AC to DC converters(controlled

rectifiers)
A controlled rectifier is a converter that provides variable DC
output voltage from the AC input supply.

Applications:

Motor drives
Heating and Lighting control
Battery chargers
Power supplies.
Classifiction of controlled rectifiers:

• Classification based on input:

(1) Single phase rectifier
(2) Three phase rectifier.
• Classification based on polarity of voltage and current:
(1) Semi converter :One quadrant converter- Provides Voltage and Current
with single polarity
(2) Full converter:Two quadrant converter-Provides either positive or
negative voltage but current will be of single polarity.
(3) Dual converer: Four quadrant converter-Provides either positive or
negative voltage and current.
• Classification based on type of rectification:
(1) Half wave-controlled rectifier –Only one cycle of input(either
positive half cycle or negative half cycle) is rectified.
(2) Full wave-controlled rectifier-Both positive and negative half cycles
of input are rectified.
Phase controlled converters:Principle of operation
of single phase half controlled rectifier with R Load
• From ωt=0 to ωt=α T1 is off. Output voltage is zero.
• During positive half cycles from 0 to π
• At ωt=α thyristor T1 is switched on. When T1 is on
output voltage is equal to input voltage. Since load is
resistive load current follows load voltage or output
voltage.
• Thyristor is on from α to π.
During negative half cycles from π to 2π.
• Thyristor T1 is reverse biased.T1 is off. Output voltage is
zero.
Peak inverse voltage(PIV)=Vm (peak value of input voltage)
Numerical example
Peak inverse voltage =Vm
single phase half controlled rectifier with RL
Load
During positive half cycles :
• From ωt=0 to ωt=α T1 is off. Output voltage is zero.
• At ωt=α (α is firing angle) thyristor T1 is switched on. When T1 is on
output voltage is equal to input voltage. Current I o in the circuit rises
as shown. Since load is R L, load current will not become zero at ωt=
π .Thyristor continues to conduct until ωt=β.β is known as extinction
angle.
• Thyristor is on from α to β. (β-α ) is the conduction angle.
During negative half cycles:
• from β to 2π thyristor is off.
• Output voltage and current are zero until next firing pulse is applied.
• Average Load Current I DC=VO(dC) /R=𝑉 𝑚 (cos𝛼 – cos𝛽)/2π𝑅
 Single phase half wave controlled rectifier with RL
load and Freewheeling diode
Circuit diagram and waveforms of Single phase half wave controlled rectifier with RL load and
Freewheeling diode is shown below.
During positive half cycles :
• From ωt=0 to ωt=α T1 is off. Output voltage is zero.
• At ωt=α (α is firing angle) thyristor T1 is switched on. When T1 is on output voltage is
equal to input voltage. Current I o in the circuit rises as shown.
• I O =I T (Thyristor current)
• I O path is :V in –T 1 –R L –V in
• Thyristor is on from α to π.
• Freewheeling diode is reverse biased.
During negative half cycles:
• from π to 2π thyristor is reverse biased and is off.
• Freewheeling diode is forward biased.I O starts flowing through freewheeling diode.
• I O path is : R L – FWD –R L
• I T =0.
• Output voltage and Thyristor current are zero until next firing pulse is applied
• Since output current is continuously flowing this mode is continuous current
conduction mode.
• Advantages of Single-phase rectifier with FWD :
The FWD( freewheeling diode )improves the waveform of DC load current by
making it continuous.
FWD protects SCR from excessive reverse voltage created by inductive load.
FWD improves input power factor and
Converter efficiency is improved as energy stored in inductance is transferred to
load.
Single phase full wave midpoint converter
Waveforms for continuous current mode.
During positive half cycles ;
• T1 is forward biased.
• From ωt=0 to ωt=α ,T1 is off.
• Gate pulse to T1 is applied at ωt=α. At ωt=α (α is firing angle) thyristor T1 is
switched on. When T1 is on output voltage is equal to input voltage. Current
I o in the circuit rises as shown. Since load is R L, load current will not become
zero at ωt= π .
• T2 is reverse biased and reverse voltage across T2 is -2V m sin ωt.
During negative half cycles:
• T2 is forward biased .
• At ωt= π+α gate pulse is applied to T2 and T2 turns on.
• Output voltage is equal to negative of input voltage from ωt= π+α to ωt=2π+α
Output current/Load current varies as shown in the waveform.
• T1 is reverse biased and reverse voltage across T1 is -2V m sin ωt.
Variation of output voltage Vo(dc) with firing angle α.

Two quadrant operation of converter

Drawbacks of Full Wave Controlled rectifier
with center tapped transformer.
• Peak inverse voltage is 2Vm.
• Center tapped transformer is heavier and bulky.
• For the required output voltage and power the transformer is costly.
Single phase full wave bridge converter
• During positive half cycles T1 and T2 start conduction at ωt=α and
Vo=Vin from ωt=α to ωt=α+π. Because of inductive load thyristors
conduct beyond 180 (π)degrees.
• During negative half cycles T3 and T4 are fired at ωt=α+π and Vo= -Vin
from ωt=α+π to ωt=α+2π. Because of inductive load thyristors
conduct beyond 360 (2π) degrees.
• Thyristors are commutated because of natural commutation.
Single phase full wave bridge converter with R L
load and freewheeling diode.
• During positive half cycles T1 and T2 start conduction at ωt=α and Vo=Vin
from ωt=α to ωt=π. At ωt=π thyristor current becomes zero and
thyristors T1 and T2are switched off.
• Load current continues to flows through freewheeling diode beyond 180
(π)degrees until T3 and T4 are fired
• During negative half cycles T3 and T4 are fired at ωt=α+π and Vo= -Vin
from ωt=α+π to ωt=2π. . At ωt=2π thyristor current becomes zero and
thyristors T3 and T4are switched off.
• After thyristors are commutated load current flows through free wheeling
diode.
Single phase full
wave bridge
converter with
R -L –E load.
Three phase controlled rectifiers
Three phase half wave controlled rectifier
• Thyristor conducts when it is forward biased ie. Its anode voltage is
greater than cathode voltage and gate pulse is applied.
• Thyristor T1 is forward biased in the range ωt =30⁰ to ωt =150⁰.
• Thyristor T2 is forward biased in the range ωt =150⁰ to ωt =270⁰.
• Thyristor T3 is forward biased in the range ωt =270⁰ to ωt =390⁰.
• Each thyristor can conduct for a duration of 120 degrees.
Output voltage waveforms for different firing angles with R load
Three phase half controlled rectifier with R –L
load.
• L is assumed large and load current is continuous.
• Since L is large thyristors continue to conduct even when voltage
across it becomes negative.
• As firing angle increases beyond 90 degrees, output voltage becomes
negative.
Waveforms for R-L load.
Three phase half controlled bridge
rectifier(semi converter)
Three phase
full converter