Cycloconverter

Unit IV: Power Electronics

Subject Teacher: Dr. Shilpa
Kalambe
Introduction
• In industrial applications, two forms of electrical
energy Direct Current (DC) and Alternate current
(AC) are used.
• Constant voltage and constant current AC is directly
available.
• However, for different applications, different forms,
different voltages, and/or different currents are
needed.
• Converters are needed to achieve different forms.
These converters are classified as rectifiers,
choppers, inverters, and cyclo converters.
• Rectifier converts from Single-phase or three-
phase AC to variable DC Voltage.
• Choppers convert from DC to variable DC
voltage.
• Inverters convert from DC to variable magnitude
variable frequency single-phase or three-phase
AC.
• Cycloconverters convert from single-phase or
three-phase AC to variable magnitude variable
frequency single-phase or three-phase AC.
 What is a Cycloconverter?
 A Cycloconverter is a device that converts AC, power at one
frequency into AC power of an adjustable but lower frequency
without any direct current, or DC, stage in between.
 It is also called as static recurrence charger and holds silicon-
regulated rectifiers.
 Cyclo-converters are used in very large variable frequency
drives with ratings from few megawatts up to many tens of
megawatts.
 It converts a constant voltage, constant frequency AC waveform
to another AC waveform of a different frequency.
 It converts AC to AC whilst changing only the frequency. Hence
it is also known as a frequency changer.
 Normally, the output frequency is less than the input
frequency.
 There are no DC stages in between this conversion process.
 The implementation of the control circuit is complicated due to
a large number of SCRs
Need of Cycloconverters!

• Cycloconveters are used for driving large motors like

the one used in Rolling mills, Ball mills Cement kils
etc.
• Cycloconverters can reduce frequency upto to zero
which is required to start very large motors with full
load at minimum speed and then gradually increase
the speed of the motor by increasing the output
Frequency.
• Before the invention of Cycloconverters, these large
motors has to be unloaded completely and then after
starting the motor it has to be loaded gradually
which results in time and man power consumption.
Types of Cycloconverters
• A cycloconverter is having four thyristors
divided into a positive and negative bank of two
thyristors each.
• There are two main types of cycloconverters are
▫ Blocking mode Cycloconverters
▫ Circulating current Cycloconverters
Blocking Mode Cycloconverters
• The positive converter will provide the necessary voltage
when there is positive load current.
• At that time, the negative converter will be in the blocked
condition.
• During the negative load current, the negative converter
will provide the necessary voltage and at that time, the
negative converter will be in the blocked condition.
• This type of operation is known as blocking mode
operation and the converters which use this method of
operation are termed as blocking mode
cycloconverters.
• There is no need of intergroup reactors because only one
converter is working at a time.
• Cost and size of these converters are low. These
converters are most commonly used.
Circuiting Current Cycloconverter
• In this type of converter, both converters are in the
operating state at a time.
• Sometimes, the supply will get short circuited when
both converters are enabled.
• The intergroup reactor (IGR) is connected in
between the converters to avoid this short circuiting.
• The circulating current which is unidirectional is
present here.
• Mainly there are two types according to the output
frequency which are showing below
▫ Step-up cycloconverters
▫ Step-down cycloconverters
• Step Up Cycloconverters
It can provide an output having the frequency
greater than the input frequency by using line
commutation.
• Step Down Cycloconverters
It provides output having lower frequency than
the input frequency by using forced
commutation.
Single-Phase to Single-Phase Cycloconverter
Three-Phase to Single-Phase Cycloconverter
Three-Phase to Three-Phase Cycloconverter
Single Phase to Single Phase
Cycloconverters
• It consists of two full wave converters that are linked back to
back or we can say
• It has two pairs of full wave rectifier circuit, each consisting of
four SCR. One set is placed straight while the other is placed
in anti-parallel direction as shown on the picture below.
Three Phase to Single Phase
Cycloconverters
• The Three Phase to Single Phase Cycloconverters
is also similar to the Single Phase to Single
Phase Cycloconverters, except the phase
variation.
• The circuit is aslo similar but in this type we
need 6 SCRs in each set of Rectifier since we
have to rectify the 3 Phase AC voltage.
• During positive half cycle of the input, conduction of
the positive group thyristors is controlled and during
negative half-cycle, conduction of negative group of
thyristors is controlled in order to produce an output
voltage at desired frequency.
• In a bridge type of cyclo-converter, both positive and
negative converters can generate voltages at either
polarity, but negative converter only supplies
negative current while positive converter supply
positive current.
• Therefore, the cyclo-converter can operate in four
quadrants, i.e., rectification modes of (+V, +i) and (-
V, -i) and inversion modes of (+V, -i) and (-V, +i).
• Figure shows the conversion of three phase supply at one
frequency to single phase supply of lower frequency. In this,
the firing angle to a positive group of thyristors is varied
progressively to produce single phase output voltage.
• At point M, the firing angle is 90 degrees and it is reduced till
point S where it is zero. Again from point T to Y, the delay
angle is progressively increased.
• This varied triggering signals to the thyristors, varies its
conduction time periods and hence the frequency of the
output voltage.
 Three-phase to three-phase cyclo-
converter
• Three phase cyclo-converter half-wave converter is also called as 18-
thyristor cyclo-converter or 3-pulse cyclo-converter and three-phase
to three-phase bridge type cyclo-converter is called as 6-pulse cyclo-
converter or 36-thyristor cyclo-converter.
• This converter consists of six groups of converter circuits where
three groups are called as positive group while other three are
negative group.
• During each positive half cycle, positive group carries the current
and during negative half cycle, negative group carries the current.
The duration for conduction of each group of thyristor determines
the desired output frequency.
• Here average value of output voltage is varied by varying the firing or
delay angle of SCRs conduction whereas the output frequency can be
varied by changing the sequence of firing the SCRs.
Three phase half-wave cyclo-
converter
Three phase bridge type cyclo-converter
Three-phase to three-phase cyclo-converter
• Three-phase cyclo converters are more popular
than single-phase type as these can handle very
large currents and produce smooth output
waveform.
• It is a highly efficient variable frequency drive,
because the pulse number is increased due to the
large number of thyristors, which causes small
ripple content in the output voltage waveform.
Applications
Cyclo-converters are mainly used for producing low
frequency AC voltage. The main application of such
requirement is the electric traction system where
low frequencies, typically 25 Hz or 16 2/3 Hz are
preferred.
▫ HVDC transmission systems
▫ Static Var Generation
▫ Aircraft or shipboard power supplies
▫ Speed control of high power AC drives
▫ Grinding mills
▫ Cement mill drives
▫ Mine winders