POWER ELECTRONICS LABORATORY

Complete Experiment Guide

Working Principles & Component Explanations

EEE Department | NSS College of Engineering, Palakkad

KTU [Link] EEE — Semester 6

Exp No. Experiment Title

1 High Frequency Inductor Design

2 Gate Driver Circuit for Power MOSFET (TLP250)

3 V-I Characteristics of SCR

4a Resistance Triggering – Thyristor Controlled HWR

4b RC Triggering – Thyristor Controlled HWR

4 AC Voltage Control Using TRIAC and DIAC

5 AC to DC Full Controlled Converter

5 (Sim) Design & Implementation of Buck & Boost Converter (Simulink)

6 Step Down Chopper

7 Step Up Chopper

6 (Sim) Three Phase Fully Controlled Converter (Simulink)

8 Single Phase Bridge Inverter Using SPWM

9 Simulation of Three Phase Sine PWM Inverter

10 Simulation of THD Analysis – Square & Sine Wave Inverter

11 V/f Control of Three Phase Squirrel Cage Induction Motor

12 Single Phase Sine PWM Inverter

13 Experiment 13 (PE Lab)

Experiment No. 1 — High Frequency Inductor Design
Aim
To design an inductor with Inductance L = 1 mH and maximum current through inductor I = 1 A.

Components & Their Working

Component Specification Working / Purpose

Ferrite Core (EE 42/21/15)
EE type ferrite Provides the magnetic path. EE cores have two E-shaped halves. Air gap can be introdu

Bobbin Matches core size Holds the copper winding in place on the core. Made of plastic/nylon.

Copper Wire SWG based on current

Carries
density
current and produces the magnetic field. Gauge selected so current density J =

LCR Meter Digital Measures inductance (L), capacitance (C) and resistance (R) accurately. Used to verify

Working Principle
An inductor stores energy in a magnetic field. The core's magnetic flux is proportional to the current, so the
core material must not saturate at the maximum design current. The EE42 ferrite core provides a
well-defined magnetic path. An air gap is intentionally introduced in the core to linearise the B-H
characteristic and prevent saturation.

Key Design Equations

Energy stored: E = ½ L I²_m → E = ½ × 1×10■³ × 1² = 0.5 mJ

Area Product: Ap = Aw × Ac = 2E / (Kw × Kc × J × Bm)

Number of Turns: N = L × Im / (Ac × Bm)

Wire cross-section: a = I / J [J = 3 A/mm²]

Kw = 0.6 (winding factor), Kc = 1, Bm = flux density of chosen core material (typically 0.25–0.3 T for ferrite).

Procedure Summary
• Calculate energy E, then area product Ap to select the EE42 core.
• Determine number of turns N and wire gauge from the design equations.
• Wind the required turns on the bobbin, insert the core.
• Measure inductance with LCR meter; adjust air gap until L = 1 mH is achieved.

Result: An inductor of L = 1 mH capable of carrying 1 A was successfully designed, wound, and

verified using an LCR meter.
Experiment No. 2 — Gate Driver Circuit for Power MOSFET (TLP250)
Aim
To generate isolated gate pulses using TLP250 IC to drive a Power MOSFET.

Components & Their Working

Component Specification Working / Purpose

TLP250 Isolated IGBT/MOSFET Driver
Optocoupler-based
IC gate driver. Input side: GaAlAs LED. Output side: integrated photode

IC 7404 Hex Inverter (TTL) Generates complementary (inverted) gate signal. Used to drive the second TLP250 for c

Function Generator 1 kHz square wave Provides the input PWM signal to the TLP250 input LED.

1 kΩ limits current into the input LED of TLP250. 100 Ω limits gate current to MOSFET t
Resistors (1kΩ, 100Ω)1 kΩ (2 nos), 100Ω (2 nos)

Power Supply (+15V,Dual

+5V)supply +15 V powers the output side of TLP250 (drives MOSFET gate). +5 V powers IC 7404 lo

Power MOSFET N-channel MOSFET The device being driven. Gate needs 10–15 V for full enhancement. TLP250 output swin

DSO Digital Storage Oscilloscope

Observes input pulse and output gate pulse simultaneously. Verifies correct switching an

Working Principle
TLP250 is an isolated gate driver IC. The input is a low-power control signal (from function generator),
which drives the internal LED. Light from the LED triggers an integrated photodetector on the output side,
which in turn drives a push-pull transistor stage. This output directly drives the MOSFET gate. The optical
coupling provides complete galvanic isolation between the control side (5 V logic) and the power side (+15
V MOSFET gate drive), protecting the microcontroller/logic from high voltage transients.
Pin 1 & 4 of TLP250 are No-Connect (NC). Pin 2 = LED anode (input+), Pin 3 = LED cathode (input−), Pin
5 = GND of power supply, Pin 6 = output (to MOSFET gate), Pin 7 = NC, Pin 8 = VCC (+15V).

