Commutation Technique

Class C (Complementary) Commutation :

R1 R2
iC (t ) Vs
+ –
+
Vs + –
– VC (t )
+ +
VT1 T1 T2 VT2
–
–

● Class C commutation is also referred as voltage commutation because thyristor is turn off by applying
revers bias voltage across it.
● Class C commutation is also referred as complementary commutation because in this arrangement
both thyristor behaves as a complementary thyristor for each other.
Application of Class C Commutation :
 Automatic sequential current source inverter.
 Parallel inverter.
Assumption For class C Commutation :
For t < 0 , T2  ON and T2  OFF
Vc (0 )  Vs according to polarity in the fig.
Mode I :
At t  0 , Thyristor T1 is triggered (ON)
Applying KVL
0  Vc (t )  VT2  0
VT2  Vc (t )
VT2  Vc (0)
VT2  Vs hence Thyristor T2 is OFF
iR1 iR2

R1 R2
iC (t ) VC (t )
+ –
Vs + 0A
– +
it1 T2 VT2
-

Calculation for circuit turn off time of thyristor T2 :

Current trough thyristor T1 is given by,
iT1  iR1 (t )  iR2 (t ) … (i)
GATE ACADEMY® 2 Power Electronics : Commutation Technique
Vs
iR1 (t )  … (ii)
R1
t

iR2 (t )  iR2 ()  iR2 (0 )  iR2 ()  e 

iR2 ()  0A
Time constant   RthC  R2C sec
At t = 0+ :
Capacitor is replaced by a voltage source of initial value
iR 1 iR 2 (0+ )
R1 R2

+ +–
Vs iT1 0A
– Vs
+
VT2
–

Fig. at t = 0+
Applying KVL,
Vs  iR2 (0 ) R2  VS  0
2Vs
iR2 (0 ) 
R2
t
2V 
iR2 (t )  s e R2C … (iii)
R2
From equation (i), (ii) and (iii)
t
V 2V 
iT1 (t )  s  s e R2c
R1 R2
Vs 2Vs
iT1 (0)  iT1 (peak)  
R1 R2
Voltage across capacitor is given by,
t
1
C 0
Vc (t )  Vs  ic (t ) dt

t
1
c 0 2
Vc (t )  Vs  iR (t ) dt

t
2Vs t  R2C
R2C 0
Vc (t )  Vs  e dt

t t
2V 
Vc (t )  Vs  s  R2C e R2C
R2C
0
GATE ACADEMY® 3 Power Electronics : Commutation Technique

  RtC 
Vc (t )  Vs  2vs  e 2  1
 
Vc (0)  Vs and Vc ()  Vs
Current and Voltage waveform :
ig1

t
ig 2

t
iT1
é1 2ù
Vs / R1 Vs ê + ú Vs / R1
æ 1 1 ö
Vs ç + ÷ ë R1 R2 û
R
è 1 R2 ø

0 t
vT 1
tc1
Vs
0
t
-Vs -1/ R2 C
Vs (1 - 2e )
vT 2
tc2
Vs Vs
0
t
-Vs Vs (1 - 2e - t / R2C )

vc
Vs [2e - t / R1C - 1] tc2
Vs Vs
0 t
-Vs
tc1
iT 2
é2 1ù
Vs ê + ú Vs / R2
ë R1 R2 û
0
t
ic
Vs - t / R2C 2Vs - t / R1C
e - e
Vs R2 R2
R2 t2
0 t
2Vs
-
R1 2Vs -1/ R1C
- e
R1
T1 t1 t3
T1 OFF T1 ON
T2 ON T2 OF
GATE ACADEMY® 4 Power Electronics : Commutation Technique
At t  tC2 voltage across capacitor is zero
Hence, 
Vc t  tC2  0 
  tC2 
Vs  2Vs e R2C  1  0
 
  tC2 
Vs  2Vs  e R2C  1
 
tC
1  2
  1  e R2C
2
tC
1  2
 e R2C
2
1 tC
ln   2
2 R2C
tC2
ln 2 
R2C
tC2  R2C  ln 2 
Mode II :
T2  Triggered (ON)
0  Vc (t )  VT1  0
VT1  VC (t )
VT1  Vs hence thyristor T1 is OFF
iR 1 iR 2
R1 R2
VC (t ) iR2
+ + –
Vs iC (t ) iT2
–
+
VT1
–

Calculation for circuit turn off time of thyristor T1 :

Current trough thyristor T2 is given by,
iT2  iR1  iR2 … (iv)
Vs
I R2  … (v)
R2
t

iR1 (t )  iR1 ()  iR1 (0 )  iR1 ()  e 

2Vs
iR1 ()  0A and iR1 (0 ) 
R1
GATE ACADEMY® 5 Power Electronics : Commutation Technique

