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Thyristor Thyristors
A family of devices that are constructed of four semiconductor layers (pnpn). They act as open circuits capable of withstanding a certain rated voltage until they are triggered. When triggered, they turn on and become low resistance current paths and remain so, even after trigger is removed, until current is reduced to a certain level or until they are removed.
Industrial Electronics
Shockley Diode
Also known as 4-Layer Diode and SUS
Thyristors
SHOCKLEY DIODE
Shockley Diode
When a positive bias voltage is applied to the anode with respect to the cathode the base-emitter junctions are forward bias and the base-collector is in reverse bias.
Shockley Diode
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Shockley Diode
Forward Blocking Region
A region in the forward bias in which the device has a very high forward resistance (ideally an open) and is on off state.
Shockley Diode
Holding Current (Ih)
Once the Shockley diode is conducting (on state), it will continue to conduct until the anode current is reduced below to this specified level.
Example
A certain 4-layer diode is biased in the forward blocking region with an anode-to-cathode voltage of 20 V. Under this bias condition , the anode current is 1A. Determine the resistance of the diode in the forward blocking region.
Example
Determine the value of anode current in the figure when the device is on. VBR(f) = 10 V. Assume the forward voltage drop is 0.9 V.
Thyristors
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SCR
Silicon Controlled Rectifier is a 4-layer pnpn device similar to a Shockley Diode except it has three terminals: anode, cathode, and gate.
SCR Equivalent
Turning ON SCR
Like the Shockley Diode, an SCR can be turned without triggering by increasing the anode-to-cathode voltage to a value exceeding the forward-breakover voltage.
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Turning ON SCR
The forward-breakover voltage decreases as IG is increased above 0 V. Eventually, a value of IG is reached at which the SCR turns on at a very low anode-to-cathode voltage.
SCR WAVEFORMS
Conduction - is the number of degrees of an AC cycle during which the SCR is turned on. Firing delay - is the number of degrees of an AC cycle that elapses before the SCR is turned on. Firing delay + Conduction = 180
Forced Commutation
Forced Commutation method basically requires momentarily forcing current through the SCR in the direction opposite the forward conduction current so that the net forward current is reduced below the holding value.
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Forced Commutation
LASCR
Light Activated Silicon-Controlled Rectifier is a thyristor that operates as a conventional SCR except that it can be light-triggered. The LASCR conducts current in one direction when activated by a sufficient amount of light and continues to conduct until the current falls below a specified value. The LASCR is most sensitive to light when the gate terminal is open. If necessary, a resistor from the gate to the cathode can be used to reduce sensitivity.
LASCR Circuit
The input source turns on the lamp; the resulting incident light triggers the LASCR. The anode current energizes the relay and closes the contact. Notice that the input source is electrically isolated from the rest of the circuit.
Thyristors
APPLICATIONS OF SCR
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Example:
Determine the gate trigger current and the anode current when the switch, SW1 is momentarily closed. Assume VAK= 0.2 V, VGK= 0.7 V and IH= 5 mA
180o Conduction
Phase
90o Conduction
135o Conduction
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Example:
Show the voltage waveform across the SCR from anode to cathode (ground) in relation to the load current from 180o, 45o, and 90o. Assume an ideal SCR
Solution:
When the there is load current, the SCR is conducting and voltage across it is ideally zero. When the there is no load current, the voltage across the SCR is the same as the applied voltage.
Sawtooth Generator
The SCR can be used in conjunction with an RC circuit to produce a repetitive sawtooth waveform. The time constant is set by R1 and C1, and the voltage at which the SCR triggers on is determined by the variable voltage divider from R2 and R3. When the switch is closed, the capacitor begins charging and turns on the SCR. When the SCR turns on, the capacitor quickly discharges through it; the anode current then decreases below the holding value, causing the SCR to turn off. As soon as the SCR is off, the capacitor starts charging and discharging again. By adjusting the potentiometer, the frequency of the sawtooth waveform can be changed.