Result: Gate pulses were successfully generated using TLP250 to drive the Power MOSFET.
Experiment No. 3 — V-I Characteristics of SCR (TYG12)
Aim
To study the V-I characteristics of an SCR and to determine the breakover voltage, latching current, and
holding current.

Components & Their Working

Component Specification Working / Purpose

SCR (Thyristor) TYG12 4-layer PNPN device. Has three terminals: Anode (A), Cathode (K), Gate (G). Can block vo

Power Supply (0–30) V, 2 nos. One for anode-cathode circuit (VAK), one for gate circuit (VG).

Resistor 1 kΩ, 2 nos. Series resistor in anode circuit to limit current and protect SCR.

Ammeter (0–10) mA & (0–500) 0–10

mA mA range for gate current measurement. 0–500 mA for anode current.

Voltmeter (0–30) V Measures anode-cathode voltage VAK.

Working Principle – Three Modes of SCR

a) Forward Blocking Mode: Anode is +ve w.r.t. cathode. J1 & J3 are forward biased, J2 is reverse
biased. Only a small leakage current flows. If VAK is increased to forward breakover voltage (VBFO), the
SCR turns ON even without gate signal.
b) Forward Conduction Mode: Once triggered (gate pulse or VBFO reached), J2 breaks down and SCR
enters low-resistance ON state (~1 V drop). Current is limited by external resistance. Latching current (IL)
is the minimum anode current needed to keep SCR ON after gate signal is removed.
c) Reverse Blocking Mode: Cathode is +ve. J1 & J3 reverse biased, J2 forward biased — SCR behaves
like two reverse-biased diodes in series. At reverse breakdown voltage (VBR), avalanche occurs and SCR
is destroyed.

Key Parameters

Parameter Definition Measured Value (TYG12)

Forward Breakover Voltage (VBFO)
VAK at which SCR turns ON with zero gate current8.4 V

Latching Current (IL) Min. anode current to keep SCR ON just after gate8 signal
mA removal

Holding Current (IH) Min. anode current below which SCR turns OFF 6 mA

Min. Gate Current (IGmin) Minimum gate current required to trigger SCR 3.3 mA

Result: V-I characteristics of SCR obtained. VBFO = 8.4 V, Latching current = 8 mA, Holding
current = 6 mA.
Experiment No. 4a — Resistance Triggering Circuit for Thyristor
Controlled HWR
Aim
To set up a resistance triggering circuit for thyristor controlled half wave rectifier and observe output
waveforms.

Components & Their Working

Component Spec. Working / Purpose

SCR (Thyristor) TYG12 Main power device — conducts during +ve half cycle when gate is triggered.

Diode IN4007 In gate circuit — prevents gate-cathode reverse voltage during -ve half cycle. Protects gate

R1 (Fixed) ~100 Ω Limits maximum gate current (Igm). Provides baseline resistance.

R2 (Potentiometer) 100 kΩ Variable resistance. Increasing R2 delays capacitor/gate voltage build-up → increases firing

Load 100 Ω, 2W Resistive load across which output voltage is observed.

AC Supply 12 V, 50 Hz Single-phase source. SCR conducts only during the +ve half cycle.

Working Principle
During the positive half cycle, the gate voltage VG rises proportionally with the source voltage VS. When
VG exceeds the trigger voltage VGT, the SCR fires and conducts. The firing angle α can be varied from 0°
to 90° only (limitation of resistance triggering), by varying potentiometer R2. During the negative half cycle,
diode D is reverse biased — the gate drive is cut and SCR naturally commutates OFF.
Gate trigger condition: Vm × R/(R1 + R) ≥ VGT

Design: R1 = Vm / IGm ≥ 84.85 Ω → R1 ≈ 100 Ω; R ≥ 57.69 Ω → R ≈ 100 Ω

Limitation: Firing angle can only be varied from 0° to 90° with resistance triggering.

