TRIAC and its modes of operation:

Introduction:
As we know that the SCR as a unidirectional device and has a reverse
blocking characteristics that prevents the current flow in reverse biased
condition. But for many applications, bidirectional control of current is
required, particularly in AC circuits. To achieve this with SCRs, two SCRs
must be connected in anti-parallel to control over both positive and negative
half cycles of the input.

However, this structure can be replaced by special semiconductor device

known as a TRIAC to accomplish the bidirectional control. The TRIAC is a
bidirectional switching device that can control the AC power efficiently and
accurately. These are often used in motor speed controllers, AC circuits,
pressure control systems, light dimmers and other AC control equipment’s.

TRIAC Basics

✓ The triac is an important member of the thyristor family of devices. It

is a bidirectional device that can pass the current in both forward and
reverse biased conditions and hence it is an AC control device.
✓ The triac is equivalent to two back to back SCRs connected with one
gate terminal as shown in figure.

TRIAC is an abbreviation for a TRIode AC switch. TRI means that the

device consisting of three terminals and AC means that it controls the
AC power or it can conduct in both directions of alternating current.
The triac has three terminals namely Main Terminal 1(MT1), Main Terminal
2 (MT2) and Gate (G) as shown in figure. If MT1 is forward biased with
respect to MT2, then the current flows from MT1 to MT2. Similarly, if the
MT2 is forward biased with respect to MT1, then the current flows from MT2
to MT1.

The above two conditions are achieved whenever the gate is triggered with
an appropriate gate pulse. Similar to the SCR, triac is also turned by
injecting appropriate current pulses into the gate terminal. Once it is turned
ON, it looses its gate control over its conduction. So traic can be turned OFF
by reducing the current to zero through the main terminals.

Construction of TRIAC

A triac is a 4 layer, three terminal semiconductor device. The terminals are

marked as MT1, MT2 as anode and cathode terminals in case of SCR. And
the gate is represented as G similar to the thyristor. The gate terminal is
connected to both N4 and P2 regions by a metallic contact and it is near to
the MT1 terminal. It has six doped layers.

The terminal MT1 is connected to both N2 and P2 regions, while MT2 is

connected to both N3 and P1 regions. Hence, the terminals MT1 and MT2
connected to both P and N regions of the device and thus the polarity of
applied voltage between these two terminals decides the current flow
through the layers of the device.

With the gate open, MT2 is made positive with respect to MT1 for a forward
biased traic. Hence traic operates in forward blocking mode until the voltage
across the triac is less than the forward breakover voltage. Similarly for a
reverse biased triac, MT2 is made negative with respect to MT1 with gate
open.

Until the voltage across the triac is less than the reverse breakover voltage,
device operates in a reverse blocking mode. A traic can be made conductive
by either positive or negative voltage at the gate terminal.

Working and Operation of TRIAC

It is possible to connect various combinations of negative and positive

voltages to the triac terminals because it is a bidirectional device. The four
possible electrode potential combinations which make the triac to operate
four different operating quadrants or modes are given as.

1. MT2 is positive with respect to MT1 with a gate polarity positive with
respect to MT1.
2. MT2 is positive with respect to MT1 with a gate polarity negative with
respect to MT1.
 3. MT2 is negative with respect to MT1 with a gate polarity negative with
respect to MT1.
4. MT2 is negative with respect to MT1 with a gate polarity positive with
respect to MT1.

Most of the applications, negative triggering current circuit is used that

means 2 and 3 quadrants are used for a reliable triggering in bidirectional
control.

Mode 1: MT2 is Positive, Positive Gate Current

When the gate terminal is made positive with respect to MT1, gate current
flows through the P2 and N2 junction. When this current flows, the P2 layer
is flooded with electrons and further these electrons are diffused to the edge
of junction J2 (or P2-N1 junction).

