DC Choppers: Power Electronics by Prof. M. Madhusudhan Rao 1

DC Choppers
Power Electronics by Prof. M. Madhusudhan Rao 1

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.
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.

Principle Of
Step-down Chopper
C hopper
i0
+
V R V 0

• 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.

v0
V
V dc
t
tON tOFF
i0
V /R
Idc
t
T

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
Average Output Voltage
 tON 
Vdc  V  
 tON  tOFF 
 tON 
Vdc  V    V .d
 T 
 tON 
but    d  duty cycle
 t 
Average Output Current
Vdc
I dc 
R
V  tON  V
I dc    d
R T  R
RMS value of output voltage
tON
1
VO   v dt
2
o
T 0

But during tON , vo  V
Therefore RMS output voltage
tON
1
VO  
2
V dt
T 0
2
V tON
VO  tON  .V
T T
VO  d .V
10
Output power PO  VO I O
VO
But IO 
R
 Output power
2
V
PO  O
R
2
dV
PO 
R
11
Effective input resistance of chopper
V
Ri 
I dc
R
Ri 
d
The output voltage can be varied by
varying the duty cycle.
12
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.

13
Pulse Width Modulation
• tON is varied keeping chopping frequency ‘f’ &
chopping period ‘T’ constant.
• Output voltage is varied by varying the ON
time tON

14
V 0
tON tOFF
t
T
V 0
t
tO N tOFF
15
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

16
v0
V
tON tOFF
t
T
v0
tO N tO FF
t
T
17
Step-down Chopper
With R-L Load
C hopper
i0
+
R
V V
FW D L
0
E

18
• 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’.
19
• 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.
20
v0
O u tp u t
v o lta g e
V
tO N tO FF
t
T
i0 O u tp u t
Im ax c u rre n t
C o n tin u o u s
I m in c u rre n t
t
i0 O u tp u t
c u rre n t
D is c o n tin u o u s
c u rre n t
t
21
Expressions For
Load Current
iO For Continuous Current Operation
When
Chopper Is ON (0  t  tON)

22
i0
+
R
V V 0
L
E
-
23
diO
V  iO R  L E
dt
Taking Laplace Transform
V E
 RI O  S   L  S .I O  S   iO  0   

S S
At t  0, initial current iO  0    I min
V E I min
IO  S   
 R R
LS  S   S 
 L L
24
Taking Inverse Laplace Transform
V E  
 R
  t  
 R
 t
iO  t   1  e  L
  I min e  L
R  
This expression is valid for 0  t  tON ,
i.e., during the period chopper is ON.
At the instant the chopper is turned off,
load current is iO  tON   I max
25
When Chopper is OFF
i0

26
When Chopper is OFF  0  t  tOFF 
diO
0  RiO  L E
dt
Talking Laplace transform
E
0  RI O  S   L  SI O  S   iO  0    
S
Redefining time origin we have at t  0,
initial current iO  0 
 I max
27
I max E
 IO  S   
R  R
S LS  S  
L  L
Taking Inverse Laplace Transform
R
 t E R
 t 
iO  t   I max e L
 1  e L

R 
28
The expression is valid for 0  t  tOFF ,
i.e., during the period chopper is OFF
At the instant the chopper is turned ON or at

the end of the off period, the load current is
iO  tOFF   I min
29
To Find I max & I min
From equation
V E  
 R
  t  
 R
 t
iO  t   1  e L
  I min e  L
R  
At t  tON  dT , iO  t   I max
V E  
dRT
 
dRT
 I max  1  e
L
  I min e
L
R  
30
From equation
R
 t E R
 t 
 1  e L

R 
At t  tOFF  T  tON , iO  t   I min
t  tOFF   1  d  T
31
  1 d  RT
 1 d  RT 
E  
 I min  I max e L
 1  e L 
R  
Substituting for I min in equation
V E  
dRT
 
dRT
I max  1  e
L
  I min e
L
R  
we get,
 
dRT

V 1  e L
 E
I max 
R  
RT  R
 1  e L 
32
Substituting for I max in equation
 1 d  RT   1 d  RT 
 E 
I min  I max e L
 1  e L 
R  
we get,
 
dRT
V  e  1 E L
I min  
R L RT  R
 e  1 
 I max  I min  is known as the steady state ripple.
33
Therefore peak-to-peak ripple current
I  I max  I min
Average output voltage
Vdc  d .V
Average output current
I max  I min
I dc approx  
2
34
Assuming load current varies linearly
from I min to I max instantaneous
load current is given by
iO  I min 
 I  .t
for 0  t  tON  dT 
dT
 I max  I min 
iO  I min   t
 dT 
35
RMS value of load current
dT
1
  0 dt
2
I O RMS  i
dT 0
 I max  I min  t 
2
1
dT