Result: Resistance triggering circuit for thyristor controlled HWR was designed; waveforms
across SCR and load were observed.

Experiment No. 4b — RC Triggering Circuit for Thyristor Controlled

HWR
Aim
To set up a resistance-capacitance triggering circuit for thyristor controlled half wave rectifier.

Components & Their Working

Component Spec. Working / Purpose

SCR TYG12 Power switch — triggered by RC circuit gate pulse.
Diode (D0) IN4007 During -ve half cycle, charges C to -Vm (lower plate +ve). Prevents gate reverse voltage.

R1 ~100 kΩ Series resistor. Limits gate current. Key design element: R1 ≤ (Vm - VGT - Vd)/IGT.

Capacitor (C) 4.7 µF Charges through R during +ve cycle; when VC reaches VGT + Vd, SCR fires. Determines fi

Potentiometer R 100 kΩ Variable resistor to control RC time constant → controls firing angle from 0° to 180°.

AC Supply 12 V, 50 Hz Single phase source.

Working Principle
During negative half cycle, C charges to −Vm through diode D0 (lower plate positive). During positive half
cycle, SCR is in forward blocking state. C starts charging positively through R. When capacitor voltage VC
reaches (VGT + Vd = 6 + 0.7 = 6.7 V), SCR is triggered. By varying R, the RC time constant changes →
firing angle α varies from 0° to 180° (wider range than R-only triggering).
Trigger condition: VC = VGT + Vd = 6.7 V

Design: R1 ≤ (Vm − VGT − Vd) / IGT = (12√2 − 6.7) / 15×10■■ → R1 ≈ 100 kΩ

Capacitor: RC ≥ 1.3T → C ≥ 1.3 / (f × R) → C ≈ 4.7 µF

Advantage over R-triggering: Firing angle can be varied from 0° to 180°.

Result: RC triggering circuit for thyristor controlled HWR was designed; waveforms across SCR
and load were observed.
Experiment No. 4 — AC Voltage Control Using TRIAC and DIAC
Aim
To set up a circuit for controlling light output from a lamp (AC voltage controller) using TRIAC and DIAC,
and to observe the waveforms.

Components & Their Working

Component Spec. Working / Purpose

TRIAC BT136 or equiv. 5-layer bidirectional thyristor. Has terminals MT1, MT2 and Gate G. Equivalent to two SCRs con

DIAC 32 V breakover Two-terminal bidirectional trigger device. Remains OFF until voltage across it exceeds breakov

Capacitor (C) ~100 nF / 0.1µF Charges through R during each half cycle. When VC reaches DIAC breakover voltage, DIAC fir

Potentiometer (R) 100 kΩ Controls RC time constant → controls when VC reaches VBO → controls firing angle α of TRIA

Load (Lamp) 230 V bulb Resistive load (lamp). Power delivered to lamp varies with firing angle — hence light intensity is

Auto-transformer 230 V / 30 V Steps down supply to safe lab level for demonstration.

Working Principle
AC input voltage charges capacitor C through R and the load. During positive half cycle, C charges
positively; during negative half cycle, C charges negatively. When |VC| exceeds DIAC breakover voltage
(VBO + VGT), DIAC fires and delivers a trigger pulse to the TRIAC gate. TRIAC turns ON and connects
load to supply for the remaining half cycle. By varying potentiometer R, the RC time constant changes,
altering when the capacitor reaches VBO → this changes the firing angle α for BOTH half cycles
simultaneously.
Firing angle can be varied from near 0° to near 180° by adjusting R, giving smooth control of average
power delivered to the AC load.
TRIAC is used for AC control. DIAC ensures sharp, reliable gate triggering. The circuit controls BOTH half cycles
unlike a single SCR HWR.

Result: A circuit was set up for controlling light output from a lamp using TRIAC-DIAC.
Waveforms across the load, TRIAC and capacitor were observed.
Experiment No. 5 — AC to DC Full Controlled Converter (Single
Phase)
Aim
To study the AC to DC full controlled converter and observe output waveforms.

Components & Their Working

Component Spec. Working / Purpose

SCR T1, T2 Power thyristors Upper pair in bridge. T1 & T2 conduct during positive half cycle when fired at angle α.