These electrons collected by the N1 layer builds a space charge on the N1

layer. Therefore, more holes from the P1 region are diffused into the N1
region to neutralize the negative space charges. These holes arrive at the
junction J2 and produce the positive space charge in the P2 region, which
causes more electrons to inject into P2 from N2.

This results a positive regeneration and finally the main current flows from
MT2 to MT1 through the regions P1- N1 – P2 – N2.

Mode 2: MT2 is Positive, Negative Gate Current

When MT2 is positive and the gate terminal is negative with respect to MT1,
gate current flows through the P2-N4 junction. This gate current forward
biases the P2-N4 junction for auxiliary P1N1P2N4 structure. This results the
triac to conduct initially through the P1N1P2N4 layers.
This further raises the potential between P2N2 towards the potential of MT2.
This causes the current to establish from left to right in the P2 layer which
forward biases the junction P2N2. And hence the main structure P1N1P2N2
begins to conduct.

Initially conducted auxiliary structure P1N1P2N4 is considered as a pilot

SCR while later conducted structure P1N1P2N2 is considered as main SCR.
Hence the anode current of pilot SCR serves as gate current to the main
SCR. The sensitivity to gate current is less in this mode and hence more
gate current is required to turn the triac.

Mode 3: MT2 is Negative, Positive Gate Current

In this mode, MT2 is made negative with respect to MT1 and the device is
turned ON by applying a positive voltage between the gate and MT1
terminal. The turn ON is initiated by N2 which acts as a remote gate control
and the structure leads to turn ON the triac is P2N1P1N3.

The external gate current forward biases the junction P2-N2. N2 layer
injects the electrons into the P2 layer which are then collected by junction
P2N1. This result to increases the current flow through P2N1 junction.
The holes injected from layer P2 diffuse through the N1 region. This builds a
positive space charge in the P region. Therefore, more electrons from N3 are
diffused into P1 to neutralize the positive space charges.

Hence, these electrons arrive at junction J2 and produce a negative space

charge in the N1region which results to inject more holes from the P2 into
the region N1. This regenerative process continues till the structure
P2N1P1N3 turns ON the triac and conducts the external current.

As the triac is turned ON by the remote gate N2, the device is less sensitive
to the positive gate current in this mode.

Mode 4: MT2 is Negative, Negative Gate Current

In this mode N4 acts as a remote gate and injects the electrons into the P2
region. The external gate current forward biases the junction P2N4. The
electrons from the N4 region are collected by the P2N1 junction increase the
current across P1N1 junction.

Hence the structure P2N1P1N3 turns ON by the regenerative action. The

triac is more sensitive in this mode compared with positive gate current in
mode 3.
From the above discussion, it is concluded that the modes 2 and 3 are less
sensitive configuration which needs more gate current to trigger the triac,
whereas more common triggering modes of triac are 1 and 4 which have
greater sensitivity. In practice the more sensitive mode of operation is
selected such that the polarity of the gate is to match with the polarity of the
terminal MT2.

Advantages

Triac can be triggered by both positive and negative polarity voltages applied
at the gate.

• It can operate and switch both half cycles of an AC waveform.

• As compared with the anti-parallel thyristor configuration which
requires two heat sinks of slightly smaller size, a triac needs a single
heat sink of slightly larger size. Hence the triac saves both space and
cost in AC power applications.
• In DC applications, SCRs are required to be connected with a parallel
diode to protect against reverse voltage. But the triac may work without
a diode, a safe breakdown is possible in either direction.

Disadvantages

• These are available in lower ratings as compared with thyristors.

• A careful consideration is required while selecting a gate trigger circuit
since a triac can be triggered in both forward and reverse biased
conditions.
• These have low dv/dt rating as compared with thyristors.
• These have very small switching frequencies.
• Triacs are less reliable than thyristors.
Applications

Due to the bidirectional control of AC, triacs are used as AC power

controllers, fan controllers, heater controllers, triggering devices for SCRs,
three position static switch, light dimmers, etc. Triac as a switch and phase
control applications are discussed below.