I O RMS  
dT 
0
 I min 
 dT
 dt

 2  I max  I min  2 2 I min  I max  I min  t 
dT 2
1
I O RMS  
dT 
0
 I min  
  dT 

t 
dT
 dt


36
RMS value of output current
1
 2  I max  I min  
2 2
I O RMS    I min   I min  I max  I min  
 3 
RMS chopper current
dT
1
  i dt
2
I CH 0
T 0
dT 2
1   I max  I min  
I CH 
T 0
 I min  
  dT
 t  dt
 
37
1
 2  I max  I min  
2 2
I CH  d  I min   I min  I max  I min  
 3 
I CH  d I O RMS 
Effective input resistance is
V
Ri 
IS
38
Where
I S  Average source current
I S  dI dc
V
 Ri 
dI dc
39
Principle Of Step-up Chopper
I L D
+
+ 
L
C O V
V A O
D
C hopper

40
• 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.
41
• 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
42
• 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.

43
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.
44
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
45
 VItON   VO  V  ItOFF
V  tON  tOFF 
VO 
tOFF
 T 
VO  V  
 T  tON 
Where
T = Chopping period or period
of switching.
46
T  tON  tOFF
 
 1 
VO  V  
tON
 1 
 T 
 1 
 VO  V  
 1 d 
tON
Where d   duty cyle
T
47
For variation of duty cycle ' d ' in the
range of 0  d  1 the output voltage VO
will vary in the range V  VO  

48
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.
49
Problem
• A Chopper circuit is operating on TRC at a
frequency of 2 kHz on a 460 V supply. If the
load voltage is 350 volts, calculate the
conduction period of the thyristor in each
cycle.

50
V  460 V, Vdc = 350 V, f = 2 kHz
1
Chopping period T
f
1
T 3
 0.5 m sec
2  10
 tON 
Output voltage Vdc   V
 T 
51
Conduction period of thyristor
T  Vdc
tON 
V
3
0.5 10  350
tON 
460
tON  0.38 msec
52
Problem
• Input to the step up chopper is 200 V. The
output required is 600 V. If the conducting time
of thyristor is 200 sec. Compute
– Chopping frequency,
– If the pulse width is halved for constant
frequency of operation, find the new output
voltage.

53
V  200 V , tON  200  s, Vdc  600V
 T 
Vdc  V  
 T  tON 
 T 
600  200  6 
 T  200  10 
Solving for T
T  300  s
54
Chopping frequency
1
f 
T
1
f  6
 3.33KHz
300 10
Pulse width is halved
6
200 10
 tON   100  s
2
55
Frequency is constant
 f  3.33KHz
1
T   300  s
f
 T 
 Output voltage = V  
 T  tON 
 300 106 
 200  6 
  300 Volts
  300  100  10 
56
Problem
• A dc chopper has a resistive load of 20 and

input voltage VS = 220V. When chopper is ON,
its voltage drop is 1.5 volts and chopping
frequency is 10 kHz. If the duty cycle is 80%,
determine the average output voltage and the
chopper on time.

57
VS  220V , R  20, f  10 kHz
tON
d  0.80
T
Vch = Voltage drop across chopper = 1.5 volts
 tON 
Vdc     VS  Vch 
 T 
Vdc  0.80  220  1.5   174.8 Volts
58
Chopper ON time, tON  dT
1
Chopping period, T
f
1 3
T  0.1 10 secs  100 μsecs
10 10 3
Chopper ON time,
tON  dT
3
tON  0.80  0.110
3
tON  0.08 10  80 μsecs
59
Problem
• In a dc chopper, the average load current is
30 Amps, chopping frequency is 250 Hz, supply
voltage is 110 volts. Calculate the ON and
OFF periods of the chopper if the load
resistance is 2 ohms.

