EEE 377

Power Electronics

Course No: EEE 377

Course Name: Power Electronics
Reading reference

Chapter: 2. Switches
Topic: ii) Thyristors

Reference Books:
Book name Chapter
Power Electronics: Circuits, Devices and Applications (3rd Ed) Ch7
=> Muhammad H. Rashid
Power Electronics: Principles & Applications (Indian Edition) Ch8
=> J. Michael Jacob
Power Electronics (Indian Edition) Art10.7
=> Daniel W. Hart

Sections:
Book Article No. Topic Description Page and Example No.
Rashid 7.2 SCR Characteristics Pg 304-307
Jacob 8.1 Two-transistor model of SCR Pg 386-389
Rashid 7.4 Triggering SCRs Pg 309-311, class eg
Rashid 7.5 SCR Commutation Pg 311-313, class notes, class eg
SCR firing circuits Class notes
Rashid 7.6.5 Pg 316-317
TRIAC characteristics Pg 393
Jacob
Jacob 8.3 TRIAC firing circuits Pg 403-406
Hart 10.7 Pg 450
Jacob 8.2 Snubbing of thyristors Pg 396-402, Eg 8-3, 8-4, 8-5
Rashid Eg 7.1

Prepared by:
Mohammed Radoan, Lecturer,
EEE, BUBT
 EEE 377
Power Electronics

Formulae
Triggering of Thyristors
Triggering condition 𝐼𝐺 ≥ 𝐼𝐺𝑇
Latching condition 𝐼𝐴𝐾 ≥ 𝐼𝐿
Holding condition (after latching) 𝐼𝐴𝑘 ≥ 𝐼𝐻
Class B commutation of Thyristors
𝜋
Delay time, 𝑡𝑑 𝑡𝑑 = √𝐿𝐶
2
Turn-off time including reverse 𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 = 𝑡𝑑 + 𝑡𝑞
recovery, 𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 here, 𝑡𝑞 is turn-off time of thyristors
Snubber circuit design
𝑑𝑖 𝑑𝑖
<( )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
𝑑𝑖 𝑑𝑖 𝑉𝐿 𝑉𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 (𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘)
where, 𝑉𝐿 = 𝐿𝑠 → = =
Snubbing inductor, 𝐿𝑠 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝐿𝑠 𝐿𝑠

𝑉𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 (𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘)
⟹ 𝐿𝑠 ≥
𝑑𝑖
( )
𝑑𝑡 𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑣
<( )
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑣 𝐼𝑁 𝑉𝑁 /𝑅𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑉𝐷𝑅𝑀 /𝑅𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
where, 𝐼𝑐 = 𝐶𝑠 → = = =
Snubbing capacitor, 𝐶𝑠 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝐶𝑠 𝐶𝑠 𝐶𝑠

𝑉𝐷𝑅𝑀
⟹ 𝐶𝑠 ≥
𝑑𝑣
𝑅𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 ( )
𝑑𝑡 𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
𝐼𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 + 𝐼𝑠𝑛𝑢𝑏 < 𝐼𝑇𝑆𝑀
𝑉𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒(𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘) 𝑉𝑛𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑉𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒(𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘) or 𝑉𝐷𝑅𝑀
where, 𝐼𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 = and 𝐼𝑠𝑛𝑢𝑏 = =
𝑅𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑅𝑠 𝑅𝑠
Snubbing resistor, 𝑅𝑠
𝑉𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒(𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘)
⟹ 𝑅𝑠 ≥
𝐼𝑇𝑆𝑀 − 𝐼𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

Prepared by:
Mohammed Radoan, Lecturer,
EEE, BUBT
 EEE 377
Power Electronics

Assignment Questions
1) The datasheet of 2P4M has the following data:
Repetitive peak-off state voltage, VDRM = 600V {VBO}
Peak on-state voltage drop, VTM ≤ 1.5V
Gate triggering current, IGT ≤ 200μA
Latching current, IL ≤ 3mA
a) What will be the voltage required if forward voltage triggering is used?
The following circuit is used to do gate-triggering of the thyristor.
𝑅𝐿

12 V 𝑅𝑡

5V

b) Find the maximum value of Rt to facilitate gate- triggering.

c) The switch is turned on after 2 s. Draw the waveform of voltage across the SCR vs
time. The switch takes 1 μs to close.
d) What will be the current thought the SCR after it is turned on if load resistance is
10 kΩ. Comment on whether it will latch-on.
e) What will be the current through the SCR after it is turned on. If load resistance is1 kΩ.
Comment whether it will latch-on.
f) How can you turn-off the SCR. Draw a circuit to allow commutation by a push-button.
g) State another suitable triggering method and their application.

2) A class B commutation circuit is employed to turn off an SCR. The circuit has an
inductor of 5 mH and capacitor of 10 μF. The SCR has a turn off time, 𝑡𝑞 of 80 μs.
a) Draw a class B commutation circuit.
b) Find the time taken for class B commutation circuit to trigger the turn-off, 𝑡𝑑 .
c) Find the time required from the start of commutation to when the SCR has recovered
from reverse recovery, 𝑇𝑜𝑓𝑓 .

3) The Q4004L triac from Teccor is operating under the following conditions:

Vline = 220Vrms fline = 50Hz Rload = 80Ω 𝑑𝑖⁄ = 50 A/μs

𝑑𝑡
(a) Calculate the snubbing inductor needed.
(b) Calculate the effect on the load voltage the drop across this inductor has when the
TRIAC is on.
{Example 8-3 – Jacob}

Prepared by:
Mohammed Radoan, Lecturer,
EEE, BUBT
 EEE 377
Power Electronics

4) The Q4004L triac from Teccor is operating under the following conditions:
𝑉𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 = 220Vrms 𝑓𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 = 50Hz 𝑅𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 = 80Ω
𝑑𝑣⁄ = 75V/μs 𝑉𝐷𝑅𝑀 = 400V (peak)
𝑑𝑡
(a) Calculate the snubbing capacitor needed.
(b) Calculate the current through this capacitor when the triac is off.
{Example 8-4 – Jacob}

5) Calculate the snubbing resistor for a Q4004L triac from Teccor is operating under the
following conditions.
𝑉𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 = 220Vrms 𝐼𝑇𝑆𝑀 = 46 A (peak) 𝑅𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 = 80Ω
{Example 8-5 – Jacob}

6) The capacitance of a reverse-biased junction 𝐽2 in a thyristor is 𝐶𝐽2 = 20 pF and can

be assumed to be independent of the off-state voltage. The limiting value of the
charging current to turn on the thyristor is 16 mA. Determine the critical value of
𝑑𝑣⁄ .
𝑑𝑡
{Example 7.1 – Rashid}

Prepared by:
Mohammed Radoan, Lecturer,
EEE, BUBT