SCR T3, T4 Power thyristors Lower pair in bridge. T3 & T4 conduct during negative half cycle when fired at π + α.

AC Supply 230 V / 50 Hz (step-down

Single
used
phase
in lab)
AC input to the converter.

Load (R or RL) Resistive / Inductive R load: current flows only when SCR is ON. RL load: inductor causes current to continue af

Freewheeling Diode (FD)

Power diode Connected across RL load. Provides path for inductor current when both SCR pairs are OFF

Firing Circuit Generates synchronized gate pulses at firing angle α. T1,T2 fired at α; T3,T4 fired at π+α.
Converter kit trigger board

Working Principle
This is a single-phase fully controlled bridge rectifier using 4 SCRs. During positive half cycle (0 to π): T1
and T2 are triggered at ωt = α; current flows: Supply(+) → T1 → R-Load → T2 → Supply(−). At ωt = π,
supply voltage falls to zero; for R-load T1,T2 turn OFF. For RL load, inductor sustains current beyond π.
During negative half cycle (π to 2π): T3 and T4 are triggered at ωt = π+α; current flows:
Supply(−)→T3→Load→T4→Supply(+), giving same polarity output. Average output voltage:
Vdc = (2Vm/π) × cos α [for continuous conduction, RL load]

Vdc = (Vm/π)(1 + cos α) [for R load, discontinuous]

Since thyristors can block voltage in both directions, the output DC voltage can be made negative by
increasing α beyond 90° — enabling power flow back to AC supply (inverter mode). This is two-quadrant
operation.

Load Type Firing Angle Behaviour

R Load α = 45° Current flows only during conduction interval. Output has gaps.

RL Load α = 45° Inductor sustains current. Negative voltage may appear but current stays positive.

RL + FD α = 45° Freewheeling diode clamps output to 0 V during inductor discharge. Better average output.

Result: AC to DC full wave controlled converter was studied and output waveforms were
observed.
Experiment No. 5 (Sim) — Design and Implementation of Buck &
Boost Converter
Aim
To design and implement a Boost converter (Vout = 25 V) and a Buck converter (Vout = 10 V) using
MATLAB/Simulink.

Buck Converter (Step-Down) — Working

A buck converter steps down DC voltage. It consists of a switch (MOSFET), a freewheeling diode, an
inductor L and output capacitor C.
When switch ON (Ton): Current flows from source through inductor to load. Inductor stores energy.
Output voltage equals input voltage (Vo = Vs for ideal case during this interval).
When switch OFF (Toff): Load is disconnected from source. Inductor EMF reverses, forward biasing the
freewheeling diode. Current continues through: L → D → Load → back to L. Inductor releases stored
energy.
Output Voltage: Vo = D × Vin where D = Ton/T (Duty Cycle)

Inductor: L = Vo(1−D) / (fs × ∆IL)

Capacitor: C = Vo(1−D) / (8 × fs² × ∆Vc × L)

Boost Converter (Step-Up) — Working

A boost converter steps up DC voltage. It consists of an inductor, switch (MOSFET), diode and capacitor.
When switch ON: Inductor charges from input (VL = Vin). Diode is reverse biased — capacitor supplies
load.
When switch OFF: Inductor EMF adds to input voltage: Vo = Vin + VL. This forward biases diode,
delivering Vo > Vin to load and charging capacitor.
Output Voltage: Vo = Vin / (1−D)

Inductor: L = Vin × D / (fs × ∆IL)

Capacitor: C = Io × D / (fs × ∆Vc)

Design Values
Parameter Boost Converter Buck Converter
Input Voltage (Vin) 9V 20 V

Output Voltage (Vo) 25 V 10 V

Power (P) 15 W 10 W

Switching Frequency (fs) 30 kHz 25 kHz

Duty Cycle (D) 1 − 9/25 = 0.64 10/20 = 0.5

∆IL 10% of IL 10% of IL

∆Vc 1.1% of Vo 1% of Vo

Result: Buck and Boost converter implementations were done successfully using
MATLAB/Simulink.
Experiment No. 6 — Step Down Chopper (Buck DC-DC Converter)
Aim
To study and observe various waveforms in a step-down (buck) chopper.

