TUTORIAL QUESTIONS:

1. The half-wave rectifier circuit of has vs(t) = 170 sin(377t) V and a load resistance R = 15
ohms. Determine (a) the average load current, (b) the rms load current, (c) the power
absorbed by the load, (d) the apparent power supplied by the source, and (e) the power
factor of the circuit.
2. A half-wave rectifier has a source of 120 V rms at 60 Hz and an RL load with R = 12 Ohm
and L = 12 mH. Determine (a) an expression for load current, (b) the average current, (c)
the power absorbed by the resistor, and (d) the power factor.
3. Show that the controlled half-wave rectifier with a resistive load has a power factor of
1 𝛼 sin (2𝛼)
𝑝𝑓 = − +
2 2𝜋 4𝜋

4. A single-phase fully controlled bridge converter supplies RL with emf load. The load is
such that L = 6.5 mH, R = 0.5 Ω and E = 10 V. The input voltage is VS = 120 Vrms, 60 Hz.
The load current id (t ) is continuous. The converter operates with a delay angle α = π 3
.
(a) Draw the circuit diagram of the converter. [4 marks]
(b) Determine
(i) an expression for id (t )for the period α ≤ ωt ≤ α + π . [11 marks]
(ii) the value of id (t ) at the instant t o such that ωt o = π 3 [3 marks]
(iii) the mean output voltage [3 marks]
(iv) the mean load current [2 marks]
(v) the mean transistor current [2 marks]
5. (a) A 3-phase fully controlled bridge converter is fed from a 3-phase star-connected
source with phase “1” voltage given by v1 = Vm sin ωt . The SCRs are fired in the
sequence T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6. If T1 is fired at α + (π 6) and T2 at α + (π 2) show
that the output voltage from α + (π 6) to α + (π 2) is given by
v(t ) = 3Vm sin(ωt + π6 ) . Hence, prove that the mean output voltage is given by
Vo = (3 3Vm cosα ) π . Assume that the load current is continuous.
[6 marks]
(b) A three-phase fully controlled converter fed from 415-V, 50-Hz supply delivers power
to a pure resistance load R = 10 Ω. The converter operates with a delay angle
α = 60 o . The corresponding rms output voltage is 318 V. Determine
(i) the rms and average output currents [4 marks]
(ii) the rms and average thyristor currents [4 marks]
(iii) the rms value of the source current [3 marks]
(iv) the active power delivered by the source [3 marks]

6. A 1-phase fully controlled bridge converter is operated from a 240-V, 50-Hz supply with
a load consisting of a resistor R = 10 ohms and inductor L = 5 mH in series. For a delay
angle α = tan −1 (ϖL R ) = φ (rad ) , calculate
(a) the rms and average values of the output currents, [10 marks]
 (b) the average and rms values of the thyristor currents, [6 marks]
(c) the rectification efficiency and [6 marks]
(d) the rms value of the source or input current. [3 marks]

6. A single-phase full-wave bridge rectifier has a resistive load of 18 ohms and an ac source
of 120-V rms. Determine the average, peak, and rms currents in the load and in each
diode.

7. The controlled single-phase bridge rectifier has a 20-Ohm resistive load and has a 120-V
rms, 60-Hz ac source. The delay angle is 450. Determine (a) the average load current, (b)
the rms load current, (c) the rms source current, and (d) the power factor.

8. The three-phase controlled rectifier is supplied from a 4160-V rms line-to-line 60-Hz
source. The load is a 120-ohm resistor. (a) Determine the delay angle required to
produce an average load current of 25 A. (b) Estimate the amplitudes of the voltage
harmonics V6, V12, and V18. (c) Sketch the currents in the load, S1, S4, and phase A of
the ac source.

