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Practical Evaluation of Simple 12-Pulse Three-Phase-Bridge Diode Rectifier of

Capacitor-Input-Type

Article · January 2007

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 Practical Evaluation of Simple 12-Pulse Three-Phase-Bridge
Diode Rectifier of Capacitor-Input-Type

Yasuyuki NISHIDA Yasuhiro OKUMA Kazuaki MINO

Energy Electronics Lab., Nihon Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd. Fuji Electric Advanced
University, JAPAN Technology Co.,Ltd.
Tokusada, Tamura, Kouriyama, 1, Fuji-machi, Hino-city, Tokyo 1, Fuji-machi, Hino-city, Tokyo
963-8642 JAPAN 191-8502, JAPAN 191-8502, JAPAN
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Abstract – A simple scheme to increase operating pulse-number and easily obtain high-quality input current
waveform of three-phase diode rectifier without PWM is investigated in this paper. The topology and
operation principle are described. Then, the performance is evaluated and compared with the ordinary 6-pulse
rectifier by means of a 20kW setup. By referring to the experimental results, the advantages in practical use of
the rectifier are shown.

I. INTRODUCTION dominant harmonics of 5th and 7th in the input line

current of the conventional 6-pulse rectifier are
Several harmonic reducing schemes of diode
eliminated in the 12-pulse one. As a result, total
rectifier (i.e., without PWM) have been proposed so
harmonic distortion factor of the input current of the
far[1]-[3]. Some of these non-PWM schemes presented
conventional 6-pulse diode rectifier is significantly
in recent years obtain fine input current waveforms,
decreased (into one-third in practice) in the 12-pulse
and they result in effective solutions to obtain
rectifier. Thus, the Pulse-Doubler scheme offers an
uncontrolled dc power from the Utility/Mains with
easy and cheap solution to mitigate harmonic
low initial cost and high efficiency but without
pollution caused by diode rectifiers.
harmonic pollution. However, voltage source type
Since the purpose of the previous papers were to
inverters are commonly employed in inverter drive
confirm the theory through a small scale setup with a
and UPS systems, and this type inverter needs a dc
large inductor on the ac-side (to obtain a continuous
voltage source in the input. Since dc-voltage
current condition and let the operating condition be as
controllability is not always necessary in such
close to that of the theory as possible[4] or a larger
applications, the 3-phase bridge diode rectifier of
scale (i.e., 12kW) setup but operated by an almost
capacitor input type is the most suitable rectifier in
ideal 3-phase power source (i.e., a liner-amplifier
those applications from the viewpoint of initial cost,
without an internal impedance and feeds 3-phase
size, operating efficiency, EMI noises and reliability.
voltages with almost no distortion) [5]. Although
However, the rectifiers of this type without PWM
practical evaluations have been done partially in the
technique have not been explored well in the past,
later study with 12kW setup, further practical studies,
especially from practical point of view.
such as those with actual Utility/Mains with further
With the above technical background, the authors
larger power scale, are essential since the performance
proposed a 12-pulse diode rectifier using the
and the quality of the input current waveform are
conventional 3-phase bridge 6-pulse diode rectifier of
sensitive to the distortion of the 3-phase source
capacitor input type and an auxiliary circuit for both
voltages. This paper is focused on practical
the cases with and without an isolation transformer.
evaluations of the 12-pulse rectifier by means of
Although this auxiliary circuit consists of only two
20kW setup operated under Utility/Mains.
diodes with very low rating (and an autotransformer
The topology and the operating principle
with very low kVA for the case without isolation
(waveform synthesis) are described and then,
transformer), it plays the important role to increase
experimental results obtained from a 20kW setup are
the operating pulse number to double (e.g., 12 in
shown and the performance is evaluated. Referring to
single three-phase-bridge 6-pulse rectifier) under
them, some points in practical use of the rectifier are
condition with and without an isolation transformer.
drawn and a discussion regarding to the advantages vs.
Due to the pulse number increasing/doubling effect,
disadvantages is made.
 II. CIRCUIT TOPOLOGY M on the dc-side although it’s not necessary in the
conventional 6-pulse topology.
Figure 1 shows the proposed simple 12-pulse diode
The auxiliary circuit consists of only two auxiliary
rectifier. The part shown with red color and enclosed
diodes (DAP and DAQ) and an autotransformer TA. The
by dotted lines represents the auxiliary circuit to
two diodes are connected in series between the
increase the operating pulse number from 6 to 12 and
dc-rails and a center-point D is obtained. The series
reduce harmonics involved in the voltages (vXY etc.)
connected smoothing capacitors CP and CQ present a
and the line currents (iA etc.) on the ac input side. The
center-point M. This point M is called
remaining part is identical to the ordinary 6-pulse
“mid-potential-point” since its voltage potential is
rectifier that consists of ac-inductors (LA etc.), a
medium between those of the upper and lower dc-rails
dc-capacitor (one in the ordinary and two in the
(i.e., the points P and Q in Fig. 1) under steady-state
12-pulse rectifier) and a dc-load R. This rectifier of
and normal condition. The autotransformer TA is
capacitor input type produces greatly distorted input
connected between the center-point M of the series
line currents if the series inductance on the utility side
connected auxiliary diodes (DAP and DAQ) and the
is provided by only such as leakage flux of
neutral point N of the secondary windings of the
transformers and is very low. In such a case, an
isolation transformer TM. The center-tap of the
independent inductor is connected between the
autotransformer TA is connected to the
Utility/Mains and the diode-bridge in each phase to
mid-potential-point M. The turn-ratio aM of the
mitigate the distortion. The inductors LA, LB and LC in
windings on the right and left side of the
Fig.1 and 2 are employed for this purpose. Further,
autotransformer TA (i.e., “turn-number of right-side
two capacitors (CP and CQ) are connected in series
winding” / “turn-number of left-side winding”) is set
between the dc-rails to obtain the mid-potential-point
to aM=6 [4]-[5] in the setup as shown in Fig. 1.

