Turn Off Methods For SCR

SCR Turn OFF Methods
•The SCR can be brought back to the forward blocking

state from the forward conduction state by reducing the
anode or forward current below the holding current
level. This process is called turning off or commutation.
To turn OFF the conducting SCR the below conditions
must be satisfied:
• The anode or forward current of SCR must be reduced
to zero or below the level of holding current and then,
•A sufficient reverse voltage must be applied across the
SCR to regain its forward blocking state.
• When the SCR is turned OFF by reducing forward
current to zero. There exist excess charge carriers in
different layers.
• To regain the forward blocking state of an SCR,
these excess carriers must be recombined.
• Therefore, this recombination process is accelerated
by applying a reverse voltage across the SCR.
SCR Turn OFF Methods
• The reverse voltage which causes to commutate the SCR is
called commutation voltage. Depending on the commutation
voltage located, the commutation methods are classified into
two major types.
• Forced commutation
• Natural commutation
Natural Commutation
• In natural commutation, the source of commutation voltage
is the supply source itself.
• If the SCR is connected to an AC supply, at every end
of the positive half cycle the anode current goes
through the natural current zero and also immediately
a reverse voltage is applied across the SCR.
• These are the conditions to turn OFF the SCR.
• This method of commutation is also called as source
commutation, or line commutation, or class F
commutation.
• This commutation is possible with line commutated
inverters, controlled rectifiers, cyclo converters and
AC voltage regulators because the supply is the AC
source in all these converters.
Forced Commutation
• In case of DC circuits, there is no natural current zero
to turn OFF the SCR.
• In such circuits, forward current must be forced to zero
with an external circuit to commutate the SCR hence
named as forced commutation.
• This commutating circuit consist of components like
inductors and capacitors called as commutating
components.
• These commutating components cause to apply a
reverse voltage across the SCR that immediately
bring the current in the SCR to zero.
• Based on the manner in which the zero current can be
achieved by arrangement of the commutating
components, forced commutation is classified into
different types such as class A, B, C, D, and E.
• This commutation is mainly used in chopper and
inverter circuits.
The various forced commutation techniques are :
• Class A – self commutation, or resonant
commutation, or load commutation.
• Class B – self commutation by resonant load.
• Class C – complementary commutation.
• Class D – Auxiliary commutation.

• Class E – External pulse commutation.
• Class F – Natural or Line commutation.

