Subject: Power Electronics – 2012 Course

Class: T.E. (E&TC)

Unit – III
DC to AC Converters
Introduction to DC – AC Converters: Inverters

• An inverter is a circuit which converts DC into AC

• It consists of either two or four power devices which
are turned on & turned off at desired frequency to
convert DC into AC.
• If power devices are BJT, MOSFET or IGBT then
forced commutation circuit is not required,
• If SCR is the power device, separate forced
commutation circuit is required.
 Classification of Inverters
1) Current Source Inverters: (CSI)
- Inverter is fed by a “current source” with high internal impedance.
(i.e. current limiting inductor in series with a dc source.
- Load voltage depends on load impedance but load current is independent
on load.
- CSI are used at very high power ac drives.

2) Voltage Source Inverters: (VSI)

- Inverter is fed by a “dc voltage source” of small internal impedance.
- Load current depends on load impedance but load voltage is independent
on load.
 Types of VSI

i) 3-ø Inverters
ii) 1-ø Inverters: Further it classified as:
a) 1-ø half / full bridge inverters (R / R-L loads)
b) Square wave inverters
c) PWM Inverters
 1 – ø Full Bridge Inverter with “R” load

Mode -1: ( t = 0 to t1)

At t = 0, power devices S1 & S2 are turned on for a time period t1, current will flow through S1-R-S2 as
shown . So during (0 to t1 ) a positive o/p voltage will appear across R load.

S1 S3

+ Io
R - load
Vs
_

S4 S2
ii) Mode -2: (t1 to t2)
At t = t1 S1&S2 made turned off and a new pair S3&S4 turned on for same period up to time
t2 and current will flow through S3-R-S4 in reverse direction through R as shown.
Due to this conduction by S3&S4, a reverse voltage will appear across load.

S1 S3

+ R - load
Io
Vs
_

S4 S2
 Performance Parameters

1) RMS o/p voltage:

Vorms = Vs
2) RMS o/p current:
Iorms = Vs / R
3) RMS o/p powerV
4) Peak transistor current: Ip = Vs / R
5) Peak reverse blocking voltage: VBR = Vs
6) RMS o/p voltage at fundamental frequency:
Vo1 = 0.9.Vs
7) RMS value of nth harmonic component
Von = 2(1.414). Vs / (n.II)
8) Harmonic Factor of nth harmonic:
HFn = Von / Vo1
9) Total Harmonic Distortion: THD
THD = [V2rms – V2o1]1/2 / Vo1
10) Distortion factor: DF
DFn = Von / (Vo1.n2)
 1 – ø Full Bridge Inverter with “R-L” load

S1 D1 S3 D3

R - L load
+
Vs
_

S4 D4 S2 D2

i) Mode:1: ( t = t1 to t2)
At t = t1, power switches S1&S2are turned on and current flows through
S1-R-L-S2 as shown and a +ve load voltage Vo = +Vs appears across load.
During this mode energy is stored in R-L load.

S1

Io
+ + _
Vs
_ R - L load
S2
ii) Mode:2: (t = t2 to t3)
At t = t2, power switches S1&S2are turned off, so that stored energy in inductance
is released with reverse polarity i.e. load voltage becomes negative Vo = -Vs.
Due to this, stored energy in load returned back to supply by diodes D3 & D4 as
shown i.e. diodes D3 & D4 conduct during this mode.

D3

+ _ +
Vs
_ R - L load
D4

Io

iii) Mode:3: ( t = t3 to t4)

At t = t3, power switches S3&S4are turned on and reverse current flows through
S3-R-L-S4 as shown and a -ve load voltage Vo = -Vs appears across load.
During this mode energy is stored in R-L load with reverse polarity

Io
S3

+ _ +
Vs
_ R - L load

S4
iv) Mode:4: (t = t4 to t5) or (t0 to t1)
At t = t4 / t0 , power switches S3 & S4 are turned off, so that stored reverse
energy in inductance is released with reverse polarity i.e. load voltage becomes +ve
Vo = Vs.
Due to this, stored energy in load returned back to supply by diodes D1 & D2 as
shown i.e. diodes conduct during this mode.

D1

+ Io
Vs + _
_ R - L load

D2

Feedback diodes:
In the mode -2, diodes D3 & D4 return energy from load to supply,
also in the mode diodes D1 & D2 return energy from load to supply, therefore
these diodes are called as ‘feedback diodes’.
3 – ø Voltage source Inverter for R load
1800 Mode
Mode 1 Operation
 Mode 1 Operation

0  t 
3
R 3R
Req  R  
2 2
Vs 2Vs
i1  
Req 3R
i1 R Vs
van  vcn  
2 3
Q1, Q5, Q6 conduct 2Vs
vbn  i1 R 
3
Copyright © by John Wiley & Sons 2003
MOSFETs - 16
Mode 2 Operation
 Mode 2 Operation
 2
 t 
3 3
R 3R
Req  R  
2 2
Vs 2Vs
i2  
Req 3R
2Vs
van  i2 R 
3
Q1, Q2, Q6 conduct
i2 R Vs
vbn  vcn  
Copyright © by John Wiley & Sons 2003
2 3
MOSFETs - 18
Mode 3 Operation
 Mode 3 Operation
2
 t  
3
R 3R
Req  R  
2 2
Vs 2Vs
i3  
Req 3R
i3
van  vbn 
2
Q1, Q2, Q3 conduct 2Vs
vcn  i3 R 
3
Copyright © by John Wiley & Sons 2003
MOSFETs - 20
Thank You