DXP DYP DZP P

200[V] DB 37000μF
vLA iX VP iO
50[Hz] i
A
TM ix CP
iB vAB LA vXY vxy
x
Turn-Ratio 1:aM
DAP
y (aM= 6 in setup)
iC LB iMN'
z TA vO
LC 0.217 N
or vxN D
vAO vMN vMN'
0.784 vXO M DAQ
R
for Phase- [mH] DXQDYQDZQ
Voltage
Measuring CQ VQ
iMN 37000μF
Q
Fig. 1. Modified 12-Pulse Rectifier with Isolation Transformer.

DXP DYP DZP P

200[V] DB
vLA iX VP iO
50[Hz] i TM ix CP
A vxM
iB vAB LA vXY vxy x
y vMN
iC LB
LC
z M vO
N
SMN
vAO R
for Phase- DXQDYQDZQ
Voltage
Measuring CQ VQ
iMN
Q
Fig. 2. Ordinary and Particular 6-Pulse Rectifiers Isolation Transformer.
 III. OPERATION
The operation, especially its voltage waveform
synthesis, of the modified 12-pulse rectifier is rather
complicated. To understand the unique operation and
the original idea in the invention of the 12-pulse
rectifier, it’s useful to consider that the 12-pulse
nature is obtained by combining two 6-pulse rectifiers
as similarly to the ordinary 12-pulse rectifier obtained
by combining two 6-pulse rectifiers with a
phase-shifting transformer. In this unique 12-pulse
rectifier (without a phase-shifting transformer), one of
the combined 6-pulse rectifiers is the ordinary one
and the other is a particular one shown below.
Figure 2 shows a 6-pulse rectifier where the
ordinary 6-pulse rectifier is modified as follows; the
dc-side is sprit into upper and lower parts by series
connected two smoothing capacitors CP and CQ and
the mid-potential-point M is connected to the neutral
point N of the star-connection secondary winding of
an isolation transformer TM through a switch SMN.
When the switch SMN is opened the rectifier becomes
the ordinary 6-pulse rectifier while the switch SMN is
closed it becomes a particular 6-pulse rectifier.
Although the detail is omitted in this paper, the
operation of the unique 12-pulse rectifier can be
understood as it obtained by combining the two
rectifiers, i.e., the ordinary one and the particular one
shown in Fig. 2. Thus, operating waveforms of the
three rectifiers under ideal circuit condition (i.e., a
continuous input line-current current condition) are
shown in Fig. 3 where waveforms of the ordinary
6-pulse, the particular 6-pulse and the unique 12-pulse
rectifiers are shown with dotted, solid and bold lines,
respectively. The voltage and current symbols (e.g., ix,
bridge input line-current) of the three rectifiers are
represented with the subscript of “-OPEN” (e.g., iX-OPEN),
“-SHORT” (e.g., iX-SHORT) and “-OPTIM” (e.g., iX- OPTIM),
respectively.

