S.Y. B.Tech.

(ECE)

Semester: IV Subject: Power Converters and Machines

Name: Class:
Roll No: Batch:

Experiment No: 10
Name of the Experiment: Simulation of single-phase AC regulator using PSIM

Performed on: Marks Teacher’s Signature with date

Submitted on:

Aim: To simulate the operation of a single-phase AC regulator.

Pre-requisite: Knowledge of triac and its firing circuits.
Objectives: To understand the operation of a single-phase AC regulator by simulating
the circuit for different values of supply voltage, firing angle and load
resistance.

Software required: PSIM from Powersim Inc.

Nomenclature:

(i) Vorms: RMS output (load) voltage

(ii) Iorms : RMS output current

(iii) Vs: RMS supply voltage

(iv) α : firing angle

(v) R : load resistance

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 (vi) Po : Output (load) power

(vii) Pin : Input (supply) power

Theory:

A single-phase ACR converts a fixed AC supply voltage into a variable AC voltage,

using phase angle control. With this method, the rms value of the output voltage can be
varied fromV0s to as  is varied from  to 0. Here the triac or positive SCR is fired
at ωt =  in the positive half cycle of the input supply while the triac or negative SCR is
fired at ωt = π +  in the negative half cycle of the input supply.

For a resistive load, the shape of the load current waveform is the same as that of the
load voltage waveform and hence the SCRs or triac turn-off by natural or line
commutation at ωt = π and 2π. For an inductive load, the load current lags the voltage
and hence the firing angle should be greater than β – π or else the triac or SCRs will be
continuously on resulting in loss of control of load voltage.

Formulae:
1.

[ ] [ ]
π 1/2 π 1/2
1 1
V o rms= ∫ v o ( ωt ) dωt = ∫ 2 V s sin ( ωt ) dωt
2 2 2
π α π α

[( )]
1/ 2
1 sin 2 α
¿V s π−α+
π 2
2.
V orms
I orms =
R

3.

2
 ( )
sin ( 2 α )
2 2 π−α +
V V 2
Po =V orms × I orms = orms = s = P¿
R R π

Simulation Circuit Diagram:

The simulation circuit diagram of the single-phase AC regulator is shown in Fig. 1.

This includes both the power circuit and the gate firing circuits for the triac switch.

Fig. 1 Single-phase AC regulator

Schematic Entry:
1. Create folder PACR for simulation related files.
2. Open PSIM → File → New. A new circuit window opens.

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3. Referring to the above simulation circuit diagram, open menu Elements and one-
by-one place the circuit components in the circuit window. Alternatively, the
Element Tool Bar at the bottom of the window can also be used.
4. The locations of the components is as under:
4.1 Ground Element Tool Bar
4.2 AC voltage source Element Tool Bar
“Vs”
4.3 Voltage probes Element Tool Bar
“V1”, “V2”, “V3”,
“V4”, “V5” and “VP1”
4.4 Triac “Triac1”, Elements → Power → Switches → Triac
4.5 Resistor “R1”, Element Tool Bar
4.6 Isolated voltage sensor Element Tool Bar
“VSEN1”
4.7 Comparator “Comp_P”, Element Tool Bar
“Comp_N”
4.8 Monostable “Mono1”, Elements →Control → Logic Elements →
“Mono2” Monostable
4.9 OR gate “OR1” Elements →Control → Logic Elements →
OR Gate
4.10 Alpha controller Elements→Other“G1”, Switch Controllers →
“ACTRL1” Alpha Controller
4.11 DC voltage source Element Tool Bar
“A”
4.12 DC step voltage source Element Tool Bar
“E”
4.13 Labels “G1”, “A”, “E” Edit Menu→Place Label

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5. On the toolbar select the Wire tool and use it to connect all the above
components as shown in the above simulation circuit diagram.

6. Enter the parameters of AC voltage source “Vs”, DC voltage source “A”, load
resistor “R1” as per the data given below. For the Alpha Controller, the
parameters will be:

Frequency F Hz
Pulse width 15

Parameter values for simulation:

Set 1: Vs1 = 100V,  = 30˚, R1 = 11Ω, F1 = 60Hz

Set 2: Vs2 = 120V,  = 120˚, R1 = 11Ω, F1 = 60Hz

Set 3: Vs3 = 220V,  = 45˚, R1 = 22Ω, F1 = 50Hz

Set 4: Vs4 = 240V,  = 90˚, R1 = 22Ω, F1 = 50Hz

Simulation:
1. On the menu bar click on Simulate → Simulation Control and insert a
Simulation Control Block with the following parameters:
i) Time step 1E-005
ii) Total time 0.1
Other parameters should be unchanged from their default values.