60
I dc  30 Amps, f  250 Hz, V  110 V , R  2
1 1
Chopping period, T    4 10 3  4 msecs
f 250
Vdc
I dc  & Vdc  dV
R
dV
 I dc 
R
I dc R 30  2
d   0.545
V 110
61
Chopper ON period,
3
tON  dT  0.545  4  10  2.18 msecs
Chopper OFF period,
tOFF  T  tON
tOFF  4 103  2.18 103
3
tOFF  1.82 10  1.82 msec
62
• A dc chopper in figure has a resistive load of
R = 10 and input voltage of V = 200 V.
When chopper is ON, its voltage drop is 2 V
and the chopping frequency is 1 kHz. If the
duty cycle is 60%, determine
– Average output voltage
– RMS value of output voltage
– Effective input resistance of chopper
– Chopper efficiency.
63
C hopper
i0
+
V R v0
V  200 V , R  10, Chopper voltage drop Vch  2V

d  0.60, f  1 kHz.
64
Vdc  d  V  Vch 
Vdc  0.60  200  2  118.8 Volts
RMS value of output voltage
VO  d  V  Vch 
VO  0.6  200  2   153.37 Volts
65
Effective input resistance of chopper is
V V
Ri  
I S I dc
Vdc 118.8
I dc    11.88 Amps
R 10
V V 200
Ri     16.83
I S I dc 11.88
Output power is
 V  Vch 
dT 2 dT 2
1 v 1
PO 
T  0
R
0
dt 
T 
0
R
dt
66
d  V  Vch 
2
PO 
R
0.6  200  2
2
PO   2352.24 watts
10
Input power,
dT
1
Pi 
T  Vi dt
0
O
1
dT
V  V  Vch 
PO 
T 0 R dt
67
dV  V  Vch 
PO 
R
0.6  200  200  2
PO   2376 watts
10
Chopper efficiency,
PO
   100
Pi
2352.24
  100  99%
2376
68
Problem
• A chopper is supplying an inductive load with a
free-wheeling diode. The load inductance is 5 H
and resistance is 10.. The input voltage to the
chopper is 200 volts and the chopper is operating
at a frequency of 1000 Hz. If the ON/OFF time
ratio is 2:3. Calculate
– Maximum and minimum values of load current
in one cycle of chopper operation.
– Average load current
69
L  5 H , R  10, f  1000 Hz,
V  200 V , tON : tOFF  2 : 3
Chopping period,
1 1
T   1 msecs
f 1000
tON 2

tOFF 3
2
tON  tOFF
3
70
T  tON  tOFF
2
T  tOFF  tOFF
3
5
T  tOFF
3
3
tOFF  T
5
3 3
T   110  0.6 msec
5
71
tON  T  tOFF
tON   1  0.6  103  0.4 msec
Duty cycle,
3
tON 0.4  10
d  3
 0.4
T 1 10
Maximum value of load current is given by
 
dRT

V 1  e L
 E
I max 
R  
RT  R
 1  e L 
72
Since there is no voltage source in
the load circuit, E = 0
 
dRT

V 1  e L 
 I max 
R  
RT 
 1  e L 
 
0.4101103 
200 1  e 5

I max   101103 
10 
 1  e 5 
73
1  e 0.8103 
I max  20  2103

 1  e 
I max  8.0047A
Minimum value of load current with E = 0
is given by
 dRT

V  e  1 L
I min 
R  RT 
 e L  1 
74
 
0.4101103
200  e  1
5
I min   7.995 A
10  101510 
3
 e  1 
Average load current
I max  I min
I dc 
2
8.0047  7.995
I dc  8 A
2
75
Problem
• A chopper feeding on RL load is shown in
figure, with V = 200 V, R = 5, L = 5 mH,
f = 1 kHz, d = 0.5 and E = 0 V. Calculate
– Maximum and minimum values of load
current.
– Average value of load current.
– RMS load current.
– Effective input resistance as seen by source.
– RMS chopper current.
76
V = 200 V, R = 5 , L = 5 mH,
f = 1kHz, d = 0.5, E = 0
Chopping period is
1 1 3
T   1 10 secs
f 1 10 3
C hopper
i0
+
R
v0
FW D L
E
Power Electronics by Prof. M. Madhusudhan Rao
 77
77
Maximum value of load current is given by
 