Components & Their Working

Component Spec. Working / Purpose

Chopper (IGBT/MOSFET)
CH — main switch High-speed ON/OFF switch. When ON: source connected to load through L. When OFF

Freewheeling Diode (D) Power diode When chopper turns OFF, inductor current cannot stop instantaneously. Diode provides

Inductor (L) In series with load Stores energy when CH is ON; releases energy when CH is OFF. Smooths output curre

Load (R or RL) As per experiment The output load. In RL load, L helps maintain continuous current.

Power Supply (0–30) V DC Input DC source Vin.

CRO / DSO — Observes input and output voltage waveforms.

Working Principle
When CH is ON (Ton): Source Vs directly connects to load through inductor L. Load current builds up
exponentially. Output voltage Vo = Vs during this interval.
When CH is OFF (Toff): Load disconnects from source. Inductor maintains current through freewheeling
diode D. Inductor current decays exponentially. Output voltage Vo = 0 (ideal diode) during this interval.
Average Output Voltage: Vo = D × Vs where D = Ton / T

Duty Cycle D = Ton / (Ton + Toff)

Observations from Experiment

Parameter Value
Input Voltage (Vin) 23 V

Output Voltage (Vout) 18 V

Duty Cycle D = Vout/Vin 18/23 = 0.7826

Duty Cycle (%) 78.26%

The output voltage is always less than input in a step-down chopper. Duty cycle controls the ratio Vo/Vs.

Result: A step-down chopper was studied. Circuit was set up and waveforms were observed.
Calculated Duty Cycle = 78.26%.
Experiment No. 7 — Step Up Chopper (Boost DC-DC Converter)
Aim
To study and observe various waveforms in a step-up (boost) chopper.

Components & Their Working

Component Spec. Working / Purpose

Chopper (CH) Main ON/OFF switch (IGBT/MOSFET)
Rapidly switches to control energy transfer. When ON: inductor stores energy. When OF

Inductor (L) Large inductance in series

Core
withenergy
sourcestorage element. When CH OFF, inductor EMF (L di/dt) adds to source volt

Diode (D) Power diode (series with When

load) CH ON: diode is reverse biased (capacitor alone feeds load). When CH OFF: diod

Capacitor (C) Output filter capacitor Stores charge when diode conducts; supplies load when diode is OFF (CH ON). Smooth

Load Resistive Output load.

Working Principle
When CH is ON: Inductor L charges from source Vs (current builds up). Diode D is reverse biased — load
is supplied by capacitor C only. Inductor stores energy: E = ½LI².
When CH is OFF: Inductor EMF reverses polarity. The equivalent circuit has Vs and VL in series — their
sum exceeds input voltage. Diode D conducts: Vo = Vs + L(di/dt) > Vs. This charges capacitor and
supplies load.
Output Voltage: Vo = Vs / (1 − D) where D = Ton/T (duty cycle)

Since D < 1, (1-D) < 1, so Vo > Vs → Step Up achieved!

Observations from Experiment

Parameter Value
Input Voltage (Vin) 23 V

Output Voltage (Vout) 46 V

Duty Cycle: 1-D = Vin/Vout = 23/46 0.5

D = 1 - 0.5 0.5 → Duty Cycle = 50%

Output voltage (46 V) is double the input (23 V) at D = 0.5 — consistent with formula.

Result: A step-up chopper circuit was studied and set up. Waveforms are observed.
Experiment No. 6 (Sim) — Three Phase Fully Controlled Converter
(Simulink)
Aim
To design and implement a three phase fully controlled converter using MATLAB/Simulink.

Components & Their Working

Simulink Block Real Component Working / Purpose

AC Voltage Source (3 nos.)
Three-phase supply Provides three-phase 120° displaced sinusoidal voltages (Va, Vb, Vc).

Thyristor (6 nos.) 6 SCRs in bridge Upper group (T, T1, T5): fired at α, α+120°, α+240°. Lower group (T3, T2, T4): fired 180

Pulse Generator (6 nos.)Firing circuit Generates gating pulses at the required firing angle α for each of the 6 thyristors.

Series RLC Branch R / RL / RLE load Models the load. Changed to observe output with R (purely resistive), RL (inductive) and

Voltage Measurement + Scope

CRO Measures and displays output DC voltage waveform.