9. A 3-phase half-wave ac regulator fed by a star-connected source supplies power to a

star-connected resistive load of R = 10 Ω per phase. The phase voltages are va = 170
sinωt, vb = 170 sin(ωt – 120o) and vc = 170 sin(ωt + 120o). The circuit operates with a
delay angle α =135o.
(a) Draw the circuit diagram of the regulator with T1 and D4 connected anti-parallel in
phase “a”, T3 and D6 anti-parallel in phase “b” and T5 and D2 anti-parallel in phase
“c”. [4 marks]
(b) Given that for a delay angle α =135o, all switches are off before an SCR is fired and an
SCR when fired switches on with only one diode, determine the following:
(a) The instant in degrees (= ωt) at which T1 is fired, the diode that switches on with T1
and the instant (= ωt) at which T1 turns off.
[3 marks]
(b) The instant in degrees (= ωt) at which T3 is fired, the diode that switches on with T3
and the instant (= ωt) when T3 turns off.
[3 marks]
(c) The instant in degrees (= ωt) at which T5 is fired, the diode that switches on with T5
and the instant (= ωt) at which T5 turns off.
[3 marks]
(c) Obtain expressions for the instantaneous output voltage of phase “a” over a period.
Give non zero expressions only.
[4 marks]
(d) Using the expressions obtained in part (c), calculate the rms output phase voltage.
[4 marks]
(e) Calculate the input power factor.
[4 marks]

10. A 3-phase ac regulator fed by a delta-star transformer supplies power to a balanced star-
connected resistive load. The voltage induced in phase “1” of the secondary winding is
 defined as v1 = Vm sin ωt . SCRs T1 and T4 are connected anti-parallel in phase “1”, T3 and
T6 anti-parallel in phase “2” and T5 and T2 anti-parallel in phase “3”.
(c) Draw the circuit diagram of the regulator. Show phase currents i1 , i2 and i3 as
entering the load and T1, T3 and T5 as carrying positive load currents.
[3 marks]
(d) The circuit operates with a delay angle α = 30o resulting in 2/3 mode of operation.
Determine the following instants (i.e. ωt ) in degrees limiting yourself to only the first
half cycle:
(i) When T1 is fired. [1 mark]
(ii) When T5 turns off. [1 mark]
(iii) When T2 is fired. [1 mark]
(iv) When T6 turns off. [1 mark]
(v) When T3 is fired. [1 mark]
(vi) When T1 turns off. [1 mark]
(e) Obtain expressions for the instantaneous output voltage of phase 1 for the first half
cycle. [6 marks]
(f) Obtain integral expression for the rms value of the output voltage in (c). All sine
terms should have θ as argument and the integration should be with respect to dθ .
Do not integrate. [5 marks]

11. A single-phase ac voltage regulator supplies power to a purely resistive load. The input
voltage is V and the load resistance is R.
(a) If phase-angle control is used and the delay angle is α, obtain an expression for
(i) the rms value of the output voltage [6 marks]
(ii) the rms value of the SCR current [3 marks]
(iii) the average value of the SCR current [4 marks]
(b) If the input voltage is 120 V, 60 Hz, R = 2.5 Ω and the delay angle α = π/2, find
(i) the conduction angle of the SCRs [1 mark]
(ii) the rms value of the output voltage [2 marks]
(iii) the rms value of the SCR current [2 marks]
(iv) the rms value of the output current [1 mark]
(v) the average current of the SCRs [1 mark]
(vi) the input power factor [3 marks]
(c) Under what circumstances will you recommend integral cycle control for heating
applications? [2 marks]
12. The 3-phase full-wave regulator in Figure 3.5 supplies power to a star-connected
resistive load of R = 20 Ω . The input phase voltages are vAN = 240 2 sin ωt ,
vBN = 240 2 sin(ωt − 2π 3) and vCN = 240 2 sin(ωt + 2π 3) . The regulator operates
with a delay angle α = π 6 .
(a) Determine the devices which conduct in the following intervals and hence expressions
for the instantaneous output voltage of phase ‘a’ in the form van = a sin(ωt + β o ) :
(i) 0 ≤ ωt π 6 (iv) π 2 ≤ ωt 2π 3
(ii) π 6 ≤ ωt π 3 (v) 2π 3 ≤ ωt 5π 6
 (iii) π 3 ≤ ωt π 2 (iv) 5π 6 ≤ ωt π
1
⎡ 3α 3 ⎤ 2
(b) Given the rms output phase voltage to be Vo = V ⎢1 − + sin (2α )⎥ volts,
⎣ 2π 4π ⎦
where V is the rms value of the input phase voltage, calculate
(i) the rms phase current of the load
(ii) the input power factor.