dRT

V 1  e L  E
I max 
R  
RT  R
 1  e L 
 
0.551103 
200 1  e 5103

I max   51103 0
5 
 1  e 5103 
 
1  e 0.5 
I max  40  1 
 24.9 A
 1 e 
78
Minimum value of load current is given by
 dRT 
V  e  1 E
L
I min  
R L RT  R
 e  1 
 
0.551103
 1
3
200  e 510
I min   5110 3   0
5
 e 5103  1 
 
 e0.5  1 
I min  40  1   15.1 A
 e 1 
79
Average value of load current is
I1  I 2
I dc 
2
for linear variation of currents
24.9  15.1
 I dc   20 A
2
RMS load current is given by
1
 2  I max  I min  
2 2
I O RMS    I min   I min  I max  I min  
 3 80
1
  24.9  15.1 
2 2
I O RMS   15.1 
2
 15.1 24.9  15.1 
 3 
1
 96.04  2
I O RMS    228.01   147.98  20.2 A
 3 
RMS chopper current is given by
I ch  d I O RMS   0.5  20.2  14.28 A
81
Effective input resistance is
V
Ri 
IS
I S = Average source current
I S  dI dc
I S  0.5  20  10 A
Therefore effective input resistance is
V 200
Ri    20
IS 10
82
Classification Of Choppers
• Choppers are classified as
– Class A Chopper
– Class B Chopper
– Class C Chopper
– Class D Chopper
– Class E Chopper

83
Class A Chopper
i0 v0
+
C hopper
L
O v0 V
V A
FW D D
 i0

84
• 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 .
85
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.

86
ig T h y r is to r
g a te p u ls e
t
i0
O u tp u t c u rre n t
CH O N
t
v0 F W D C o n d u c ts
O u tp u t v o lta g e
t
tO N
T
87
Class B Chopper
D
i0 v0
+
R
V L v0
C hopper
E  i0

88
• 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.
89
• 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.

90
ig
T h y r is to r
g a te p u ls e
t
i0 tO F F tO N
T
t
Im ax
Im in D
c o n d u c ts C h o p p e r
c o n d u c ts
v0 O u tp u t v o lta g e

91
Expression for Output Current

92
During the interval diode 'D' conducts
voltage equation is given by
LdiO
V  RiO  E
dt
For the initial condition i.e.,
iO  t   I min at t  0
The solution of the above equation is obtained
along similar lines as in step-down chopper
with R-L load
93
V E R
 t  R
 t
 iO  t   1  e
L
  I min e
L
0  t  tOFF
R  
At t  tOFF i O   t   I max
V E  
R
t  
R
tOFF
I max   
OFF
 1 e L
I
 min e L
R  
During the interval chopper is ON voltage
equation is given by
LdiO
0  RiO  E
dt 94
Redefining the time origin, at t  0 iO  t   I max
The solution for the stated initial condition is
R
 t E  
R
t
 1  e  L
0  t  tON
R 
At t  tON iO  t   I min
R
 tON E R
 tON 
 I min  I max e L
 1  e L

R 
95
Class C Chopper
CH 1 D 1
i0 v0
+
V R
CH 2 D L v0
2
C hopper
i0
E

96
• 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.
97
• 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.
98
• 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.
99
ig1
G a te p u ls e
of C H 1
t
ig2 G a te p u ls e
of C H 2
t
i0
D 1 CH 1 D 2 CH 2 D 1 CH 1 D 2 CH 2
O N O N O N O N
V 0 O u tp u t v o lta g e
t
100
Class D Chopper
v0
CH 1 D 2
R i0 L E
V
+ v0  i0
D 1 CH 2

101
• 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 .
102
• 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.

