DC Choppers

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 1

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Introduction
• Chopper is a static device.
• A variable dc voltage is obtained from a
constant dc voltage source.
• Also known as dc-to-dc converter.
• Widely used for motor control.
• Also used in regenerative braking.
• Thyristor converter offers greater efficiency,
faster response, lower maintenance, smaller
size and smooth control.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 2
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Choppers are of Two Types
 Step-down choppers.
 Step-up choppers.
 In step down chopper output voltage is less
than input voltage.
 In step up chopper output voltage is more
than input voltage.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 3

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Principle Of
Step-down Chopper
C hopper
i0
+

V R V0


MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 4
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• A step-down chopper with resistive load.
• The thyristor in the circuit acts as a switch.
• When thyristor is ON, supply voltage appears
across the load
• When thyristor is OFF, the voltage across the
load will be zero.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 5

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 v0
V

V dc

t
tO N tO F F
i0

V /R
Id c
t
T

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 6

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Vdc  Average value of output or load voltage.
I dc  Average value of output or load current.
tON  Time interval for which SCR conducts.
tOFF  Time interval for which SCR is OFF.
T  tON  tOFF  Period of switching or chopping period.
1
f   Freq. of chopper switching or chopping freq.
T
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 7
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Average Output Voltage
 tON 
Vdc  V  
 tON  tOFF 
 tON 
Vdc  V    V .d
 T 
 tON 
but    d  duty cycle
 t 
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 8
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Average Output Current
Vdc
I dc 
R
V  tON  V
I dc    d
R T  R
RMS value of output voltage
tON
1
 v dt
2
VO  o
T 0

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 9

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 But during tON , vo  V
Therefore RMS output voltage
tON
1

2
VO  V dt
T 0

2
V tON
VO  tON  .V
T T
VO  d .V
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 10
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Output power PO  VO I O
VO
But IO 
R
 Output power
2
V
PO  O

R
2
dV
PO 
R
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 11
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Effective input resistance of chopper
V
Ri 
I dc
R
Ri 
d
The output voltage can be varied by
varying the duty cycle.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 12
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Methods Of Control
• The output dc voltage can be varied by the
following methods.
– Pulse width modulation control or constant
frequency operation.
– Variable frequency control.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 13

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Pulse Width Modulation
• tON is varied keeping chopping frequency ‘f’ &
chopping period ‘T’ constant.
• Output voltage is varied by varying the ON
time tON

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 14

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 V0

tO N tO F F

t
T
V0

t
tO N tO FF
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 15
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Variable Frequency Control
• Chopping frequency ‘f’ is varied keeping
either tON or tOFF constant.
• To obtain full output voltage range, frequency
has to be varied over a wide range.
• This method produces harmonics in the output
and for large tOFF load current may become
discontinuous

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 16

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 v0
V

tO N tO F F
t
T
v0

tO N tO F F
t
T
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 17
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Step-down Chopper
With R-L Load
C hopper
i0
+
R

V V0
FW D L

E

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 18
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• When chopper is ON, supply is connected
across load.
• Current flows from supply to load.
• When chopper is OFF, load current continues
to flow in the same direction through FWD due
to energy stored in inductor ‘L’.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 19
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Load current can be continuous or discontinuous
depending on the values of ‘L’ and duty cycle
‘d’
• For a continuous current operation, load current
varies between two limits Imax and Imin
• When current becomes equal to Imax the chopper
is turned-off and it is turned-on when current
reduces to Imin.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 20
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 v0
O utput
voltage
V
tO N tO F F
t
T
i0 O utput
Im a x current

C ontinuous
I m in current
t
i0 O utput
current
D iscontinuous
current
t
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 21
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Principle Of Step-up Chopper

I L D
+
+ 

L
C O VO
V A
D
C hopper


MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 22
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Step-up chopper is used to obtain a load voltage
higher than the input voltage V.
• The values of L and C are chosen depending
upon the requirement of output voltage and
current.
• When the chopper is ON, the inductor L is
connected across the supply.
• The inductor current ‘I’ rises and the inductor
stores energy during the ON time of the chopper,
tON.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 23
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• When the chopper is off, the inductor current I
is forced to flow through the diode D and load
for a period, tOFF.
• The current tends to decrease resulting in
reversing the polarity of induced EMF in L.
• Therefore voltage across load is given by
dI
VO  V  L i.e., VO  V
dt
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 24
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• A large capacitor ‘C’ connected across the load,
will provide a continuous output voltage .
• Diode D prevents any current flow from
capacitor to the source.
• Step up choppers are used for regenerative
braking of dc motors.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 25