IV. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS Fig. 3. Theoretical Operating Waveforms of

Ordinary 6-Pulse, Particular 6-Pulse and
Experimental setups of the 12-pulse and the 6-pulse Modified 12-pulse Rectifiers
rectifiers with nominal output rating of 20kW have
been build and tested. The dominant circuit
parameters and measured data are shown in Fig. 1 and current while that of the 6-pulse rectifier is distorted.
TABLE-I, respectively. Fig. 4 to 8 show operating The THD-iS of the 12-pulse rectifier is 10.2 or 5.8%
waveforms of the 12-pulse and 6-pulse rectifiers with for the cases of the lower or the higher inductance,
a low inductance (LA, B, C=0.217mH) and a high (LA, B, respectively, and those are almost one-third of that of
the 6-pulse rectifier (29.0 and 18.7%, respectively). It
C=0.784mH) of the line-inductor. The output power is
PO=20kW. in all Fig. 4 to 8. is know by comparing the current waveforms in Fig. 4
By comparing the input currents in Fig. 4 (a) and (a) and Fig. 7 (a) that the 12-pulse rectifier offers a
Fig. 5 (a) (for LA,B,C = 0.217mH) and Fig. 6 (a) and higher quality in the input current waveform even the
Fig. 7 (a) (for LA,B,C = 0.784mH), it is easily known inductance is decreased to one-third compared with
that the 12-pulse rectifier offers a higher quality input the 6-pulse rectifier. Additionally, it is understood
from the input current waveforms that the
 TABLE-I. Measured Data in Experiments
12-Pulse 6-Pulse
Line-Inductor LA, B, C [mH] 0.217 0.784 0.217 0.784
%IX of LA,B,C [%](for 20kVA@200VRMS) 3.4 2.1 12.3 7.4 3.4 2.1 12.3 7.4
Input Line-to-Line Voltage VS, L-L [VRMS] 198 198 198 199 199 199 199 198
Input Voltage THD (THD-vS) [%] 1.7 1.2 1.6 1.0 4.3 3.3 2.9 2.9
Input Line Current IS [ARMS] 62.6 35.4 62.1 36.6 63.2 38.3 65.1 38.4
Input Current THD THD-iS [%] 10.2 11.4 5.8 7.3 29.0 38.3 18.7 23.9
Input Total-Power-Factor TPF [%] 97.7 97.6 96.7 96.8 92.7 90.2 91.7 91.6
DC-Output Voltage VO [V] 271 277 261 270 262 (268) 246 258
DC-Output Power PO [kW] 20.2 12.0 20.0 12.0 19.9 12.1 20.2 12.0
Efficiency η [%] 97.2 95.9 97.3 95.2 98.7 97.2 98.3 95.9