Class A Commutation
• This is also known as self commutation, or resonant
commutation, or load commutation.
• In this commutation, the source of commutation voltage is in
the load.
• This load must be an under damped R-L-C supplied with a
DC supply so that natural zero is obtained.
• The commutating components L and C are connected either
parallel or series with the load resistance R, voltage source
and capacitor voltage.
• The value of load resistance and commutating
components are so selected that they forms a under
damped resonant circuit to produce natural zero.
• When the thyristor or SCR is triggered, the forward
currents starts flowing through it and during this the
capacitor is charged up to the value of E.
• Once the capacitor is fully charged (more than the
supply source voltage) the charging current
decreases ;hence anode current decreases . When
anode current is less than holding current SCR
turns off.
• The capacitor discharges through the load resistance
to make ready the circuit for the next cycle of
operation.
• The time for switching OFF the SCR depends on the
resonant frequency which further depends on the L and
C components.
• This method is simple and reliable.
• For high frequency operation which is in the range
above 1000 Hz, this type of commutation circuits is
preferred due to the high values of L and C
components.
• This method is applied in basic series invertors.
Class B Commutation
• This is also a self commutation circuit in which
commutation of SCR is achieved automatically by L
and C components, once the SCR is turned ON.
• In this, the LC resonant circuit is connected across the
SCR but not in series with load as in case of class A
commutation and hence the L and C components do
not carry the load current.
• When the DC supply is applied to the circuit, the
capacitor charges with an upper plate positive and
lower plate negative up to the supply voltage E.
• When the SCR is triggered, the current flows in two
directions, one is through E+ – SCR – R – E- and
another one is the commutating current through L and
C components.
• Once the SCR is turned ON, the capacitor starts
discharging through C+ – L – T – C-.
• When the capacitor is fully discharged, it starts
charging with a reverse polarity.
• Hence a reverse voltage applied across the SCR
which causes the commutating current Ic to oppose
load current IL.
• When the commutating current Ic is higher than the
load current, the SCR will automatically turn OFF
and the capacitor charges with original polarity.
• In the above process, the SCR is turned ON for some
time and then automatically turned OFF for some
time.
• This is a continuous process and the desired
frequency of ON/OFF depends on the values of L and
C. This type of commutation is mostly used in
chopper circuits.
• This method of commutation is used in Morgans
chopper.
Class C Commutation
• In this commutation method, the main SCR is to be
commutated is connected in series with the load and
an additional or complementary SCR is connected in
parallel with main SCR.
• This method is also called as complementary
commutation.
• In this , SCR turns OFF with a reverse voltage of a
charged capacitor.
• The figure below shows the complementary
commutation with appropriate waveforms.
• Mode 1 : Initially, both SCRs are in OFF state so the
capacitor voltage is also zero.
• When the SCR1 or main SCR is triggered, current
starts flowing in two directions, one path is E+ – R1 –
SCR1 – E- and another path is the charging current
E+ – R2- C+ – C- SCR1 – E- . Therefore, the
capacitor starts charging up to the value of E.
• Mode 2 :When the SCR2 is triggered, SCR is turned
ON and simultaneously a negative polarity is applied
across the SCR1.
• So this reverse voltage across the SCR1 immediately
causes to turn OFF the SCR1
• Now the capacitor starts charging with a reverse polarity
through the path of E+ – R1- C+ – C- SCR2 – E-. And
again, if the SCR 1 is triggered, discharging current of
the capacitor turns OFF the SCR2.
• This commutation is mainly used in single phase
inverters with a centre tapped transformers.
• The Mc Murray Bedford inverter is the best example
of this commutation circuit.
• This is a very reliable method of commutation and it
is also useful even at frequencies below 1000Hz.
Class D Commutation
• This is also called as auxiliary commutation because it
uses an auxiliary SCR to switch the charged capacitor.
• In this, the main SCR is commutated by the auxiliary
SCR.
• The main SCR with load resistance forms the power
circuit while the diode D, inductor L and SCR2 forms
the commutation circuit.
Mode 1 : When the supply voltage E is applied, both
SCRs are in OFF state and hence the capacitor
voltage is zero.
In order to charge the capacitor, SCR2 must be triggered
first. So the capacitor charges through the path E+ –
C+ – C- – SCR2- R- E-.
• When the capacitor is fully charged the SCR2
becomes turned OFF because no current flow through
the SCR2 when capacitor is charged fully.
• If the SCR1 is triggered, the current flows in two
directions; one is the load current path E+ – SCR1-
R- E- and another one is commutation current path
C+ – SCR1- L- D- C.
• As soon as the capacitor completely discharges, its
polarities will be reversed but due to the presence of
diode the reverse discharge is not possible.
• When the SCR2 is triggered capacitor starts
discharging through C+ – SCR2- SCR1- C-.
• When this discharging current is more than the load
current the SCR1 becomes turned OFF.
• Again, the capacitor starts charging through the SCR2
to a supply voltage E and then the SCR2 is turned
OFF.
• Therefore, both SCRs are turned OFF and the above
cyclic process is repeated.
• This commutation method is mainly used in inverters
and also used in the Jones chopper circuit.
Class E Commutation
• This is also known as external pulse commutation.
• In this, an external pulse source is used to produce the
reverse voltage across the SCR.
• The circuit below shows the class E commutation circuit
which uses a pulse transformer to produce the
commutating pulse and is designed with tight coupling
between the primary and secondary with a small air gap.
• If the SCR need to be commutated, pulse duration
equal to the turn OFF time of the SCR is applied.
When the SCR is triggered, load current flows
through the pulse transformer.
• If the pulse is applied to the primary of the pulse
transformer, voltage is induced in the secondary of
the pulse transformer.
• This induced voltage is applied across the SCR as a
reverse polarity and hence the SCR is turned OFF.
• The capacitor offers a very low or zero impedance to
the high frequency pulse.

Turn Off Methods For SCR

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SCR Turn OFF Methods

•The SCR can be brought back to the forward blocking

• Class C – complementary commutation.

• Class D – Auxiliary commutation.

• Class F – Natural or Line commutation.

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