑉𝑚 1 𝛼 sin(2𝛼)
𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = = − +
𝑅 𝑅 2 2𝜋 4𝜋
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 21
Example
The full-wave controlled bridge rectifier with resistive load has
an ac input of 120 V rms at 60 Hz and a 20-Ω load resistor. The
delay angle is 40°. Determine
(i) the average current in the load,
(ii) the power absorbed by the load,
(iii) the source voltamperes and input power factor.
(4.77A, 673W, 696VA, 0.967)
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 22
Single-Phase Full-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Inductive Load
• There are two types of operation modes for inductive load:
➢ Continuous current mode
➢ Discontinuous current mode
• The operation mode depends on the firing angle, 𝛼 and the
load angle, ∅.
−1
𝜔𝐿
∅ = tan ( )
𝑅
• If 𝛼 < ∅, it is continuous current mode.
• If 𝛼 > ∅, it is discontinuous current mode.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 23
Continuous Current Mode
𝛼<∅
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 24
Continuous Current Mode
• During the positive half cycle, T1 and T4 are fired at 𝜔t=𝛼. T1
and T4 are forward-biased.
• Current flows through X-T1-B-R-L-A-T4-Y-Vs. T2 and T3 are
reverse-biased (off).
• Vo=Vs from 𝜔t=𝛼 to 𝜔t=𝛼+π.
• The inductor L is charged and discharged.
• During the negative half cycle, T2 and T3 are forward biased
and but not yet triggered.
• At the same time, VL with its reversed polarity, is more
negative than VS at point B and forward biases T1 and is more
positive than Vs at point A to forward bias T4.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 25
Continuous Current Mode
• Both T1 and T4 will continue to conduct up to 𝜔t=𝛼+π.
• At 𝜔t=𝛼+π, T2 and T3 are triggered. The current i will flow
through the path Y-T2-B-R-L-A-T3-X-Vs. At this time,Vo(t)=-Vs.
1 𝜋+𝛼 2𝑉𝑚
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = න 𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑤𝑡) 𝑑(𝑤𝑡) = cos 𝛼
𝜋 𝛼 𝜋
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 26
Discontinuous Current Mode
𝛼>∅
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 27
Discontinuous Current Mode
• During the positive half cycle, T1 and T4 are fired at 𝜔t=𝛼. T1
and T4 are forward-biased.
• Current flows through X-T1-B-R-L-A-T4-Y-Vs. T2 and T3 are
reverse-biased (off).
• Vo=Vs from 𝜔t=𝛼 to 𝜔t=β.
• The inductor L is charged and discharged.
• During the negative half cycle, T2 and T3 are forward biased
and but not yet triggered.
• At the same time, VL with its reversed polarity, is more
negative than VS at point B and forward biases T1 and is more
positive than Vs at point A to forward bias T4.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 28
Discontinuous Current Mode
• Both T1 and T4 will continue to conduct up to 𝜔t=β.
• At 𝜔t=β, the current i falls to zero after the inductor has
discharged all the stored energy. VL=0. T1 and T4 thus are
reversed biased.
• Therefore, Vo=0 from 𝜔t=β until T2 and T3 are fired at
𝜔t=𝛼+π.
• The current i will flow through the path Y-T2-B-R-L-A-T3-X-Vs.
At this time,Vo(t)=-Vs.
1 β 𝑉𝑚
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = න 𝑉𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑤𝑡) 𝑑(𝑤𝑡) = [cos 𝛼 − cos β ]
𝜋 𝛼 𝜋
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 29
Example
A single-phase fully-controlled bridge rectifier with inductive load
is used for obtaining a regulated dc output voltage. The input
voltage is 230V and 𝛼 = 𝜋/3, so that the load current is 4A.
(a) Calculate the dc output voltage.
(b) Assuming that the load resistance remains the same, calculate
the quantities in (a) if a freewheeling diode is used at the
output.The firing angle is maintained at 𝜋/3.
(c) If SCR3 is damaged and gets open-circuited, calculate the
average dc output voltage. A freewheeling diode is connected
and 𝛼 = 𝜋/3.
(103.54V, 155.3V, 77.65V)
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 30
Three-Phase Full-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Resistive Load
𝛼 = 45°
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 31
Three-Phase Full-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Resistive Load
• With thyristors, conduction does not begin until a gate signal
is applied while the thyristor is forward-biased.
• Thus, the transition of the output voltage to the maximum
instantaneous line-to-line source voltage can be delayed.
• The delay angle is referenced from where the thyristor would
begin to conduct if it were a diode.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 32
Three-Phase Full-Wave Controlled
Rectifier: Resistive Load
2𝜋
3 3 +𝛼 3𝑉𝑚,𝐿−𝐿
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = න 𝑉𝑚,𝐿−𝐿 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑤𝑡) 𝑑(𝑤𝑡) = cos 𝛼
𝜋 +𝛼
𝜋 𝜋
3
2𝜋
+𝛼
3 3
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = න 𝑉𝑚2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝑤𝑡) 𝑑(𝑤𝑡)
𝜋 𝜋+𝛼
3
1 3 3 cos 2𝛼
= 3𝑉𝑚 +
2 4𝜋
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 33
Quick Review Questions
• What are the characteristics of single-phase half-wave fully-
controlled rectifier?
• What are the characteristics of single-phase full-wave fully-
controlled rectifier.
• What are the characteristics of three-phase half-wave fully-
controlled rectifier.
• What are the characteristics of single-phase full-wave fully-
controlled rectifier.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 34
Summary of Main Teaching Points
• The characteristics of single-phase half-wave fully-controlled
rectifier.
• The characteristics of single-phase full-wave fully-controlled
rectifier.
• The characteristics of three-phase half-wave fully-controlled
rectifier.
• The characteristics of three-phase full-wave fully-controlled
rectifier.
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 35
Question and Answer Session
Q&A
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 36
What We Will Cover Next?
• Square-Wave Inverters
EE042-4-3-Power Electronics & Drives Ch5-Controlled Rectifiers Slide 37