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Expression For Output Voltage
Assume the average inductor current to be
I during ON and OFF time of Chopper.
When Chopper is ON
Voltage across inductor L  V
Therefore energy stored in inductor
= V .I .tON
Where tON  ON period of chopper.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 26
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
When Chopper is OFF
(energy is supplied by inductor to load)
Voltage across L  VO  V
Energy supplied by inductor L  VO  V  ItOFF
where tOFF  OFF period of Chopper.
Neglecting losses, energy stored in inductor
L = energy supplied by inductor L
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 27
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
  VItON  VO  V  ItOFF
V tON  tOFF 
VO 
tOFF
 T 
VO  V  
 T  tON 
Where
T = Chopping period or period
of switching.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 28
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 T  tON  tOFF
 
 1 
VO  V  
tON
 1 
 T 
 1 
 VO  V  
 1 d 
tON
Where d   duty cyle
T
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 29
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
For variation of duty cycle ' d ' in the
range of 0  d  1 the output voltage VO
will vary in the range V  VO  

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 30

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Performance Parameters
• The thyristor requires a certain minimum time to
turn ON and turn OFF.
• Duty cycle d can be varied only between a min.
& max. value, limiting the min. and max. value
of the output voltage.
• Ripple in the load current depends inversely on
the chopping frequency, f.
• To reduce the load ripple current, frequency
should be as high as possible.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 31
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Classification Of Choppers
• Choppers are classified as
– Class A Chopper
– Class B Chopper
– Class C Chopper
– Class D Chopper
– Class E Chopper

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 32

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Class A Chopper
i0 v0
+

C hopper
L
O v0 V
V A
FW D D

 i0

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 33

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• When chopper is ON, supply voltage V is
connected across the load.
• When chopper is OFF, vO = 0 and the load
current continues to flow in the same direction
through the FWD.
• The average values of output voltage and
current are always positive.
• Class A Chopper is a first quadrant chopper .
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 34
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Class A Chopper is a step-down chopper in
which power always flows form source to load.
• It is used to control the speed of dc motor.
• The output current equations obtained in step
down chopper with R-L load can be used to
study the performance of Class A Chopper.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 35

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
ig T hyristor
gate pulse

t
i0
O utput current

CH ON
t
v0 FW D C onducts
O utput voltage

t
tO N
T
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 36
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Class B Chopper

D
i0 v0
+
R

V L v0

C hopper
E i 0

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 37
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• When chopper is ON, E drives a current
through L and R in a direction opposite to that
shown in figure.
• During the ON period of the chopper, the
inductance L stores energy.
• When Chopper is OFF, diode D conducts, and
part of the energy stored in inductor L is
returned to the supply.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 38
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Average output voltage is positive.
• Average output current is negative.
• Therefore Class B Chopper operates in second
quadrant.
• In this chopper, power flows from load to
source.
• Class B Chopper is used for regenerative
braking of dc motor.
• Class B Chopper is a step-up chopper.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 39

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 ig
T hyristor
gate pulse

t
i0 tO F F tO N

T
t
O utput current
I m ax
I m in
D
con d u cts C h o pp er
con d u cts
v0 O utput v oltage

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 40

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Class C Chopper

CH1 D1
i0 v0
+

V R

CH2 D2 L v0

C hopper
i0
E

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 41
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Class C Chopper is a combination of Class A and
Class B Choppers.
• For first quadrant operation, CH1 is ON or D2
conducts.
• For second quadrant operation, CH2 is ON or D1
conducts.
• When CH1 is ON, the load current is positive.
• The output voltage is equal to ‘V’ & the load
receives power from the source.
• When CH1 is turned OFF, energy stored in
inductance L forces current to flow through the
diode D2 and the output voltage is zero.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 42
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Current continues to flow in positive direction.
• When CH2 is triggered, the voltage E forces
current to flow in opposite direction through L
and CH2 .
• The output voltage is zero.
• On turning OFF CH2 , the energy stored in the
inductance drives current through diode D1 and
the supply
• Output voltage is V, the input current becomes
negative and power flows from load to source.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 43
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Average output voltage is positive
• Average output current can take both positive
and negative values.
• Choppers CH1 & CH2 should not be turned ON
simultaneously as it would result in short
circuiting the supply.
• Class C Chopper can be used both for dc motor
control and regenerative braking of dc motor.
• Class C Chopper can be used as a step-up or
step-down chopper.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 44
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 ig 1
G ate pulse
of C H 1

t
ig 2 G ate pulse
of C H 2
t
i0
O utput current

D1 CH1 D2 CH2 D1 CH1 D2 CH2

ON ON ON ON
V0
O utput voltage

t
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 45
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Class D Chopper
v0
CH1 D2