Powergui (Continuous) Solver setting MATLAB simulation engine for power electronics. Enables steady-state continuous simu

Working Principle
The three-phase fully controlled bridge converter uses 6 thyristors arranged in a bridge configuration (3 in
upper group, 3 in lower group). The output voltage has 6 pulses per cycle of the supply — hence it is
called a 6-pulse converter. This gives much lower ripple than single-phase converters.
Average Output: Vdc = (3√3/π) × Vm × cos α = 2.34 × Vph × cos α

With R load: Output voltage drops to zero each time SCR current falls to zero. Waveform has clear pulse
shape (6 per cycle).
With RL load: Inductor sustains current — output may go negative momentarily but current is always
positive (one-quadrant operation without FD).
With RLE load: Back-EMF E represents a DC motor load. The RLE waveform shows the converter
supplying a motor with both resistive drop and back-EMF.
Three-phase converters are used for high-power applications (drives, HVDC) because they have lower ripple and
higher power factor than single-phase converters.

Result: Three-phase fully controlled converter was designed and implemented successfully
using MATLAB/Simulink.
Experiment No. 8 — Single Phase Bridge Inverter Using SPWM
Aim
To study the performance of a single-phase full bridge inverter using SPWM; to obtain AC waveform from
DC input using sinusoidal pulse width modulation.

Components & Their Working

Component Spec. Working / Purpose

IGBT (4 nos.) S11, S12, S21, S22 Four IGBTs form the H-bridge (full bridge) inverter. S11 & S22 form one diagonal; S12 &

Freewheeling Diodes (4 nos.)

D1, D2, D3, D4 Anti-parallel diodes across each IGBT. Conduct reactive (inductive) current when corres

DC Source (Vd) Split as Vd/2 + Vd/2 Input DC bus. Output swings between +Vd/2 and -Vd/2 (or +Vd and -Vd in unipolar/bipo

Triangular Carrier Wave High frequency (e.g. 1High-frequency

kHz) carrier. Compared with sinusoidal reference to generate PWM signals.

Sinusoidal Reference 50 Hz Reference signal at desired output frequency. Modulation index m = Ar/Ac (amplitude of

Comparator / Controller Gate drive logic Compares reference and carrier: when Vref > Vcarrier → S11/S22 ON; when Vref < Vca

Load (R-L) Series RL Load across which AC output is obtained.

SPWM Working Principle

In sinusoidal PWM (SPWM), a sinusoidal reference wave (desired output frequency) is compared with a
triangular carrier wave (switching frequency). The comparator output determines which IGBT pair to turn
ON:
• When Vref > Vtriangle: S11 ON, S22 ON (current path: +Vdc → S11 → Load → S22 → −Vdc)
• When Vref < Vtriangle: S12 ON, S21 ON (current reverses through load)
The resulting output is a pulse-width modulated waveform whose fundamental component is sinusoidal at
the reference frequency. A low-pass filter (or the load inductance itself) extracts the fundamental sine
wave.
Output Voltage (fundamental): Vo = m × Vs where m = Ac/Ar (modulation index)

Modulation Index: m = Amplitude of reference / Amplitude of carrier

Higher switching frequency → better THD (Total Harmonic Distortion). SPWM pushes harmonics to higher
frequencies where they are easier to filter.

Result: Performance of single-phase full bridge inverter using SPWM was studied. AC waveform
obtained from DC input. Variation of output with modulation index was observed.
Experiment No. 9 — Simulation of Three Phase Sine PWM Inverter
Aim
To simulate a three-phase sine PWM inverter using MATLAB/Simulink.

Simulink Blocks & Their Working

Block Working / Purpose

Sine Wave (3 nos., 120° displaced)
Three reference sinusoidal signals for phases A, B, C — desired output frequency (e.g. 50 Hz).

Triangle Generator High-frequency carrier wave for comparison with reference. Determines switching frequency.

Compares reference sine with carrier triangle. Output HIGH when Vref ≥ Vcarrier → turns ON correspondi
Relational Operator (≥, 3 nos.)

Logical Operator (NOT, 3 nos.)

Generates complementary gate signals for the lower MOSFETs in each phase leg (inverting upper gate si

MOSFET (6 nos.) Six switches in three-phase bridge configuration. Upper and lower MOSFETs in each leg switch compleme

DC Voltage Source Input DC bus voltage.

Three-Phase Series RLC Branch

Three-phase RL load. The load inductance acts as a low-pass filter, smoothing the PWM to sinusoidal cur

Three-Phase V Measurement
Measures
+ Scope and displays three-phase output line voltages.

