Power Electronics and Drives

12.4 POWER INPUT, SUPPLY CURRENT, AVERAGE ARMATURE

CURRENT AND TORQUE CALCULATIONS
The average power in a chopper circuit is transferred from the constant
supply Vd to the load by the combination of with average component of
the input current , hence

The instantaneous input current flows only while switch T1 is

conducting in Fig.12.2,

The average value of is defined by

For continuous conduction, substituting Eq.(12.15) and Eq.(12.20) into

Eq.(12.36) gives

( )
( ) ( )
( )

For discontinuous conduction, substituting Eq.(12.25) into Eq. (12.36) gives

[ ]

Example 12.1

The speed of a separately-excited d.c. motor with Ra = 1.2 Ω and La = 30

mH, is to be controlled using class-A thyristor chopper as shown in
Fig.12.4. The d.c. supply Vd = 120 V. By ignoring the effect of the armature
inductance La , it is required to:
(a) Find the no load speed and starting torque of the motor when the
duty cycle =1.

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(b) Draw the speed-torque characteristics for the motor when the duty
cycle γ = 1. The motor design constant KeΦ has a value of 0.042
V/rpm.
(c) Find the speed of the motor n (rpm) when a torque of 8 Nm is
applied on the motor shaft and the duty cycle is set to = 0.5.

Fig. 55.4 Thyristor chopper drive.

Solution
The average armature voltage for is

The motor’s speed:

At no load Td = 0, hence

At starting, n = 0. The starting torque Tst may be found as:

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Speed no =2857 rpm

(rpm)

1428.1 γ=1
γ =0.5
857.13

0 8 20 40 Torque (N.m)
Fig. 12.5 Speed-torque characteristics.
(b) At γ = 0.5 ,

At γ = 0.5 , TL = 8 Nm

Note: KT = Torque constant = 9.55 Ke

Example 12.2

A d.c. motor is driven from a class-A d.c. chopper with source voltage of
220 V and at frequency of 1000 Hz. Determine the range of duty cycle to
obtain a speed variation from 0 to 2000 rpm while the motor delivered a
constant load of 70 Nm. The motor details as follows:
1kW, 200 V, 2000 rpm, 80% efficiency, Ra = 0.1 Ω, La = 0.02 H, and
= 0.54 V/rad /s.

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Solution

( )
For m =0

Hence the range of is .

Example 12.3
In the microcomputer-controlled class-A IGBT transistor d.c. chopper
shown in Fig.12.6, the input voltage Vd = 260 V, the load is a separately-
excited d.c. motor with Ra = 0.28 Ω and La = 30 mH. The motor is to be
speed controlled over a range 0 – 2500 rpm , provided that the load torque is
kept constant and requires an armature current of 30 A .
(a) Calculate the range of the duty cycle γ required if the motor design
constant KeΦ has a value of 0.10 V/rpm.

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(b) Find the speed of the motor n (rpm) when the chopper is switched
fully ON such that the duty cycle γ = 1.0.

Fig.12.6 IGBT d.c. chopper drive.

Solution
(a) With steady-state operation of the motor, the armature inductance La
behaves like a short circuit and therefore has no effect at all.
At stand still n = 0, and therefore , Ea = 0 , hence from Eq.(12.22),

At full speed n = 2500 rpm ,

For separately-excited d.c. motor,

Therefore the range of the duty cycle γ will be:

Similarly

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(b) When the chopper is switched fully on, i.e. γ =1, then
.
At this condition,
|

Example 12.4

A separately-excited d.c. motor has the following parameters:

Ra = 0.5 Ω , La = 5.0 mH , Ke Φ = 0.078 V/rpm.
The motor speed is controlled by a class-A d.c. chopper fed from an ideal
200 V d.c. source. The motor is driven at a speed of 2180 rpm by switching
on the thyristor for a period of 4 ms in each overall period of 6 ms .
(a) State whether the motor will operate in continuous or discontinuous
current mode,
(b) Calculate the extinction angle of the current if it exist,
(c) Sketch the armature voltage and current waveforms,
(d) Calculate the maximum and minimum values of the armature current,
(e) Calculate the average armature voltage and current.

Solution

(a) To find whether the motor operates in continuous or discontinuous

current modes ,we have to find the values of γ and γ’ :

At speed of 2180 rpm ,

The critical value of γ’ will be , (using Eq.( 12. 31 ))
’ ’

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From which γ’ = 0.0.8829 , therefore , γ’ > γ , hence the motor is operating

in discontinuous current mode.

(b) The extinction angle x of the current is calculated from Eq.(12.29) as,

⁄ ⁄
[ { ( )}]

⁄ ⁄
[ { ( )}]

From which
(c) The armature voltage and current waveforms are shown in Fig.12.7.
(d) The maximum and minimum values of the armature currents are:
Imin = 0 , since it is discontinuous.
ImaxD is calculated from Eq.(12.26) as,

⁄
( )

Fig.12.7 Armature voltage and current waveforms.