R i0 L E
V
+ v0  i0

D1 CH2

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 46

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Class D is a two quadrant chopper.
• When both CH1 and CH2 are triggered
simultaneously, the output voltage vO = V and
output current flows through the load.
• When CH1 and CH2 are turned OFF, the load
current continues to flow in the same direction
through load, D1 and D2 , due to the energy stored
in the inductor L.
• Output voltage vO = - V .
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 47
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Average load voltage is positive if chopper
ON time is more than the OFF time
• Average output voltage becomes negative if
tON < tOFF .
• Hence the direction of load current is always
positive but load voltage can be positive or
negative.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 48

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
ig 1
G ate pulse
of C H 1

t
ig 2 G ate pulse
of C H 2
t
i0
O utput current

t
C H 1 ,C H 2 D 1,D 2 Conducting
ON
v0
O utput voltage
V
Average v 0
t

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 49

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
ig 1
G ate pulse
of C H 1

t
ig 2 G ate pulse
of C H 2
t
i0
O utput current

CH1
CH2
t
D 1, D 2
v0 O utput voltage
V

t
Average v 0

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 50

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Class E Chopper

CH1 D1 CH3 D3

i0 R L E
V
+ 
v0
CH2 D2 CH4 D4

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 51

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Four Quadrant Operation
v0
C H 2 - D 4 C onducts CH1 - CH4 ON
D 1 - D 4 C onducts C H 4 - D 2 C onducts

i0

CH3 - CH2 ON D 2 - D 3 C onducts

C H 2 - D 4 C onducts C H 4 - D 2 C onducts
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 52
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Class E is a four quadrant chopper
• When CH1 and CH4 are triggered, output
current iO flows in positive direction through
CH1 and CH4, and with output voltage vO = V.
• This gives the first quadrant operation.
• When both CH1 and CH4 are OFF, the energy
stored in the inductor L drives iO through D2 and
D3 in the same direction, but output voltage vO
= -V.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 53
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Therefore the chopper operates in the
fourth quadrant.
• When CH2 and CH3 are triggered, the load
current iO flows in opposite direction & output
voltage vO = -V.
• Since both iO and vO are negative, the chopper
operates in third quadrant.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 54
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• When both CH2 and CH3 are OFF, the load
current iO continues to flow in the same
direction D1 and D4 and the output voltage
vO = V.
• Therefore the chopper operates in second
quadrant as vO is positive but iO is negative.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 55
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Effect Of Source &
Load Inductance

• The source inductance should be as small as

possible to limit the transient voltage.
• Also source inductance may cause
commutation problem for the chopper.
• Usually an input filter is used to overcome the
problem of source inductance.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 56
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• The load ripple current is inversely
proportional to load inductance and chopping
frequency.
• Peak load current depends on load inductance.
• To limit the load ripple current, a smoothing
inductor is connected in series with the load.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 57

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Types of Commutation
• Natural
• Forced

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS

Natural commutation

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS

 Forced commutation

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Methods of Forced Commutation

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 Voltage Commutated chopper
(Impulse Commutated Chopper)

• Impulse commutated choppers are widely used in

high power circuits where load fluctuation is not
large.
• This chopper is also known as
– Parallel capacitor turn-off chopper
– Voltage commutated chopper
– Classical chopper.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 62

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 LS T1 iT 1

+ a + IL +
_ C
b T2
iC FW D
L
O
VS A vO
D

L D1
_ _

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 63

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• To start the circuit, capacitor ‘C’ is initially
charged with polarity (with plate ‘a’ positive) by
triggering the thyristor T2.
• Capacitor ‘C’ gets charged through VS, C, T2 and
load.
• As the charging current decays to zero thyristor T2
will be turned-off.
• With capacitor charged with plate ‘a’ positive the
circuit is ready for operation.
• Assume that the load current remains constant
during the commutation process.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 64
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• For convenience the chopper operation is
divided into five modes.
– Mode-1
– Mode-2
– Mode-3
– Mode-4
– Mode-5

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 65

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Modes of Operation

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS

 Mode-1 Operation
LS T1

+ + IL
VC _C iC
L
VS O
A
D
L D1
_
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 67
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Thyristor T1 is fired at t = 0.
• The supply voltage comes across the load.
• Load current IL flows through T1 and load.
• At the same time capacitor discharges through T1, D1, L1,
& ‘C’ and the capacitor reverses its voltage.
• This reverse voltage on capacitor is held constant by
diode D1.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 68

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Capacitor Discharge Current
C
iC t   V sin  t
L
1
Where 
LC
& Capacitor Voltage
VC t   V cos  t
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 69
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Mode-2 Operation
IL
+ LS _ IL
VC C L
VS + T2 O
A
D
_

