UNIT I - SCR Triggering and Commutation

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Latching current, I L: After the SCR has switched on, there is a minimum current required to sustain
conduction. This current is called the latching current. L I associated with turn on and
is usually greater than holding current
Holding current, I H: After an SCR has been switched to the on state a certain minimum value of anode
current is required to maintain the thyristor in this low impedance state. If the anode current is reduced
below the critical holding current value, the thyristor cannot maintain the current through it and reverts to
its off state usually I is associated with turn off the device.
Gate Triggering Methods
Types
The different methods of gate triggering are the following
R-triggering.
RC triggering.
UJT triggering
Resistance Triggering
A simple resistance triggering circuit is as shown. The resistor R1 limits the current through the gate of the
SCR. R2 is the variable resistance added to the circuit to achieve control over the triggering angle of
SCR. Resistor R is a stabilizing resistor. The diode D is required to ensure that no negative voltage
reaches the gate of the SCR.
No triggering of SCR
(b) = 90
(c) < 90
Resistance Capacitance Triggering

RC Half Wave
Capacitor C in the circuit is connected to shift the phase of the gate voltage. D 1 is used to prevent
negative voltage from reaching the gate cathode of SCR. In the negative half cycle, the capacitor
charges to the peak negative voltage of the supply (V m ) through the diode D2. The capacitor
maintains this voltage across it, till the supply voltage crosses zero. As the supply becomes positive, the
capacitor charges through resistor R from initial voltage of V m,, to a positive value. When the
capacitor voltage is equal to the gate trigger voltage of the SCR, the SCR is fired and the capacitor
voltage is clamped to a small positive value.
RC Full Wave
A simple circuit giving full wave output is shown in figure below. In this circuit the initial voltage from
which the capacitor C charges is essentially zero. The capacitor C is reset to this voltage by the
clamping action of the thyristor gate. For this reason the charging time constant RC must be chosen
longer than for half wave RC circuit in order to delay the triggering.
UNI-JUNCTION TRANSISTOR (UJT)
VI Characteristics of UJT
UJT RELAXATION OSCILLATOR
UJT is highly efficient switch. The switching times are in the range of nanoseconds. Since UJT exhibits
negative resistance characteristics it can be used as relaxation oscillator. The circuit diagram is as shown
with R1 and R2 being small compared to R B1 and R B2 of UJT.
Synchronized UJT trigger circuit
THYRISTOR COMMUTATION TECHNIQUES

Introduction
In practice it becomes necessary to turn off a conducting thyristor. Often thyristors are used as switches
to turn on and off power to the load). The process of turning off a conducting thyristor is called
commutation. The principle involved is that either the anode should be made negative with respect to
cathode (voltage commutation) or the anode current should be reduced below the holding current value
(current commutation). The reverse voltage must be maintained for a time at least equal to the turn-off
time of SCR otherwise a reapplication of a positive voltage will cause the thyristor to conduct even
without a gate signal. On similar lines the anode current should be held at a value less than the holding
current at least for a time equal to turn-off time otherwise the SCR will start conducting if the current in
the circuit increases beyond the holding current level even without a gate signal. Commutation circuits
have been developed to hasten the turn-off process of Thyristors. The study of commutation techniques
helps in understanding the transient phenomena under switching conditions. The reverse voltage or the
small anode current condition must be maintained for a time at least equal to the TURN OFF time of
SCR; Otherwise the SCR may again start conducting. The techniques to turn off a SCR can be broadly
classified as
Natural Commutation
Forced Commutation.
Natural Commutation (CLASS F)
Circuit for Natural Commutation
Natural Commutation Waveforms of Supply and Load Voltages (Resistive Load)
This type of commutation is applied in ac voltage controllers, phase controlled rectifiers and Cyclo
converters.
Forced Commutation
When supply is DC, natural commutation is not possible because the polarity of the supply remains
unchanged. Hence special methods must be used to reduce the SCR current below the holding value or
to apply a negative voltage across the SCR for a time interval greater than the turn off time of the SCR.
This technique is called forced commutation and is applied in all circuits where the supply voltage is DC
- namely, Choppers (fixed DC to variable DC), inverters (DC to AC). Forced commutation techniques
are as follows:
Self Commutation
Resonant Pulse Commutation
Complementary Commutation
Impulse Commutation
External Pulse Commutation.
Load Side Commutation.
Line Side Commutation.
Self Commutation or Load Commutation or Class A Commutation: (Commutation
By Resonating the Load)
In this type of commutation the current through the SCR is reduced below the holding current value by
resonating the load. i.e., the load circuit is so designed that even though the supply voltage is positive, an
oscillating current tends to flow and when the current through the SCR reaches zero, the device turns
off. This is done by including an inductance and a capacitor in series with the load and keeping the
circuit under-damped. Figure below shows the circuit. This type of commutation is used in Series
Inverter Circuit
Circuit for Self Commutation
Self Commutation Wave forms of Current and Capacitors Voltage
Resonant Pulse Commutation (Class B Commutation)

