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Power Electronics Lab Report

Power Electronics Lab Report

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اھل حق اھلسنت وجماعت
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33 views

Power Electronics Lab Report

Power Electronics Lab Report

Uploaded by

اھل حق اھلسنت وجماعت
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experiment No 1

Study of Internal Structure and the V-I


Characteristics of SCR.
Objectives:
 To observe and study the principle of operation of SCR as a controlling solid-
state device.
 To obtain V-I characteristics of SCR.

Introduction:
It is a multi-layer semiconductor device, hence the “silicon”
part of its name. It requires a gate signal to turn it “ON”, the
“controlled” part of the name and once “ON” it behaves like
a rectifying diode, the “rectifier” part of the name. In fact
the circuit symbol for the thyristor suggests that this device
acts like a controlled rectifying diode.
A silicon controlled rectifier or semiconductor-controlled rectifier is a four-layer
solid state current-controlling device. SCRs are mainly used in electronic devices
that require control of high voltage and power. This makes them applicable in
medium and high AC power operations such as motor control function.
An SCR conducts when a gate pulse is applied to it, just like a diode. It has four
layers of semiconductors that form two structures namely; NPNP or PNPN. In
addition, it has three junctions labeled as J1, J2 and J3 and three terminals anode,
cathode and a gate.

Like the diode, the Thyristor is a unidirectional device, that is it will only conduct
current in one direction only, but unlike a diode, the thyristor can be made to
operate as either an open-circuit switch or as a rectifying diode depending upon
how the thyristors gate is triggered. In other words, thyristors can operate only in
the switching mode and cannot be used for amplification.

Peak Reverse Voltage


This is the maximum reverse voltage that can be applied to an SCR without
conducting in the reverse direction.
Breakover voltage
Also called the forward-breakover voltage, this is the minimum forward voltage
with the gate open that the SCR starts conducting. In other words, the point where
the SCR is turned ON. For example, if the breakover voltage of an SCR is 100V,
then it can block a forward voltage until the supply voltage is < 100V.

Latching Current
Latching current of forward biased SCR is the minimum current which
anode current must attain to continue to remain in forward conduction mode
even when gate current is removed. If the value of anode current is less than this
value, the SCR will not continue to conduct in forward direction if gate signal is
removed. But once anode current becomes more than latching current, gate
losses its control and it may be removed. The SCR will continue to conduct.

Holding Current
Holding current of SCR or thyrsistor is that minimum value of current below which
anode current must fall to come in OFF state. This means if the value of holding
current is 5 mA, then anode current of SCR must become less than 5 mA to stop
conducting.
The SCR cannot be turned OFF by removing the Gate voltage. The only way to turn
OFF or open the SCR is to reduce the supply voltage to almost zero, at which the
internal transistor comes out of saturation and opens the SCR.

Forward Current Rating


It is the maximum anode current that an SCR is capable of passing without
destruction.
If an SCr has a forward current rating of 30 A, it means that the SCR can safely
carry only 30 A; any attempt to exceed this value will result in SCR’s destruction
due to intensive heating at the junctions.

Importance of Peak Reverse Voltage


When an SCR is used for rectification, during the negative half cycle of given ac
supply, reverse voltage is applied across the SCR. If Peak Reverse Voltage is
exceeded, there may be an avalanche breakdown and the SCR will be damaged
(unless the external circuit limits the current).
Commercial SCRs have a PRV upto 2.5kV.
Modes of Operation in SCR
Forward blocking mode (OFF state)
The anode is assigned a positive voltage, the gate
is assigned a zero voltage disconnected and the
cathode is assigned a negative voltage. As a result,
Junctions J1 and J3 are in forward bias while J2 is in
reverse bias. J2 reaches its breakdown avalanche
value and starts to conduct. Below this value, the
resistance of J1 is significantly high and is thus said
to be in the off state.

Forward conducting mode (ON state)


The Forward Conduction Mode is the only mode at
which the SCR will be in the ON state and will be
conducting. We can make the SCR conduct in two
different ways, one we can increase the
applied forward bias voltage beyond the
breakdown voltage or else we can apply a positive
voltage to the gate terminal.
When we increase the applied forward bias voltage
between the anode and cathode the junction J2 will be depleted due to the
avalanche breakdown and the SCR will start conducting. We are not able to do this
for all the applications and this method of activating the SCR will eventually reduce
the lifetime of the SCR.

Reverse blocking
In the reverse blocking mode, the positive voltage is
applied to the Cathode (-) and the Negative voltage
is given to the Anode (+), There will not be any pulse
given to the gate, it will be kept as an open circuit.
During this mode of operation the Junctions J1 and
J3 will be reverse biased and the junction J2 will be
forward biased. Since the junctions J1 and J3 are
reverse biased there will not be any current flowing
through the SCR. Although there will be a small leakage current flowing due to the
drift charge carriers in the forward-biased Junction J2, it is not enough to turn on
the SCR.
V-I Characteristics of SCR

Forward Characteristics (Forward Conduction)

 Anode is +ve w.r.t. cathode


 When supply voltage is increased from zero, suddenly the SCR starts
conducting => breakover voltage
 Voltage drops at this point suddenly as shown by the dotted line.
 If proper gate current is made to flow, then SCR can close at smaller supply
voltage.

Reverse Characteristics

 Anode is -ve w.r.t. cathode


 Initially the anode current retains small (viz. leakage current)
 Beyond a particular reverse voltage, the SCR starts massive conduction
(avalanche) => Reverse breakdown voltage

How do we turn “OFF” the thyristor?


Once the thyristor has self-latched into its “ON” state and passing a current, it can
only be turned “OFF” again by either removing the supply voltage and therefore
the Anode (𝐼𝐴 ) current completely, or by reducing its Anode to Cathode current by
some external means (the opening of a switch for example) to below a value
commonly called the “minimum holding current”, 𝐼𝐻 .
Static Characteristics of a Thyristor
 Thyristors are semiconductor devices that can operate only in the
switching mode.
 Thyristor are current operated devices, a small Gate current controls
a larger Anode current.
 Conducts current only when forward biased and triggering current
applied to the Gate.
 The thyristor acts like a rectifying diode once it is triggered “ON”.
 Anode current must be greater than holding current to maintain
conduction.
 Blocks current flow when reverse biased, no matter if Gate current is
applied.
 Once triggered “ON”, will be latched “ON” conducting even when a
gate current is no longer applied providing Anode current is above
latching current.
Thyristors are high speed switches that can be used to replace electromechanical
relays in many circuits as they have no moving parts, no contact arcing or suffer
from corrosion or dirt. But in addition to simply switching large currents “ON” and
“OFF”, thyristors can be made to control the mean value of an AC load current
without dissipating large amounts of power.

Conclusion:
SCRs are three-junction PNPN semiconductor devices which can be regarded as
two inter-connected transistors that can be used in the switching of heavy
electrical loads. They can be latched-“ON” by a single pulse of positive current
applied to their Gate terminal and will remain “ON” indefinitely until the Anode to
Cathode current falls below their minimum latching level.

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