single phase AC-AC controllers_2024

Introduction
AC voltage controllers (ac line voltage controllers) are employed to vary the RMS
value of the alternating voltage applied to a load circuit by introducing Thyristors between
the load and a constant voltage ac source. The RMS value of alternating voltage applied
to a load circuit is controlled by controlling the triggering angle of the Thyristors in the
AC Voltage Controller circuits.
In brief, an AC Voltage Controller is a type of thyristor power converter which is used to

convert a fixed voltage, fixed frequency ac input supply to obtain a variable voltage ac
output.
The ac voltage controllers are classified into two types based on the type of input ac
supply applied to the circuit.
Single-Phase Controller
This SCR arrangement makes it possible to have current in either direction in the load. This
SCR connection is called antiparallel or inverse parallel because the SCRs carry current in
opposite directions. A TRIAC(triode for alternating current) is equivalent to the antiparallel
SCRs.
AC Power Control
There are two basic methods for controlling the load power; integral cycle control
or on-off control and phase control.
ON-OFF Control
Usually used for resistive loads.

The thyristor switches T1 and T2 are turned
on by applying appropriate gate trigger
pulses to connect the input ac supply to the
load for ‘n’ number of input cycles during
the time interval tON . The thyristor switches
T1 and T2 are turned off by blocking the
gate trigger pulses for ‘m’ number of input
cycles during the time interval tOFF . The ac
controller ON time tON usually consists of
an integral number of input cycles.
ON-OFF Control
Referring to the
waveforms of ON-OFF
control technique in the
diagram,
n =Two input cycles.
Thyristors are turned ON
during tON for two input
cycles.
m = One input cycle.
Thyristors are turned OFF
during tOFF for one input
cycle
The load voltage is the same

as the source voltage when
either SCR is on.
The load voltage is zero when
both SCRs are off.
ON-OFF Control
The thyristor T1 is turned on at the beginning of each positive half cycle by applying the
gate trigger pulses to T1 as shown, during the ON time tON . The load current flows in the
positive direction, which is the downward direction as shown in the circuit diagram when
T1 conducts.
The thyristor T2 is turned on at the beginning of each negative half cycle, by applying
gating signal to the gate of T2 , during tON . The load current flows in the reverse direction,
which is the upward direction when T2 conducts. Thus we obtain a bi-directional load
current flow (alternating load current flow) in an ac voltage controller circuit, by triggering
the thyristors alternately.
For a sine wave input supply voltage,
If the input ac supply is connected to load for

‘n’ number of input cycles and disconnected for
‘m’ number of input cycles, then
Output RMS voltage, for on-off control method
Performance Parameters of AC Voltage Controllers
Waveform of Thyristor current
Example: A single phase full wave ac voltage controller working on ON-OFF control
technique has supply voltage of 230V, RMS 50Hz, load = 50Ω. The controller is ON for
30 cycles and off for 40 cycles. Calculate
(a) ON & OFF time intervals.
(b) RMS output voltage.
(c) Input P.F.
(d) Average and RMS thyristor currents.
Solution
(a)
n = number of input cycles during which controller is ON; n = 30 .

m = number of input cycles during which controller is OFF; m = 40 .
(b)
(c)
(d) Average Thyristor Current Rating
where
Single phase full wave ac
voltage controller (Resistive
Load)
T1 which is forward biased during the positive half cycle, is turned on at an angle α.
It conducts from α to π, supplying power to the load.
T2 is turned on half cycle later at π+α. It conducts up to 2π, supplying power to the load.
The waveforms in Figure above are identical to those of the full wave rectifier with a
resistive load. The difference here is that each second half cycle has a negative
current rather than a positive one. There is however no effect on the power, because power is
a squared function.
we can see that the two half cycles of output
voltage waveforms are symmetrical and the
output pulse time period (or output pulse
repetition time) is π radians. Hence we can also
calculate the RMS output voltage by
2 
1


sin t  d (t )  V 1  cos 2t
 
2
V o,rms  d (t )
 V
m

m
  2
Vm
1 sin 2 1 sin 2
(    )  Vs (    )
2  2  2
Output RMS voltage across the load is controlled by changing ‘α’