The circuit for resonant pulse commutation is shown in figure. This is a type of commutation in which a
LC series circuit is connected across the SCR. Since the commutation circuit has negligible resistance it
is always under-damped i.e. the current in LC circuit tends to oscillate whenever the SCR is on. Initially
the SCR is off and the capacitor is charged to V volts with plate a being positive. Referring to figure
5.13 at t = t 1 the SCR is turned ON by giving a gate pulse. A current L I flows through the load and this
is assumed to be constant. At the same time SCR short circuits the LC combination which starts
oscillating. A current i starts flowing in the direction shown in figure. As i reaches its maximum value,
the capacitor voltage reduces to zero and then the polarity of the capacitor voltage reverses b
becomes positive). When i falls to zero this reverse voltage becomes maximum, and then direction of
i reverses i.e., through SCR the load current I L and i flow in opposite direction. When the
instantaneous value of i becomes equal to I L, the SCR current becomes zero and the SCR turns off.
Now the capacitor starts charging and its voltage reaches the supply voltage with plate a being positive.
The related waveforms are shown in figure
Circuit for Resonant Pulse Commutation
Resonant Pulse Commutation Various Waveforms
Complementary Commutation (Class C Commutation, Parallel Capacitor Commutation)

In complementary commutation the current can be transferred between two loads. Two SCRs are used
and firing of one SCR turns off the other. The circuit is shown in figure. The working of the circuit can
be explained as follows.
Initially both T 1 and T 2 are off; now, T1 is fired. Load current I L flows through R1. At the same time,
the capacitor C gets charged to V volts through R2 and T1 (b becomes positive with respect to a).
When the capacitor gets fully charged, the capacitor current c i becomes zero. To turn off T1, T2 is fired;
the voltage across C comes across T 1 and reverse biases it, hence T1 turns off. At the same time, the
load current flows through R2 and T2. The capacitor C charges towards V through R1 and T2 and is
finally charged to V volts with a plate positive. When the capacitor is fully charged, the capacitor
current becomes zero. To turn off T2, T1 is triggered; the capacitor voltage (with a positive) comes
across T2 and T2 turns off. The related waveforms are shown in figure
Complementary Commutation circuit and graph
Impulse Commutation (CLASS D Commutation)

The circuit for impulse commutation is as shown in figure. The working of the circuit can be explained as
follows. It is assumed that initially the capacitor C is charged to a voltage ( ) C V O with polarity as
shown. Let the thyristor 1 T be conducting and carry a load current L I . If the thyristor 1 T is to be turned
off, 2 T is fired. The capacitor voltage comes across 1 T , 1 T is reverse biased and it turns off. Now the
capacitor starts charging through 2 T and the load. The capacitor voltage reaches V with top plate being
positive. By this time the capacitor charging current (current through 2 T ) would have reduced to zero
and 2 T automatically turns off. Now 1 T and 2 T are both off. Before firing 1 T again, the capacitor
voltage should be reversed. This is done by turning on 3 T , C discharges through 3 T and L and the
capacitor voltage reverses. The waveforms are shown in figure
Thyristor Protection
For reliable operation of SCR, it should be operated within the specific ratings.
SCRs are very delicate devices and so they must be protected against abnormal operating conditions.
Various protection of SCR are
a. di/dt Protection
b. dv/dt Protection
c. Over voltage Protection
d. Over Current Protection.
di/dt Protection:
di/dt is the rate of change of current in a device.
When SCR is forward biased and is turned ON by the gate signal, the anode current flows.
The anode current requires some time to spread inside the device. (Spreading of charge carriers)
But if the rate of rise of anode current (di/dt) is greater than the spread velocity of charge carriers then
local hot spots is created near the gate due to increased current density. This localised heating may
damage the device.
Local spot heating is avoided by ensuring that the conduction spreads to the whole are very rapidly.
(OR) The di/dt value must be maintained below a threshold (limiting) value.
This is done by means of connecting an inductor in series with the thyristor as shown in
Fig
The inductance L opposes the high di/dt variations.

When the current variation is high, the inductor smooths it and protects the SCR from damage.
(Though di/dt variation is high, the inductor 'L' smooths it because it takes some time to charge).
L [Vs / (di/dt)]
dv/dt Protection:
dv/dt is the rate of charge of voltage in SCR.
We know that iC=C.dv/dt. ie, when dv/dt is high, iC is high.
This high current(iC) may turn ON SCR even when gate current is zero. This is called as
dv/dt turn ON or false turn ON of SCR.
To protect the thyristor against false turn ON or against high dv/dt a "Snubber Circuit" is
used shown in fig.2.2.

UNIT I - SCR Triggering and Commutation

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Resistance Capacitance Triggering

UNI-JUNCTION TRANSISTOR (UJT)

Synchronized UJT trigger circuit

THYRISTOR COMMUTATION TECHNIQUES

Natural Commutation (CLASS F)

Circuit for Natural Commutation

Natural Commutation Waveforms of Supply and Load Voltages (Resistive Load)

Circuit for Self Commutation

Self Commutation Wave forms of Current and Capacitors Voltage

Resonant Pulse Commutation (Class B Commutation)

Circuit for Resonant Pulse Commutation

Resonant Pulse Commutation Various Waveforms

Complementary Commutation (Class C Commutation, Parallel Capacitor Commutation)

Complementary Commutation circuit and graph

Impulse Commutation (CLASS D Commutation)

The inductance L opposes the high di/dt variations.

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