MACHINE DRIVE CONVERTERS.

The function of a converter is to draw electrical energy from the source supply to power the
electrical motor at whatever voltage and frequency to achieve the desired mechanical output.

The control signal in the form of low power analogue or digital voltages tell the converter what it
is supposed to be doing, while other low power feedback signals are used to measure what is
actually happening. A comparator system built in the controller compares the demand and
feedback signals and adjusting the output accordingly to maintain the target output.

Electronic converters have very little capacity for storing energy and change in the input will
affect the output. Input changes have the following effects:

i. Sudden change in the current drawn causes spikes in the supply voltage.
ii. Enforced delay before the supply can react.

Most converters have small energy storage in the filter inductors and capacitors but the levels are
low to maintain the system for longer time.

DC TO DC VOLTAGE CONTROL
1. CHOPPER WITH RESISTIVE LOAD (MOTOR)

The resister in series is used to control the voltage to the load. This is voltage divider method.
Figure 1. employ a variable resistor to absorb a fraction of the voltage and allow the rest to be
applied to the load.
Disadvantage

a) More energy is wasted in the resistor.

VR=VS−VL=VR … … … … … … … … … … … … . Equation 1

VR=12−6=6 V

Iload=6 /2=3 A

Therefore P=3∗6=18 W

b) This method decreases the system efficiency /mean. This method of control is not
suitable for motor control except in low power application such as car wipers and motor
heaters.
2. SWITCHING CONTROL BY TRANSISTOR CHOPPER

In figure 2, a resistor has been replaced by a transistor. A transistor has a collector-emitter

junction which is controlled by base emitter current. Base-emitter current can be varied by
application of low-power electronic whose losses are negligible as compared to method (a) but
requires cooling (explain). Transistors are widely used as switches in the same application.
The constant supply is chopped ON and OFF. When a constant repetition frequency is used, and
the width of ON pulse is varied to control the mean output voltage, then the method becomes a
Pulse Width Modulation (PMW). The best means is to keep the ON time constant but vary the
repetition time (explain), for this to change pulse frequency modulation.

Advantage of transistor choppers.

The chopper CCT has no power wastage and the efficiency is 100%. When the switch is ON, the
current flows through it at a zero voltage due to negligible resistance at OFF time, current is zero
and voltage is maximized at zero dissipated power (maintain frequency). Check on MOSEET
and IGBT switching

Transistor Chopper (BJT)

CHOPPER WITH INDUCTIVE LOAD (MOTOR)

Chopper control of inductive load require much care to prevent the appearance of dangerously
high voltages each time the load is switched off (back emf). The winding magnetic field of the
motor stores energy as

1 2
W = L I … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … .. Eq .2
2

The voltage and current in the winding field is related by

V =L di/dt … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . Eq 3
A flywheel diode will be used to provide little resistance current flowing from the motor and
feeds it back as an input

(Image)

Advantages of Power Electronic Convertors

1. Efficient control of voltage

2. Load is alternatively connected and disconnected from the supply by means of an
electronic switch and any average up to the supply voltage can be obtained by varying
Mark/Space ratio.
3. The voltage is tolerable in Motor drive.

DC FROM AC CONTROLLED RECTIFIERS

The main supply at 50/60HZ is converted at a crude form of DC using rectifiers. Uncontrolled
diode rectifiers are used where a constant DC voltage OFF is required, but where a mean DC
voltage has to be controlled (DC motor drive), a controlled rectifier is applied (explain)
Thyristor Rectifier (firing angle)

1) Single pulse controlled rectifier with resistive load.

When the supply is positive, the thyristor blocks forward current until the gate pulse arrive as the
load voltage remains zero. As the device turns on the voltage across it falls to near zero and the
load voltage rises to the supply value. The load voltage consists of positive half circles of the ac
supply voltage inform of single pulses. (Let the diode be replaced by a thyristor)
 2. Single phase fully controlled

This consists of four thyristor connected in a bridge formation

Fig 4: Single phase 2 pulse fully controlled rectifier

The larger the delay angle the lower the output voltage. The maximum output voltage (Vdo) is
obtained when the firing angle is α =0 0

Vdo=2/π √ 2Vrms

With firing angle variation

0 0
Vdc=½( 1+ cosα) Vdo , at α =0 −180

INDUCTIVE LOAD

2
Vdc=Vdo cos α − ω Ls I a
π

3 phase fully controlled convertor

Image

The three phase fully controlled convertor is a six pulse output voltage system. The mean output
voltage is given by:

Vdc=cos α=3 /π √ 2Vrms cosα

3 phase converter output.

Two six pulse system can be combined to form a twelve pulse with a transformer to ensure 30 0
phase shift.

Typical three phase supplies, the lowest three phase industrial voltages are usually around 380-
440V. Higher voltages of upto 11KV are used for drivs, so with Vrms =415V, the maximum DC
output voltage form. e.g.

3/ π √ 2 Vrms cosα=560 V (Note : exercise)

THRISTOR DC DRIVES

Schematic diagram of speed controlled DC motor

Question 1
In a controlled half wave rectifier, Peak supply is 1200V and the value of load resistor is 1KSL.
Calculate the power delivered to the load circuit for firing angles of (a) 00 (b) 450 (c) 900 (d) 1350

1. Vdc=2/ π Vrms coα

¿ 1/ π Vrms cos 0

¿ 0.138∗200

¿ 63.66 V

Idc=Vdc / R

¿ 63.66 /1000

¿ 63.6 mA

Therefore P=VdcIdc

¿ 63.66∗63.6∗10 3

¿ 4.05 W

Question 2.

Six pulse controlled 3 phase system is supplied by 480 Vrms line-to-line at 60 hz, firing angle of
500 , load resistance of 10 ohms at line inductance of 10mH. Determine average current and
power delivered to the load?

Speed control of induction motor with rectifier – inverter system

AC – DC – AC

Rectifier – inverter system with a dc link is used to control the motor speed through a constant
current Ac link or constant voltage Ac link.

1. Constant DC current link connected Motor speed control

 3-phase induction motor speed control

The self-commutated inverter converts dc power into Ac power at a frequency determined by the
frequency of the pulses applied to the thyristor gate.

A three phase rectifier line supply is connected to the inverter through a dc. Constant current link
provided a constant voltage to the inverter which is switched from one phase of the motor to the
next in a proper sequence.

The arrangement ensures speed control with high efficiency in all 4 quadrants in addition to
facility and generative braking. Heavy inertia loads can be quickly accelerated because motor
develops full breakdown torque right from start. The output frequency of the inverter varies over
wide range as set by firing angle. The Ac supply voltage supplied by the inverter is changed in
proportion to the frequency so as to maintain stator flux constant.
 2. Constant Voltage DC Link motor controller

In dc link voltage, Vdc has to be reduced as the motor speeds up by increasing the firing angle of
the thyristor in converter 1. This, again, increases the reactive power drawn from the 3 lines
which results in poor power factor which can be solved by including a capacitor.

The voltage dc link can be used for a group of drives in textile mills. The 3 bridge rectifier
produce dc voltage Vdc which is smoothened by the Lc filter before being applied to the
inverter. The inverter switched the Ac input to the motor phases. The voltage is varied in
proportion to the frequency to maintain constant flux in the motor. The Vac depends on Vdc2
from Vdc, which is trigger frequency dependent the motor speed can be controlled from 0 to
max.