2. On the toolbar click on the Run Simulation icon. The simulation will run for the
set time and the Properties and Simview windows will open.

3. In the Properties window, select display variables as under:

Window 1: Load and supply voltages Screen 1 V1 & V2

Load current Screen 2 IR1
Window 2: Monostable outputs Screen 1 V3 & V4

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 Synchronizing signals to Alpha Screen 2 V5
Controller
Window 3: Load voltage and current Screen 1 V1 & IR1
Supply voltage and current Screen 2 V2 & IR1
4. The waveforms of the above variables will be displayed in the respective screens
and windows.

Procedure:
1. V2rms and V2peak (supply voltage):
1.1 Select waveform Screen 1 of Window 1. Click on toolbar “X” and enter
X- Axis Range “From 0” “To 0.05” (2.5 cycles).

*Note: The above values are for a frequency of 50 Hz. They will be different for
a frequency of 60 Hz.

1.2 Click on menu “Analysis → RMS” to obtain V2rms.

1.3 Click on menu “Measure → Max, V2peak = V2max

2. V1rms and V1peak (load voltage):

2.1 Select waveform Screen 1 of Window 1. Click on toolbar “X” and enter
X- Axis Range “From 0” “To 0.05” (2.5 cycles).

*Note: The above values are for a frequency of 50 Hz. They will be different for
a frequency of 60 Hz.

2.2 Click on menu “Analysis → RMS” to obtain V1rms.

2.3 Click on menu “Measure → Max, V1peak = V1max

3. IR1rms and IR1peak (supply and load current): (repeat as in 2 above with
Screen 2 of Window 1)
4. Po (load power):
4.1 Select waveform Screen 1 of Window 3. Click on toolbar “X” and enter
X- Axis Range “From 0” “To 0.05” (2.5 cycles).
See Note above*.

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 4.2 Click on menu “Analysis → P (Real Power)” to obtain Po.

5. Pin (supply power): (repeat as in 4 above with Screen 2 of Window 3)

6.  (firing angle):
6.1 Select waveform Screen 1 of Window 1. Click on toolbar “X” and enter
X- Axis Range “From 0” “To 0.05” (2.5 cycles).

*Note: The above values are for a frequency of 50 Hz. They will be different for
a frequency of 60 Hz.

6.2 Click on menu “Measure”. Click on the window to activate the cursors.
Obtain the time period corresponding to one half-cycle by locating the first
cursor at the +ve zero crossing of V2 and the other at the -ve zero crossing of V2.
Next obtain the time period corresponding to  by shifting the second cursor to
the firing instant of V1, keeping the location of the first cursor unchanged.

α ° =180 ×Time corresponding ¿ α ¿ half cycle ¿

Time corresponding ¿

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 7. Observation Table

AC Supply V Frequency Firing angle Simulated Theoretical

Sr. No. Parameter
Hz ° value value
1/2/3/4.1 100/120/220/240 50/60 30/120/45/90 V2rms V
1/2/3/4.2 100/120/220/240 50/60 30/120/45/90 V2pk V
1/2/3/4.3 100/120/220/240 50/60 30/120/45/90 V1rms V
1/2/3/4.4 100/120/220/240 50/60 30/120/45/90 V1pk V
1/2/3/4.5 100/120/220/240 50/60 30/120/45/90 IR1rms A
1/2/3/4.6 100/120/220/240 50/60 30/120/45/90 IR1pk A
1/2/3/4.7 100/120/220/240 50/60 30/120/45/90 Po W
1/2/3/4.8 100/120/220/240 50/60 30/120/45/90 Pin W
1/2/3/4.8 100/120/220/240 50/60 30/120/45/90 ° NA

Conclusions (comment on simulated and calculated values for each

parameter):

Post Lab Questions:

1. Explain the two modes of operation of a single-phase AC regulator.
2. A single-phase AC regulator operates from an AC supply of VS V rms and feeds
a resistive load. If Vo1rms and Vo2rms are the rms output voltages for firing angles
❑1=¿π/2 - d and ❑2=¿π/2 + d, obtain an expression for V
o1rms / Vo2rms.