Time constant   RTH C  R1C

t
2Vs  R1C
iR1 (t )  e … (vi)
R1
From equation (iv), (v) and (vi),
t
Vs 2Vs  R1C
iT2   e
R2 R1
Vs 2Vs
iT2 (t  0)  
R2 R1
Vs
iT2  t    
R2
3Vs
If R1  R2  R , iT1  iT2 peack 
peak
R
Voltage across capacitor is given by,
t
1
c 0
Vc (t )  Vs  ic (t ) dt

t
1
c 0 1
Vc (t )  Vs  iR (t ) dt

t t
1 2Vs  R1C
c 0 R1
Vc (t )  Vs  e dt

t
2V   t 
Vc (t )  Vs  s   R1C  e R1C 
R1C   0

  RtC 
Vc (t )  Vs  2Vs  e 1  1
 
 
Vc (0)  Vs and Vc ()  Vs
0  Vs  2Vs e  1
 tC1 / R1C
 
tC
1  1
 e R1C
2
tC1  R1C ln 2 sec
tC2  R2C ln 2sec
tC1 SF  tq1
C1   sec
R1 ln 2 R1 ln 2
tC2 SF  tq2
C2   sec
R2 ln 2 R2 ln 2
If R1  R2  R then tC1  tC2 = RC ln 2
C  Max (C1 , C2 )
For proper commutation we will select maximum value of capacitor C
GATE ACADEMY® 6 Power Electronics : Commutation Technique
Performance Parameter :
1. Peak current through thyristor T1 is given by,

 V 2V 
i 
T1  s  s 
peak
 R1 R2 
2. Peak current through thyristor T1 is given by,

 V 2V 
i 
T2  s  s 
peak
 R2 R1 
3. Circuit turn off time of thyristor T2 is given by,
tC2  R2C ln (2)
4. Circuit turn off time of thyristor T1 is given by,
tC1  R1C ln (2)

Solved Example 1
In the circuit shown in the below figure the load resistances R1  R2  R  5  and the capacitance
C  7.5 F, V  100 volts. Determine the circuits turn off time t c .

R1 R2

+
V
- C

T1 T2

Sol. The circuit turn- off time t c  0.693 RC second

tc  0.693  5  7.5 106

tc  26  sec
Solved Example 2
A voltage commutation circuit is shown in figure. If the turn off time of the SCRs is 50 sec and a safety
margin of 2 is considered, what will be the approximate minimum value of capacitor required for proper
commutation? [GATE 2006, IIT Kharagpur]

50 W 50 W

100 V

Th1 Th2

(A) 2.88 F (B) 1.44 F (C) 0.91 F (D) 0.72 F

GATE ACADEMY® 7 Power Electronics : Commutation Technique
Sol. Given : A Class C Commutation i.e. Complementary Commutation.
(i) Turn-off time of each SCR = 50 sec.
(ii) Safety margin (SM) = 2

R1 R2
C
Vs

Th1 Th2

A thyristor carrying load current is commutated by transferring its load current to another incoming
thyristor. In above shown figure, firing of SCR Th1 commutates Th2 and subsequently firing of SCR Th2
would turn OFF SCR Th1.
Safety margin (SM)  2
Vs  100 V
Circuit Turn OFF time tc1 for Thyristor-1 is,
tc1  R1C ln(2)
Circuit Turn OFF time tc 2 for Thyristor-2 is,
tc 2  R2C ln(2)
Turn off time of SCRs  50  sec
( SM )  t  RC ln 2
2  t  50  C  ln 2 ( R1  R2  50  )
2  50 106  50  C  ln 2
2  50  10 6
C  2.88 F
50  ln 2
Hence, the correct option is (A).
Solved Example 3
In the circuit shown the magnitude of maximum value of current through the capacitor is

R1 = 7.5 W R2 = 75 W
+
300
- T1 T2

(A) 4 A (B) 2 A (C) 80 A (D) 20 A

Sol. This circuit is class C commutation circuit, When T1 is ON, the capacitor current is,
2Vs  t /R 2 C
ic (t )  e A
R2
2Vs 2  300
IC max
   8A
R2 75
GATE ACADEMY® 8 Power Electronics : Commutation Technique
When T2 is ON, the capacitor current is,
2Vs  t /R1 C
ic (t )  e A
R1
2Vs 2  300
IC max
   80 A
R1 7.5
As 80 A is more than 8 A, So I C max
 80 A
Hence, the correct option is (C).

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