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 70

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Thyristor T2 is now fired to commutate thyristor T1.
• When T2 is ON capacitor voltage reverse biases T1
and turns if off.
• The capacitor discharges through the load from –V
to 0.
• Discharge time is known as circuit turn-off time.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 71

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Circuit turn-off time is given by
VC  C
tC 
IL
Where I L is load current.
t C depends on load current, it must be designed
for the worst case condition which occur at the
maximum value of load current and minimum
value of capacitor voltage.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 72
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Capacitor recharges back to the supply voltage
(with plate ‘a’ positive).
• This time is called the recharging time and is
given by
VS  C
td 
IL
• The total time required for the capacitor to
discharge and recharge is called the
commutation time and it is given by tr  tC  td
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 73
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• At the end of Mode-2 capacitor has recharged
to VS and the free wheeling diode starts
conducting.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 74

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Mode-3 Operation
IL
+ LS + IL
VS _C T2 L
VS O
A
FW D D
_
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 75
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• FWD starts conducting and the load current
decays.
• The energy stored in source inductance LS is
transferred to capacitor.
• Hence capacitor charges to a voltage higher
than supply voltage, T2 naturally turns off.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 76

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 The instantaneous capacitor voltage is
LS
VC t   VS  I L sin  S t
C
Where
1
S 
LS C
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 77
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Mode-4 Operation
LS

+ + IL
VC _C L
D1 O
VS
A
L D
_ FW D

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 78

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Capacitor has been overcharged i.e. its voltage
is above supply voltage.
• Capacitor starts discharging in reverse
direction.
• Hence capacitor current becomes negative.
• The capacitor discharges through LS, VS, FWD,
D1 and L.
• When this current reduces to zero D1 will stop
conducting and the capacitor voltage will be
same as the supply voltage
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 79
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Mode-5 Operation

IL
L • Both thyristors are off
FW D O
A and the load current
D flows through the FWD.
• This mode will end once
thyristor T1 is fired.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 80
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 ic C a p a c ito r C u rre n t
IL
0 t
Ip
i T1
Ip
IL C u rre n t th ro u g h T 1
t
0

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 81

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 v T1
Vc Vo lta g e a c ro ss T 1
t
0
vo
V s+ V c
Vs O u tp u t Vo lta g e
t
vc

Vc
t
C a p a c ito r Vo lta g e
-V c
tc
td
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 82
Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Disadvantages
• A starting circuit is required and the starting circuit
should be such that it triggers thyristor T2 first.
• Load voltage jumps to almost twice the supply
voltage when the commutation is initiated.
• The discharging and charging time of commutation
capacitor are dependent on the load current and
this limits high frequency operation, especially at
low load current.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 83

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Chopper cannot be tested without connecting
load.
• Thyristor T1 has to carry load current as well
as resonant current resulting in increasing its
peak current rating.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS 84

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
What is meant by Current
Commutation?

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS

 Assumptions

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Current commutated Chopper

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 Modes of Operation

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Voltage and Current waveforms of
CCC

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Load Commutated Chopper

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Modes of Operation of Load
Commutated Chopper

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Advantages of Current commutated
Chopper

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Load Commutated Chopper

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Modes of Operation of Load
Commutated Chopper

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 MULTIPHASE CHOPPERS

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 The multiphase chopper consists of two or more choppers
connected in parallel. Inductance L is assumed to be sufficiently
large such that each chopper operates independent of each other.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS

 Modes of operation

• In-phase operation
• Phase shifted operation

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MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS
 *Load current Io is ripple free
→For a duty cycle of 30 %
In phase operation
•All the parallel connected choppers are on and
off at the same instant.
•Input current i = i1 +i2 is doubled.
•Operation is equivalent to a single chopper
operation.
•Frequency of harmonics in the input current =
1/T (Switching frequency of each chopper).
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS
Phase shifted operation
•Different choppers are ON and OFF at different
instansts of time.
•For α=30 % chopper 1 is ON for 0.3T from
t=0,chopper 2 is made ON such that i1+i2 is
periodic in nature.
•Frequency of ‘i’ is doubled and its ripple current
amplitude [Imax –Imin] is halved.
•Frequency of harmonics in the input current is 2 x
1/T.
•Size of filter is reduced as a result, making phase-
shifted operation of multiphase choppers the most
preferred.
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS
MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS
→For α=50%
i for phase shifted operation is continuous and
without any ripples.

→For α=60%
I is continuous with a pedestal of 0.5 Io

*Multiphase choppers are used where large load

current is required.

MH1032/brsr/A.Y 2016-17/pe/DC CHOPPERS

Advantage:
Input current has reduced ripple amplitude and
increased ripple frequency. As a consequence the
size of the filter is reduced.

Disadvantage:
Extra commutation circuits
Additional external inductors
Complexity in the control logic

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