Maximum RMS voltage will be applied to the load when α = 0,
In this case the full sine wave appears across the load. RMS load voltage will be the same
as the RMS supply voltage.
rms load voltage is plotted as a function of α to obtain the control characteristics
The RMS output voltage can

be varied from a maximum
of 100% VS at α = 0 to a
minimum of ‘0’ at α = 1800 .
Thus we get a full range
output voltage control by
using a single phase full
wave ac voltage controller.
Example: A single-phase ac voltage controller has a 120-V rms 60-Hz source. The load
resistance is 15 Ω. Determine
a) The delay angle required to deliver 500 W to the load,
b) The rms source current,
c) The rms and average currents in the SCRs
Solution
(a)
α =88.10
(b) Source rms current
c) SCR currents are

In the single phase full wave ac voltage controller circuit using
two SCRs or Thyristors T1 and T2 in parallel, the gating
circuits (gate trigger pulse generating circuits) of Thyristors T1
and T2 must be isolated. Figure shows a pulse transformer with
two separate windings to provide isolation between the gating
signals of T1 and T2
SUMMARY
In the case of a single phase full wave ac voltage controller circuit using a Triac with
resistive load, the average thyristor current IT (Avg) = 0 . Because the Triac conducts in
both the half cycles and the thyristor current is alternating and we obtain a
symmetrical thyristor current waveform which gives an average value of zero on
integration.
When a gate signal is applied to S1 at ωt = α ,
Kirchhoff’s voltage law for the circuit is
Due to the inductance in the load, the load

current io flowing through S1 would not fall to
zero at ωt = π , when the input supply voltage
starts to become negative.
The thyristor S1 will continue to conduct the load current until all the
inductive energy stored in the load inductor L is completely utilized and the
load current through S1 falls to zero at ωt = β , where β is referred to as the
Extinction angle, (the value of ωt at which the load current falls to zero). The
extinction angle β is measured from the point of the beginning of the positive
half cycle of input supply to the point where the load current falls to zero.
A gate signal is applied to S2 at ωt = π+α , and the load current is negative

but has a form identical to that of the positive half-cycle.
Typical waveforms for a single-phase ac voltage controller with an RL load.
The solution to is
Load impedance angle
The extinction angle β is the angle at which the current returns to zero,
when ωt = β ,
The conduction angle γ is defined as
In the limit, when γ = π, one SCR is always conducting, and the voltage across the load is
the same as the voltage of the source. The load voltage and current are sinusoids for this
case(continuous regime).
When α > θ , the load current and load voltage waveforms become discontinuous
S1 is ON
The RMS output voltage across the load can be varied by changing the trigger angle α .
For a purely resistive load L = 0 , therefore load power factor angle θ = 0 .
Example: A single phase voltage controller is employed for controlling the power flow
from 220 V, 50 Hz source into a load circuit consisting of R = 4 Ω and L = 6 mH.
Calculate the following
a. Control range of firing angle
b. Maximum value of RMS load current
c. Maximum power and power factor
Solution
a) For control of output power, minimum angle of firing angle α is equal to the load
impedance angle θ
b) Maximum value of RMS load current
c)
SUMMARY
Current equation is obtained similarly to the case of a single-phase

controlled rectifier.

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Introduction

In brief, an AC Voltage Controller is a type of thyristor power converter which is used to

Usually used for resistive loads.

The load voltage is the same

For a sine wave input supply voltage,

If the input ac supply is connected to load for

n = number of input cycles during which controller is ON; n = 30 .

Output RMS voltage across the load is controlled by changing ‘α’

The RMS output voltage can

c) SCR currents are

Due to the inductance in the load, the load

A gate signal is applied to S2 at ωt = π+α , and the load current is negative

Load impedance angle

Current equation is obtained similarly to the case of a single-phase

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