displacement angle of the 12-pulse rectifier is less produces a distorted one (e.g., 29.0 and 18.7% for
than that of the 6-pulse rectifier. Considering the lower and higher %IX condition), all at PO=20kW.
lower THD-iS and displacement angle in 12-pulse The data describes that the THD-iS is reduced to
rectifier, it is expected that the TPF of the rectifier is one-third of that of the ordinary 6-pulse rectifier (in
higher than that of the 6-pulse one. all the cases in TABLE-I) by applying the modified
The waveforms of the line-to-line voltage and line rectifier. Since the THD-iS is reduced significantly,
current of the rectifier shown in Fig. 4 (b) and Fig. 6 the input Total-Power-Factor TPF is improved in the
(b) are differ from those in theory shown in Fig. 3 (h) 12-pulse rectifier by 5% or more compared with the
and (a), respectively. The dominant reason is that a 6-pulse rectifier.
continuous current condition is considered in the The efficiency η of the 12-pulse rectifier is
theory but the setup operates with a discontinuous decreased 1.0 to 1.5% compared with those of 6-pulse
current condition. Therefore, the waveforms in the rectifier with the same line inductance since the
case with higher line-inductance (i.e., with less auxiliary circuit dissipates some additional energy.
current discontinuity) are more similar to those of the This is a drawback in the modified rectifier. However,
theory than the other. it is expected that the efficiency of the two rectifiers
The dc voltages in both the rectifiers are smooth with the same THD-iS (i.e., the 6-pulse rectifier with
since dc-capacitors of large capacitances are higher %IX and 12-pulse rectifier with lower %IX)
employed in the setup. The necessity of two can be much closer or almost the same. In fact, the
dc-capacitors to obtain the mid-potential point M is a efficiency of the 12-pulse rectifier with less
drawback in the 12-pulse rectifier. line-inductance and the 6-pulse one with higher
As seen in Fig. 8 (a) and (b), the primary and the line-inductance are close (97.2% vs. 98.3% in
secondary voltages of the auxiliary transformer TA PO=20kW) or the same (both 95.9% in PO=12kW).
lose sharpness in the waveforms although those of the Thus, the focus in this case is which is practical; “a
theory draw sharp rectangular waveforms with full slightly complicated rectifier with a smaller
width as shown in Fig. 3 (e). The distortion of the line-inductor” or “a simple rectifier with a bulky
primary voltage is due to the discontinuity of the input line-inductor.” From the viewpoint of the dc voltage
current. Therefore, the primary voltage of the case variation (caused mainly by voltage drops on the line
with the lower line-inductance shown in Fig. 8 (a) is inductor) and the Total-Power-Factor of the input, the
slightly more distorted compared with the other since modified 12-pulse rectifier is advantageous as
the line-current discontinuity is greater in the case. understood from the data in the table.
The secondary voltage produces additional distortion In such rectifiers operated with Utility/Mains, the
especially on the top. This is caused by voltage drops voltages of the Utility/Mains distorts due to the
on the windings due to leakage inductance and distorted line-current and its internal impedance. It is
resistance of the windings. This phenomenon is easily expected that the distortion of the Utility/Mains
understood by considering the triangular current (in voltage is lower in the case of the 12-pulse rectifier
theory) shown in Fig. 3 (g). than that of the 6-pulse rectifier. In fact, the THD-vS
It is understood from the data in TABLE-I that the in the case of the 12-pulse rectifier is 1.0 to 1.7%
12-pulse rectifier offers a high quality input current while that in the case of 6-pulse rectifier is 2.9 to
(e.g., THD-iS=10.2 and 5.8% for lower and 4.3%. It must be noted that a higher distortion of the
higher %IX condition) while the 6-pulse rectifier Utility/Mains voltage may cause a higher distortion of
………