Example 12.5
A separately-excited d.c. motor with Ra = 0.1 Ω and La = 20 mH, is to be
controlled using class-A thyristor chopper. The d.c. supply is a battery with
Vd = 400 V. The motor voltage constant is 5 V.s/rad. In the steady-state

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operation the average armature current Ia = 100 A and it is assumed to be

continuous and ripple-free.
(a) For a duty cycle of 0.5, it is required to calculate (i) the input power
to the motor, (ii) the speed of the motor, (iii) the developed torque.
Mechanical, battery and semiconductor losses may be neglected.
(b) If the duty cycle of the chopper is varied between 20% and 80%, find
the difference in speed resulting from this variation.
Solution

(a) Input power to the motor, speed of the motor and the developed torque
are calculated as follows:
(i) For continuous current operation the input power is

(ii) Speed of the motor can be calculated as,

The voltage across the armature circuit

The induce voltage

To find the speed n in rpm

(iii) The torque produced by the motor,

(b) For duty cycle of 20%,

For duty cycle of 80%,

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Hence the difference in speed is

Example 12.6

A class-A d.c. chopper operating at a frequency of 500 Hz and feeding a

separately-excited d.c. motor from 200 V d.c. source. The load torque is 35
Nm and speed is 1000 rpm. Motor resistance and inductance are 0.15 Ω and
1.0 mH respectively. The emf and torque constant of motor are 1.6 V/rad/s
and 1.4 Nm /A respectively. Find (a) Maximum and minimum values of
motor armature current, and (b) Variation of armature current. Neglect
chopper losses.

Solution
(a) Let duty cycle =
Vd = 200 V

Average armature current Ia = T / Kφ = 35/1.4 = 25 A

Back emf Ea = K φ = 1.6 (950 2 /60) = 159.16 V

200 γ = 159.16 + 25 0.15 = 162.29 V

γ = 0.8145
T = 1/500 = 2 ms
ton = γT = 2 0.8145 = 1.629 ms
toff = 2 - 1.629 = 0.371 ms

From Eq.s (12.19) and (12.20) ,The maximum and minimum currents are
calculated as
Let:
⁄

Hence Eq.(12.19) and (12.20) can be re-written as

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⁄
( ⁄
)
and
⁄
( ⁄
)

( )

( )

( )

( )

(b) Variation of armature current =

PROBLEMS
12.1 A permanent-magnet d.c. motor with Ra = 5 Ω and La = 300 mH, is to speed
controlled using class-A d.c. chopper. The d.c. power supply is 120 V,
armature resistance Ra = 0.5 Ω and La = 20 mH. The motor constant
Ke ϕ = 0.05 V/rpm. The motor is assumed to drive a constant load torque on
the motor which required an average armature current of 20 A. Assuming
continuous current drawn by the motor, determine:

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(a) The ranges of the chopper drive duty cycle.

(b) The range of speed control.

[Ans: (a) γ = (0.083 – 1) , (b) n = (0 – 2200) rpm]

12.2 A separately-excited d.c motor with Ra = 5 Ω and La = 300 mH, is to speed
controlled using class-A d.c. chopper. The d.c. supply is 120 V. (a) It is
required to draw the speed torque characteristics for the motor for duty
cycle, = 1. The motor constant Ke ϕ = 0.7 (V /rpm). (b) Find the speed of
the motor (ω) at a torque of 5 Nm applied on the motor shaft when the duty
cycle used is ( = 0.5).
[Ans: (b) 34.69 rpm]
12.3 A d.c. motor is driven by a single-quadrant d.c. chopper with source voltage
of 240 V.The chopper operates at a frequency of 400 Hz. The motor is
loaded such that it draws contiuous and ripple-free current of 80 A and runs
at speed of 500 rpm. The armature resistance is Ra = 0.25 Ω and the machine
constant Keφ = 0.1 V/rpm. It is required to:

(a) Draw waveforms of the armature voltage, armature current and the
current drawn from the source.
(b) Determine the duty cycle γ and the ON-time ton of the chopper.
(c) Determine the power developed by the motor, power absorbed by
the armature resistance and the power drawn from the source.

[Ans (b) γ = 0.291, ton = 0.729 ms, (c) 4000 W, 1600 W, 5600 W ]

12.4 A class-A, single-quadrant d.c. chopper is used to feed a d.c. shunt motor
motor which has the following parameters:
Ra = 0.25 Ω, La = 15 mH, and Ke ϕ = 0.209 V/rpm.
The chopper is supplied from an ideal battery source of voltage = 500 V. At
a certain operating condition, the motor runs at speed of 9000 rpm and the
mechanical output power is 9000 W. At the stated condition, the armature
current is continuous with peak-to-peak ripple of 8 A. It is required to
determine:
(a)The chopper duty cycle.
(b)The approximate switching frequency (neglect the effect of Ra).
(c)The power lost in Ra .

[Ans: (a) 0.4, (b) 1039 Hz, (c) 600 W]

12.5 A small electric train is driven by a 1250 rpm, 400 V d.c. series motor has an
armature resistance Ra = 0.05 Ω and a series field resistance Rs = 0.1 Ω. The
motor rated full load current is 150 A. The train is to be speed controlled
using single-quadrant d.c. chopper fed from 500 V ideal battery. The

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chopper frequency varies between 100 Hz and 1800 Hz but the ON time
remains constant at 0.5 ms. At stand still, the motor current is limited to
200 A. Calculate:

(a) The chopper switching frequency and the supply current drawn
when the motor is at standstill.
(b) The chopper switching frequency and the supply current drawn at
rated output.

