CHOPPER

A chopper is a static device that converts fixed DC input voltage to variable output voltage
directly. Chopper are mostly used in electric vehicle, mini haulers.

Chopper are used for speed control and braking. The systems employing chopper offer
smooth control, high efficiency and have fast response.

The average output voltage is

t1
1 1
Va  
T 0
V0 dt  Vs (t1 )  ft1Vs  Vs
T

The average load current

Va Vs
Ia  
R R

Where, T=chopping period

Duty cycle of chopper =

t1

T

f=chopping frequency

The rms value of output voltage is

 1
1
V0  (  V0 dt ) 2  Vs
2

T 0

If we consider the converter to be loss less then the input power is equal to the output power and is
given by
 T T 2
1 1 Vo
Pi 
T 0 V0 idt 
T 0 R dt
1 Vs2 Vs2
 ( T ) 
T R R
The effective input resistance seen by the P source is

Vs V R
Pi   s 
I a Vs 
R

The duty cycle α can be varied by varying t₁ , T of frequency.

Constant frequency operation:

1)The chopping period T is kept constant and on time is varied.

The pulse width modulation ,the width of the pulse is varied.

2) Variable frequency operation, the chopping frequency f is varied.

Frequency modulation, either on time or off time is kept constant.

This type of control generate harmonics at unpredictable frequency and filter design is often
difficult.

TYPES OF CHOPPER:
FIRST QUADRANT OR TYPE A CHOPPER:

When switch ON

V0  Vs .
Current i₀ flows in the same direction when switch off.

V₀=0, i₀=0

So, average value of both the load and the current are positive.

SECOND QUADRANT OR TYPE B CHOPPER:

When switch are closed the load voltage E drives current through L and switch. During
Ton

L stores energy.

When switch off

V0 exceeds source voltage Vs .

di
V0  E  L
dt

Diode D₂ is forward biased.power is fed back to supply. As V₀is more than sourse voltage. So such
chopper is called step up chopper.

di
V0  E  L
dt

So current is always negative and V₀ is always positive.

TWO QUADRANT TYPE A CHOPPER OR, TYPE C CHOPPER:

Both the switches never switch ON simultaneously as it lead direct short circuit of the
supply.

Now when sw2 is closed or FD is on the output voltage V₀ is zero.

When sw1 is ON or diode D conducts output voltage is V₀ is +V s’

CURRENT ANANLYSIS:

When CH1 is ON current flows along i0. When CH1 is off current continues to flow along i0
as FD is forward biased. So i0 is positive.

Now when CH2 is ON current direction will be opposite to i0. When sw2 is off D2 turns ON.

Load current is –i0. So average load voltage is always positive. Average load current may be
positive or negative.

TWO QUADRANT TYPE B CHOPPER, OR TYPE D CHOPPER:

When CH1 and CH2 both are on then V0=Vs.

When CH1 and CH2 are off and D1 and D2 are on V 0=-Vs.

The direction of current is always positive because chopper and diode can only conduct in
the direction of arrow shown in fig.

Average voltage is positive when Ton>Toff

FOUR QUADRANT CHOPPER, OR TYPE E CHOPPER

FIRST QUADRANT:

CH4 is kept ON

CH3 is off

CH1 is operarted

V0=Vs

i0 = positive

when CH1 is off positive current free wheels through CH4,D2

so V0 and I2 is in first quadrant.

SECOND QUADRANT:

CH1,CH3,CH4 are off.

CH2 is operated.

Reverse current flows and I is negative through L CH2 D4 and E.

When CH2 off D1 and D4 is ON and current id fed back to source. So

di
EL
dt is more than source voltage Vs.

As i0 is negative and V0 is positive, so second quadrant operation.

THIRD QUADRANT:

CH1 OFF, CH2 ON

CH3 operated. So both V0 and i0 is negative.

When CH3 turned off negative current freewheels through CH2 and D4.

FOURTH QUADRANT:
CH4 is operated other are off.

Positive current flows through CH4 E L D2.

Inductance L stores energy when current fed to source through D3 and D2.V0 is negative.

STEADY STATE ANALYSIS OF PRACTICAL BUCK CHOPPER:

The voltage across the inductor L is ei=Ldi/dt.

d (i2  i1 ) i
Vs  Va  L L
t1 t1

iL
t1 
Vs  Va .

The inductor current falls linearly from I2 to I1 in time t2 as Vs =0.

So

L(i1  i2 )
Va 
t2

If I2-I1=ΔI then

LI
Va  
t2

LI
t2 
Va .

ΔI=I2-I1= peak to peak ripple current.

(Vs  Va ) t1 Vat2
I  
L L

Now t1=αT, t2=(1-α)T

t1
Va  Vs  Vs
T

Α<1 so it is a step down or buck converter.

If the circuit is lossless then VsIs=Va Ia=αVsIa

Is =α Ia.

Now switching period T can be expressed as

T=1/f= t1+ t2=ΔIL/(Vs-Va) + ΔIL/(Va)

=ΔILVs/Va(Vs-Va)

So peak to peak ripple current

Va (Vs  Va )
I 
fLVs

Va (1   )
I 
fL

The peak to peak voltage of the capacitor is

I
Vc 
8 fc

So from above equation

Va (Vs  Va ) Vs (1   )
Vc  .
8Lcf 2Vs 8Lcf 2

Condition for continuous inductor current and capacitor voltage :

If IL is the average inductor current

I L  2I L
….as

Va  Vs

Vs (1   )

fL

I 2  I1
 IL
As 2

I  2 I L
So

Vs (1   )
fL …..eq (2)

Vs (1   ) 2Vs
 2I L  2I a 
fL R …..eq(4)
 Vs
Va  Vs so Ia 
As R

2Vs
2Ia 
R

So equation 4 gives

(1   ) R
Lc 
2f

Which is the critical value of inductor

Vc  2Va

Vs (1   )
2Va   2Vs
8Lcf 2

1
c
16 Lf 2

Peak to peak ripple voltage of capacitor:

Vc  Vc  Vc (t  0)

1 t1 1 t1 It
 
c 0
I c dt   I a  a 1
c 0 c

Va  Vs
t1 
Vaf
So

Va  Vs
t1 
Vaf

Vs
 1 
Va

t1 Vs
 1 
T Va

Va  Vs
 t1 
Va f

I a Va  Vs
Vc  ( )
c Vaf
So
 I a
 Vc 
fc

Condition for continuous imductor current and capacitor voltage:

If IL= average inductor current then

I
IL 
2

Vs 2Vs
I   2I L  2I a 
fL (1   ) R

Vs
Va 
As 1

2Vs
 2I a 
(1   ) R

2Vs V
I L  2 I L  2 I a   s
So (1   ) R fL

 (1  a) R
 Lc 
2f

Vc  2Va

I a
 2Va  2 I a R
cf


c
2 fR