(a) Utility/Mains Line-to-Line Volt. (Blue), (b) Input Line-to-Line Volt. (Red) and (c) Primary Volt. (Red) and Secondary
Utility/Mains Phase-Voltages (Red), Input Line-Curr. (Blue) of Volt. (Blue) of Aux. Transformer.
Main-Trans. Prim. Phase-Volt. Green), Diode-Bridge Input (50V/div. for Prim. or
Man-Trans. Input Line-Curr. (Pink). (100 V/div. or 50A/div., 2 ms/div.) 10V/div. for Sec., 2ms/div.)
(100V/div. or 50A/div., 2ms/div.)
Fig. 4. Operating Waveforms of 12-Pulse Rectifeir with LA,B,C=0.217mH

(a) Utility/Mains Line-to-Line Volt. (Blue), (b) Input Line-to-Line Volt. (Red) and (c) DC Voltages. (100V/div., 2ms/div.)
Utility/Mains Phase-Voltages (Red), Input Line-Curr. (Blue) of
Main-Trans. Prim. phase-Volt. Green), Diode-Bridge Input
Man-Trans. Input Line-Curr. (Pink). (100 V/div. or 50A/div., 2 ms/div.)
(100V/div. or 50A/div., 2ms/div.)
Fig. 5. Operating Waveforms of 6-Pulse Rectifeir with LA,B,C=0.217mH

(a) Utility/Mains Line-to-Line Volt. (Blue), (b) Input Line-to-Line Volt. (Red) and (c) DC Voltages. (100V/div., 2ms/div.)
Utility/Mains Phase-Voltages (Red), Input Line-Curr. (Blue) of
Main-Trans. Prim. Phase-Volt. Green), Diode-Bridge Input
Man-Trans. Input Line-Curr. (Pink). (100 V/div. or 50/div., 2 ms/div.)
(100V/div. or 50A/div., 2ms/div.)
Fig. 6. Operating Waveforms of 12-Pulse Rectifeir with LA,B,C=0.784mH

(a) Utility/Mains Line-to-Line Volt. (Blue), (b) Input Line-to-Line Volt. (Red) and (c) DC Voltages;
Utility/Mains Phase-Voltages (Red), Input Line-Curr. (Blue) of Upper Side (Upper Trace, Red) and
Main-Trans. Prim. Phase-Volt. Green), Diode-Bridge Input Lower Side (Lower Trace with
Man-Trans. Input Line-Curr. (Pink). (100 V/div. or 50/div., 2 ms/div.) Reverse Polarity, Blue).
(100V/div. or 50A/div., 2ms/div.) (100V/div., 2 ms/div.)
Fig. 7. Operating Waveforms of 6-Pulse Rectifeir with LA,B,C=0.784mH
 V. CONCLUSIONS
A simple and passive harmonic reducing scheme
for 3-phase-bridge diode rectifier of capacitor-input
type has been evaluated under practical condition. It
has been shown that the modified 12-pulse rectifier is
advantageous for the ordinary 6-pulse rectifier when
considering whole the performance including THD of
the input current and Utility/Mains voltage, TPF of
the input, efficiency, necessary inductance of the line
(a) LA,B,C=0.217mH inductor, dc-voltage variation, reliability and
simplicity of the rectifier topology.
Although detail analysis of ratings of the auxiliary
components has not been described in this paper,
these are very low according to experimental results.
Thus, the desirable features of the modified diode
rectifier, such as compact, economical, efficient and
reliable, are not obstructed while the new feature of
low harmonic pollution and high-power-factor is
obtained in the 12-pulse rectifier.
By replacing the auxiliary diodes to PWM switches,
(b) LA,B,C=0.784mH the rectifier becomes a hybrid PFC rectifier and the
Fig. 8. Primary Voltage (Red) (50V/div.) and waveforms of the input line-current is greatly
Secondary Voltage (Blue) (10V/div.) of improved (i.e., to almost sinusoidal). Passive and
Auxiliary Transformer. (Time-Scale: 2ms/div.) Hybrid PFCs are now under investigating and the
results, especially those from the practical viewpoints,
the input line current since the voltage synthesis (and will be presented future.
the resulted current synthesis) is sensitive to the
distortion of Utility/Mains voltage waveform and the REFERENCES
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