[Ans: (a) 120 Hz, 12 A, (b) 1600 Hz, 120 A]

12.6 A permanent-magnet d.c. motor is fed by a class-A d.c. chopper. The

machine has negligible armature resistance and an armature inductance of
5 mH with machine constant Ke ϕ = 0.262 V/rpm. The chopper is fed from
a 400 V ideal battery source and operating with a switching frequency of
1000 Hz. It is required to:

(a) Determine the speed of the motor if the duty cycle is 50% and
the torque is 100 Nm.
(b) The torque is now reduced to 20 Nm and the duty cycle is
maintained at 50%. Show that the armature current is
discontinuous and calculate the new motor speed.
(c) For the condition in (b) determine the duty cycle required to
bring the motor speed back to the value calculated in (a).

[ Ans: (a) 764 rpm, (b) 849 rpm, (c) 44.7 % ]

12.7 A d.c. supply with Vd = 250 V supplies power to a separately excited d.c.
motor via a class-A thyristor chopper. The motor has an armature circuit
resistance of 0.25 Ω and inductance of 10 mH. The chopper is fully ON at
the rated motor speed of 1500 rpm when the armature current is 25 A. If the
speed is to be reduced to 1000 rpm, with the load torque constant, calculate
the necessary duty cycle.

[Ans : γ = 0.675]
12.8 A 100 V battery supplies power to a d.c. separately-excited motor, with
Rα = 0.2 Ω and Lα =1 mH, via a class-A d.c. chopper operating at 300 Hz.
With a duty cycle of 0.75 the motor back emf is 70 V, calculate the average
values of the load voltage and current, the average value of input current,
the output power and the approximate efficiency of the motor.

[ Ans: Vav= 75 V, Iav = 25 A, Isav = 20.89 A , Po = 1750 W , η = 84 % ]

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12.9 A separately-excited d.c. motor with Ra = 0.3 Ω and La = 15 mH is to be

speed controlled over a range 0 – 1500 rpm using class-A MOSFET d.c.
chopper fed from ideal d.c. source with Vd =300 V as shown in Fig.12.8(a).
The motor load is a conveyer belt which exerts a constant torque on the
motor, as shown in Fig.12.8 (b), and requires an average armature current
of 30A. The machine design constant ke φ = 0.17 V/rpm.

(a) Calculate the required range of the duty cycle of the chopper.
(b) Calculate the speed of the motor when the chopper is fully ON.

(a)

(b)

Fig.12.8.

[Ans : (a) γ Range : 0.03 – 0.91, (b) 1712 rpm ]

12.10 A 240 V, 150 kW, 500 rpm separately-excted d.c. motor is controlled by a
class-A d.c. chopper. The d.c. supply for the chopper is an ideal battery
of 310 V. The chopper is operates with a frequency of 1000 Hz. The motor
parameters are as follows:
Ra = 0.04 Ω , La = 1 mH , KT = 4.17 V/rad/s
If the motor is running at 300 rpm with 0.55 duty cycle, determine the
average current taken by the motor and the average load produced by the

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motor using steady-state approximation analysis and assume continuous

current operation. Neglect any switching losses.
[Ans : 991.8 A , 4138.1 Nm]

12.11 A 20 kHz d.c. chopper is used to drive a separately-excited d.c. motor from
240 V source. Resistance and inductance of armature circuit are 0.6 Ω and
4mH, respectively. At rated conditions, armature current is 10 A and back
emf is 174 V,
(a) Find the duty cycle of the chopper .
(d) Find the required duty cycle of chopping to reduce motor speed to
80% of rated speed, assuming that the armature current at this speed
remains at rated value.

[Ans: (a) 0.75 , (b) 0.605]

12.12 A class-A, single-quadrant d.c. chopper is used for dynamic braking of

a separately-excited d.c. motor having armature resstance Ra = 0.2 Ω, and
inductance La of 30 mH. The braking resistance used is 10 Ω. The voltage
constant is 1.3 V/A.rad /s, and the armature current is 100 A. If the field
current is 2 A and the duty cycle of chopper is 0.5; find : (a) Average
voltage across chopper, (b) Power dissipated in braking resistance, and
(c) Motor speed.

[Ans : (a) 500 V ,(b) 15 kW, (c) 1910 rpm]

12.13 A separately-excited d.c. motor is fed from an ideal d.c. source of 500 V
through a single-quadrant d.c. chopper. The armature resistance is 0.08 Ω
and armature current is 150 A. The voltage and torque constants are 1.3
V/A.rad /s and 1.4 Nm /A2 respectively. The field current is 1.5 A. The
duty cycle of chopper is set to 0.75. Determine: (a) The input power to the
motor,(b) The speed of the motor, (c) The output torque.
[Ans : (a) 33.75 kW, (b)782.3 rpm , (c) 390 Nm]

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