SCR Turn OFF

Methods
Introduction
➔ SCR turned ON by applying appropriate positive gate voltage between the gate and
cathode, but it cannot be turned OFF through the gate terminal
➔ SCR brought back to the forward blocking state by reducing the anode current below
the holding current level.
➔ The turn OFF process of an SCR is called commutation.
➔ Commutation means the transfer of currents from one path to another. So the
commutation circuit reducing the forward current to zero so as to turn OFF the SCR or
Thyristor.

To turn OFF the conducting SCR the below conditions must be satisfied.

➔ The anode 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
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.

1) Forced commutation

2) Natural commutation
Natural Commutation
➔ The source of commutation voltage is the supply source itself
➔ On 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 is also called as source, or line, 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
➔ This circuit consist of components like inductors and capacitors called as commutating
components.
➔ These components cause reverse voltage across the SCR that immediately bring the current in the
SCR to zero
➔ This method further classified, based on how zero current achieved and arrangement of the
commutating components,

Class A Commutation
Class B Commutation
Class C Commutation
Class D Commutation
Class E Commutation
Class A Commutation
➔ It is also known as self commutation, or resonant commutation, or load commutation.
➔ The source of commutation voltage is in load which is an underdamped R-L-C ckt with a DC supply
➔ The value of load resistance and commutating components are so selected that they forms a under damped
resonant circuit to produce natural zero
➔ Once capacitor is fully charged the SCR becomes reverse biased and hence the commutation of the device.
➔ It’s simple and reliable method for high freq operation.above 1000 Hz and high value of L & C
Class B Commutation
➔ It is also a self commutation circuit, commutation is achieved automatically by L and C
➔ In this, LC resonant circuit is connected across the SCR but not in series with load, hence the L and
C components do not carry the load current
➔ In this process, SCR is turned ON for some time and then automatically turned OFF for some time.
➔ This is continuous process and desired freq depends on the values of L& C.It mostly used in
chopper circuits.
Class C Commutation
➔ In this method, the main SCR is connected in series with load and an additional SCR is connected in
parallel with main SCR. This method also called complementary commutation
➔ SCR turns OFF with a reverse voltage of a charged capacitor.
➔ This process is mainly used in single phase inverters with a centre tapped transformers.
➔ This is a very reliable method of commutation and it is also useful even at frequencies below
1000Hz.
Class D Commutation
➔ It is also called auxiliary commutation because it uses an auxiliary SCR to switch charged capacitor.
➔ The main SCR with load resistance forms the power circuit while the diode D, inductor L and SCR2
forms the commutation circuit.
➔ SCR2 must be triggered first.in order to charge capacitor and turned OFF when fully charged
➔ SCR1 is triggered, the current flows in two directions; one is the load current path and another one is
commutation current path.As capacitor completely discharges, its polarities reversed
➔ Due to the presence of diode the reverse discharge is not possible
Class E Commutation
➔ It is also known as external pulse commutation
➔ It uses pulse transformer to produce commutating pulse and is designed with tight coupling
➔ To commutated, pulse duration should be equal to the turn OFF time of SCR
➔ SCR is triggered, load current flows through the pulse transformer. If the pulse is applied to the
primary of the pulse transformer, emf is induced in the secondary of the pulse transformer.
➔ This induced voltage is applied across the SCR in reverse polarity and hence the SCR turned OFF.
Dynamic Turn OFF Switching Characteristics
● The transition of an SCR from forward conduction state to forward blocking state is
called as turn OFF or commutation of SCR.
● Once the SCR starts conducting, the gate has no control over it to bring back to
forward blocking or OFF state.
● To turn OFF the SCR, the current must be reduced to a level below the holding
current of SCR.
● But if we apply the forward voltage immediately after the current zero of SCR, it
starts conducting again even without gate triggering.
● This is due to the presence of charge carriers in the four layers.
● It is necessary to apply the reverse voltage, over a finite time across the SCR to
remove the charge carriers.
Turn OFF
● The turn OFF time is defined as the time between the instant the anode current
becomes zero and the instant at which the SCR retains the forward blocking
capability.
● The excess charge carriers from the four layers must be removed to bring back the
SCR to forward blocking mode.
● This process takes place in two stages.
● In a first stage excess carriers from outer layers are removed and in second stage
excess carriers in the inner two layers are to be recombined.
● the total turn OFF time tq is divided into two intervals; reverse recovery time
trr and gate recovery time tgr.

tq = trr + tgr
Reverse Recovery & Gate Recovery Time
● The time t1 to t3 is called as reverse recovery time.
● At the instant t1 the anode current is zero and builds up in the reverse direction
which is called as reverse recovery current
● This current removes the excess charge carriers from outer layers during the time
t1 to t3.
● At instant t3, junctions J1 and J3 are able to block the reverse voltage.
● Still the SCR is not yet able to block the forward voltage due to the presence of
excess charge carriers in junction J2
● These carriers can be disappeared only by the way of recombination and this could
be achieved by maintaining a reverse voltage across the SCR.
● During the time t3 to t4, the recombination of charges takes place and at the
instant t4, junction J2 completely recovers. This time is called gate recovery time tgr.
 Important Points
● From the figure the turn OFF time is the time interval between the t4 and t1. Generally,
this time varies from 10 to 100 microseconds.
● The time required by the commutation circuit to apply the reverse voltage to
commutate the SCR is called the circuit turn OFF time (tc).
● For a safety margin or reliable commutation, this tc must be greater than the
tq otherwise commutation failure occurs.
● The SCRs which have slow turn OFF time (50 to 100 microseconds) are called as
converter grade SCRs. These are used in phase controlled rectifiers, cyclo converters,
AC voltage regulators, etc.
● The SCRs which have fast turn OFF time (3 to 50 microseconds) are inverter grade
SCRs. These are costlier compared to converter grade and are used in choppers, force
commutated converters and inverters