PRINCIPLE OF PHASE CONTROLLED RECTIFIER OPERATION
The basic principle of operation of a phase controlled rectifier circuit is
explained with reference to a single phase half wave phase controlled rectifier circuit with a resistive load
shown in the figure.
R = RL = Load Resistance
Fig.: Single Phase Half-Wave Thyristor Converter with a Resistive Load
The input ac supply is obtained from a main
supply transformer to provide the desired ac supply voltage to the thyristor converter
depending on the output dc voltage required. P v represents the primary input ac
supply voltage. S v represents the secondary ac supply voltage which is the output of
the transformer secondary.
During the positive half cycle of input supply when the upper end of the
transformer secondary is at a positive potential with respect to the lower end, the
thyristor anode is positive with respect to its cathode and the thyristor is in a forward
biased state. The thyristor is triggered at a delay angle of ωt =α , by applying a
suitable gate trigger pulse to the gate lead of thyristor. When the thyristor is triggered
at a delay angle of ωt =α , the thyristor conducts and assuming an ideal thyristor, the
thyristor behaves as a closed switch and the input supply voltage appears across the
load when the thyristor conducts from ωt =α to π radians. Output voltage Vo = Vs ,
when the thyristor conducts from ωt =α to π
For a purely resistive load, the load current io (output current) that flows
when the thyristor 1 T is on, is given by the expression
The output load current waveform is in phase and similar to the output load voltage
waveform during the thyristor conduction time from α to π for a resistive load. The maximum load
current flows at is calculated as
During the negative half cycle of input supply when the supply voltage
reverses and becomes negative during ωt =π to 2π radians, the anode of thyristor is
at a negative potential with respect to its cathode and as a result the thyristor is reverse
biased and hence it remains cut-off (in the reverse blocking mode). The thyristor
cannot conduct during its reverse biased state between ωt =π to 2π . An ideal
thyristor under reverse biased condition behaves as an open switch and hence the load
current and load voltage are zero during ωt =π to 2 π.
The trigger angle α (delay angle or the phase angle α ) is measured from the
beginning of each positive half cycle to the time instant when the gate trigger pulse is
applied. The thyristor conduction angle is from α to π , hence the conduction angle
δ = (π −α ) . The maximum conduction angle is π radians (1800) when the trigger
angle α = 0
.