103
ig 1
G a te p u ls e
of C H 1
t
ig 2 G a te p u ls e
of C H 2
t
i0
t
C H 1,C H 2 D 1 ,D 2 C o n d u c tin g
O N
v0
O u tp u t v o lta g e
V
A v era g e v0
t

104
ig1
G a te p u ls e
of C H 1
t
ig2 G a te p u ls e
of C H 2
t
i0
CH 1
CH 2
t
D 1, D 2
v0 O u tp u t v o lta g e
V
t
A v era g e v0

105
Class E Chopper
CH 1 D CH 3 D
1 3
i0 R L E
V
+ 
v0
CH 2 D CH 4 D
2 4

106
Four Quadrant Operation
v0
CH 2 - D 4 C o n d u c ts CH 1 - CH 4 O N
D 1 - D 4 C o n d u c ts CH 4 - D 2 C o n d u c ts
i0
CH 3 - CH 2 O N D 2 - D 3 C o n d u c ts
C H 2 - D 4 C o n d u c ts C H 4 - D 2 C o n d u c ts
107
• 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. 108
• 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.
109
• 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.
110
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.
111
• 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.

112
Problem
• For the first quadrant chopper shown in figure,
express the following variables as functions of V,
R and duty cycle ‘d’ in case load is resistive.
– Average output voltage and current
– Output current at the instant of commutation
– Average and RMS free wheeling diode current.
– RMS value of output voltage
– RMS and average thyristor currents.
113
i0
+
C hopper
L
O v0
V FW D A
D

114
 tON 
Average output voltage, Vdc    V  dV
 T 
Vdc dV
Average output current, I dc  
R R
The thyristor is commutated at the instant t  tON
V
 output current at the instant of commutation is
R
since V is the output voltage at that instant.
115
Free wheeling diode (FWD) will never
conduct in a resistive load.
 Average & RMS free wheeling diode
currents are zero.
tON
1
  v dt
2
VO RMS  0
T 0
But vO  V during tON

116
tON
1
 
2
VO RMS  V dt
T 0
 tON 
VO RMS   V  
2
 T 
VO RMS   dV
tON
Where duty cycle, d 
T
117
RMS value of thyristor current
= RMS value of load current
VO RMS 

R
dV

R
Average value of thyristor current
= Average value of load current
dV

R
118
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.

119
L S
T 1 iT 1
+ a + IL +
b _ C T 2
iC FW D
L
O
V S A vO
D
L D
_ 1 _

120
• 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.
121
• For convenience the chopper operation is
divided into five modes.
– Mode-1
– Mode-2
– Mode-3
– Mode-4
– Mode-5

122
Mode-1 Operation
L S
T 1
+ + IL
V C _ C iC
L
V S
O
A
D
L D 1
_
123
• 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.

124
Capacitor Discharge Current
C
iC  t   V sin  t
L
1
Where 
LC
& Capacitor Voltage
VC  t   V cos  t
125
Mode-2 Operation
IL
+ L S _ IL
V C C L
V + T O
S 2 A
D
_

126
• 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.

127
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.
128
• 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
129
• At the end of Mode-2 capacitor has recharged
to VS and the free wheeling diode starts
conducting.

130
Mode-3 Operation
IL
+ L S + IL
V S _ C T 2 L
V O
S A
FW D D
_
131
• 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.

132
The instantaneous capacitor voltage is
LS
VC  t   VS  I L sin  S t
C
Where
1
S 
LS C
133
Mode-4 Operation
L S
+ + IL
V C _ C L
D 1 O
V S A
L D
_ FW D

134
• 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
135
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.
136
ic C a p a c ito r C u rr e n t
IL
0 t
Ip
iT 1
Ip
IL C u rre n t th ro u g h T 1
t
0

137
vT1
Vc V o l ta g e a c r o s s T 1
t
0
vo
V s+ V c
Vs O u tp u t V o lta g e
t
vc
Vc
t
C a p a c ito r V o lta g e
-V c
tc
td
138
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.

139
• 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.

140

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DC Choppers

Power Electronics by Prof. M. Madhusudhan Rao 1

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At the instant the chopper is turned ON or at

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• A dc chopper has a resistive load of 20 and

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V  200 V , R  10, Chopper voltage drop Vch  2V

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• The source inductance should be as small as

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But vO  V during tON

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