13. The buck dc-to-dc converter has Vs = 12 V. Average output voltage required VO = 5 V.
Peak-to-peak output ripple voltage is 20 mV. The switching frequency is 25 kHz. The
peak-to-peak inductor current is to be limited to 0.8 A. Find (a) the duty cycle, (b) the
filter inductance L and (c) the filter capacitance C.

14. The boost dc-to-dc converter has VS = 5 V. Average output voltage required Vo = 15 V.
Average load current is 0.5 A. The switching frequency is 25 kHz. L = 150 µH and C = 220
µF. Find (a) the duty cycle, (b) the ripple current of inductor, (c) the peak current of
inductor and (d) the output ripple voltage.

15. A dc step-down chopper in Figure 4.2 has a resistive load of R = 10 Ω and the input
voltage is Vs = 220V . When the chopper switch remains on, its voltage drop is vch = 2V
and the chopper frequency is f = 1 kHz . If the duty cycle is 50%, sketch the following
waveforms over a period and use them to obtain their average values:
(a) the output voltage [2 marks]
(b) the output power [2 marks]
(c) the input power [2 marks]

16. A step-down chopper in Figure 4.2 feeds a load consisting of resistance R in series with
inductance L from a supply voltage Vs.
(a) Draw the basic circuit of the chopper. [2 marks]
(b) Name FOUR power semiconductor devices that can be used to implement the
controlled switch of the chopper [4 marks]
(c) For Vs =220 V, R = 5 Ω, L = 7.5 mH, chopper frequency f = 1 kHz and duty cycle δ =
0.5, calculate
(i) the minimum and maximum instantaneous currents I1 and I2 from first
principles. [10 marks]
(ii) the average value of the load current Ia [2 marks]
(iii) the effective input resistance Ri seen by the source [2 marks]

17. A series chopper shown in Figure 4.2 is feeding an RL load from a source Vs.
(a) Prove the following:
RT
⎡ − ( ON ) ⎤
V 1− e L ⎥
(i) I max = s ⎢ [6 marks]
R⎢ −(
RT
) ⎥
⎢⎣ 1 − e L ⎥⎦
 ⎡ RTON ⎤
V ⎢ e L − 1⎥
(ii) I min = [6 marks]
R ⎢ RTL ⎥
⎣⎢ e − 1 ⎦⎥
(iii) Vav = I av R [3 marks]
Where
Imax = maximum instantaneous load current.
Imin = minimum instantaneous load current.
Iav = average of load current.
Vav = average of load voltage.
(b) If R = 5 Ω, L= 7.5 mH, T = I ms and TON = 0.5 ms, calculate:
(i) Imax [4 marks]
(ii) Imin [4 marks]
(iii) the average load current [2 marks]
(iv) the average source current [2 marks]

18. The dc chopper shown in Figure 4.6 is used to control power flow from a dc voltage, Vs
=110 V to a battery voltage, E = 220 V. The power transferred to the battery is 30 kW.
The current ripple of the inductor is negligible. Determine (a) the duty cycle, (b) the
effective load resistance Req and (c) the average input current.

19. For Problem 4, plot the instantaneous inductor current and current through the battery
E if inductor L has a finite value of L = 7.5 mH, f =250 Hz and δ = 0.5

20. A buck converter operates in the CCM with δ = 0.5. The switching frequency f is 100 kHz.
R = 10 ohms. Peak-to-peak output ripple voltage is 1 %, i.e., Vr\Vo is 0.01. Find (a) Lmin
and (b) Cmin with L = Lmin. (Ans 25 µH, 25 µF)

21. A boost converter operates in the CCM with δ = 0.5. The switching frequency f is 100
kHz. R = 10 ohms. Peak-to-peak output ripple voltage is 1 %, i.e., Vr\Vo is 0.01. Find (a)
Lmin and (b) Cmin (Ans 6.25 µH, 50 µF)

22.