MCS3304

Electromechanical Devices
Engr. A. I. Khaleel
Introduction to Power Electronics
• Power electronic devices form the “muscle” of many
electromechanical systems.
• For example, one finds such devices in many appliances, in industrial
machinery, and virtually wherever an electric motor is found, since
one of the foremost applications of power electronic devices is to
supply and control the currents and voltages required to power
electric machines.
• Power electronic devices are specially designed diodes and transistors
that have the ability to carry large currents and sustain large voltages.

24/03/2023 12:20 MCS3304 2

Classification of Power Electronic Devices
Power semiconductors can be broadly subdivided into five groups:

(1) Power diodes,

(2) Thyristors,
(3) Power bipolar junction transistors (BJTs),
(4) Insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), and
(5) Static induction transistors (SITs)

24/03/2023 12:20 MCS3304 3

Power Diodes
Power diodes are functionally identical to • And Schottky have switching times as low as a
diodes except for their ability to carry much fraction of a microsecond. Schottky diodes
larger currents. You will recall that a diode can switch much faster (in the nanosecond
conducts in the forward-biased mode when the range) but are limited to around 100 V and
anode voltage (VA) is higher than the cathode 300 A.
voltage (VK).
• The forward voltage drop of power diodes is
not much higher than that of low-power
diodes, being between 0.5 and 1.2 V. Since
power diodes are used with rather large
• Three types of power diodes exist: voltages, the forward bias voltage is usually
considered negligible relative to other
• general-purpose diodes with ranges of voltages in the circuit, and the switching
voltage and current of 3000 V and 3500 A characteristics of power diodes may be
• high-speed (fast-recovery) with 3000 V and considered near ideal. The principal
1000 A, consideration in choosing power diodes is
their power rating

24/03/2023 12:20 MCS3304 4

Thyristors
• Thyristors function like power diodes with an additional gate terminal that
controls the time when the device begins conducting;

• a thyristor starts to conduct when a small gate current is injected into the
gate terminal, provided that the anode voltage is greater than the cathode
voltage (or VAK > 0 V).
• The forward voltage drop of a thyristor is of the order of 0.5 to 2 V. Once
conduction is initiated, the gate current has no further control. To stop
conduction, the device must be reverse-biased; that is, one must ensure
that VAK ≤ 0 V.

24/03/2023 12:20 MCS3304 5

Thyristors
• Thyristors can be rated at up to 6,000 V and 3,500 A. The turn-off time is
an important characteristic of thyristors; it represents the time required for
the device current to return to zero after external switching of VAK. The
fastest turn-off times available are in the range of 10 µs; however, such
turn-off times are achieved only in devices with slightly lower power
ratings (1200 V, 1000 A).

• Thyristors can be subclassified into the following groups: force-

commutated and line-commutated thyristors, gate turn-off thyristors
(GTOs), reverse-conducting thyristors (RCTs), static induction thyristors
(SITs), gate-assisted turn-off thyristors (GATTs), light-activated silicon
controlled rectifiers (LASCRs), and MOS controlled thyristors (MCTs).

24/03/2023 12:20 MCS3304 6

Triac and GTO
• Two types of thyristor-based device
deserve some more attention. The
triac, consists of a pair of thyristors
connected back to back, with a • The gate turn-off thyristor (GTO),
single gate; this allows for current on the other hand, can be turned
control in either direction. on by applying a short positive
pulse to the gate, like a thyristor,
and can also be turned off by
application of a short negative
pulse. Thus, GTOs are very
convenient in that they do not
• Thus, a triac may be thought of as a require separate commutation
bidirectional thyristor. circuits to be turned on and off

24/03/2023 12:20 MCS3304 7

Power BJTs
• Power BJTs can reach ratings up to 1200V
and 400A, and they operate in much the
same way as a conventional BJT.
• Power BJTs are used in power converter
applications at frequencies up to around
10 kHz.
• Power MOSFETs can operate at
somewhat higher frequencies (a few to
several tens of kHz), but are limited in
power (typically up to 1000V, 50 A).
• Insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs)
are voltage-controlled (because of their
insulated gate, reminiscent of insulated-
gate FETs) power transistors that offer
superior speed with respect to BJTs but
are not quite as fast as power MOSFETs.

24/03/2023 12:20 MCS3304 8

Classification of Power Electronic Circuits
Circuit type Essential features

Voltage regulators Regulate a DC supply to a fixed voltage output

Power amplifiers Large-signal amplification of voltages and currents

Switches Electronic switches (for example, transistor switches)

Diode rectifier Converts fixed AC voltage (single- or multiphase) to

fixed DC voltage

24/03/2023 12:20 MCS3304 9

Classification of Power Electronic Circuits
Circuit type Essential features

Converts fixed AC voltage (single- or

AC-DC converter (controlled rectifier) multiphase) to variable DC voltage

AC-AC converter (AC voltage controller) Converts fixed AC voltage to variable AC

voltage (single- or multiphase)

DC-DC converter (chopper) Converts fixed DC voltage to variable DC

voltage

DC-AC converter (inverter) Converts fixed DC voltage to variable AC

voltage (single- or multiphase

24/03/2023 12:20 MCS3304 10

Applications
• Power electronic devices can handle up to a few thousand volts and up to several hundred amperes and have
a host of industrial applications. Various families of power electronic circuits and their application were
discussed in this chapter.
• Voltage regulators are used in DC power supplies to provide a stable DC voltage output. The principal
element of a voltage regulator is the Zener diode.
• Transistors find application both as power amplifiers and as switches; BJTs, MOSFETs, and IGBTs are all
commonly employed, especially for switching functions. Each of these devices offers specific advantages, such
as greater current capability, or faster response. Device technology is rapidly improving, especially among
power MOSFETs.
• Power diodes and various types of thyristors find widespread application in rectifiers and controlled rectifiers,
both for single- and three-phase circuits. Rectifiers are a necessary element of DC power supplies; controlled
rectifiers also find application as DC motor drives and in many other variable-voltage applications.
• Electric motor drives based on power electronic devices allow for the implementation of sophisticated motor
controls. DC motor drives include controlled regulators and choppers (DC-DC converters), while AC motor
drives consist of inverter circuits (DC-AC converters). Both of the latter circuits make extensive use of high-
power switching elements, such as MOSFETs, thyristors, BJTs, and IGBTs

24/03/2023 12:20 MCS3304 11