Powergui Simulation engine — sets continuous solver for power circuits.

Working Principle
Three separate sinusoidal references (Va_ref, Vb_ref, Vc_ref), each 120° apart, are compared with a
common high-frequency triangular carrier. For each phase, when Vref > Vcarrier, the upper MOSFET
turns ON; the lower MOSFET (complementary signal via NOT gate) turns OFF. This generates
three-phase PWM output voltages.
Asynchronous modulation: Carrier and reference are not synchronized (carrier ratio not multiple of 3).
Synchronous modulation: Carrier ratio is an integer multiple of 3 — used in precision drives for
symmetric waveforms.
Output Line Voltage (fundamental): VL = √3 × m × Vdc/2

The three output voltage waveforms are 120° phase displaced PWM pulses. Load inductance filters them
to give approximately sinusoidal currents.

Result: Simulation of three-phase sine PWM was done successfully using MATLAB/Simulink.
Experiment No. 10 — Simulation of THD Analysis – Square and Sine
Wave Inverter
Aim
To simulate THD analysis of square wave and sine wave inverters using MATLAB/Simulink.

Key Concepts

Term Definition / Explanation

THD (Total Harmonic Distortion)
Measure of waveform quality. THD = IH / IF = RMS of all harmonics / RMS of fundamental. Lower THD =

Square Wave Inverter Simple ON/OFF switching. Output is a square wave. Has very HIGH THD (contains all odd harmonics: 3rd

Sine PWM Inverter SPWM generates near-sinusoidal output. Harmonics pushed to high frequencies (around carrier frequency

THD Block (Simulink) Computes RMS of harmonics divided by RMS of fundamental of the periodic input signal.

Null THD A pure sinusoidal voltage has THD = 0 (by definition — no harmonics).

Simulink Blocks — Square Wave Inverter

Block Working
Pulse Generator Generates square wave gating signal at desired frequency.

NOT (Logical Operator)

Inverts gate signal for complementary MOSFET pair.

MOSFET (4 nos.) H-bridge switches: upper pair gets direct pulse; lower pair gets inverted pulse.

DC Source + RLC + Scope

Input supply, load, and output measurement.

Simulink Blocks — Sine Wave Inverter

Block Working
Sine Wave (reference)
Desired 50 Hz sinusoidal reference.

Triangle Generator (carrier)

High-frequency carrier for SPWM comparison.

Relational Operator (≥)

Compares reference and carrier to generate gate pulses.

NOT + MOSFET pairsDrive H-bridge with PWM signals for sinusoidal output.

In PWM inverters, voltage control is achieved by varying pulse widths. This reduces harmonics content
and results in reduced size of filter — saving cost. Most suitable method for modern inverters.

Result: THD analysis of sine and square wave inverters was done using Simulink. Square wave
has high THD; sine PWM has significantly lower THD.
Experiment No. 11 — V/f Control of Three Phase Squirrel Cage
Induction Motor
Aim
• To perform speed control of a three-phase induction motor using a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD).
• To plot Speed vs Frequency characteristics.

Components & Their Working

Component Spec. Working / Purpose

Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)
2 HP Converts fixed 400 V / 50 Hz supply to variable voltage & variable frequency output.

Three Phase Induction Motor2 HP, 3ph, 400V, 2A, Motor

Squirrel
under
Cage
speed control. Speed proportional to supply frequency (Ns = 120f/P).

Tachometer / Speed indicator

Built into VFD Measures rotor speed (rpm) at each frequency setting.

Voltmeter Measures input to motor

Verifies V/f ratio is maintained constant across frequency range.

Working Principle — V/f Control

In a three-phase induction motor, the induced EMF is given by: V = E = 4.44 × φ × K × T × f, which means
flux φ = V/(4.44KTf). To maintain constant flux (and hence constant torque capability), the ratio V/f must be
kept constant.
V / f = Constant → If f↓ then V↓ proportionally (to prevent core saturation)

Synchronous Speed: Ns = 120f / P (rpm)

The VFD implements this by simultaneously reducing both voltage and frequency proportionally. For
example: at 50 Hz → 400 V; at 25 Hz → 200 V; at 10 Hz → 80 V. This ensures the motor flux (and hence
torque) remains nearly constant throughout the speed range.
Below base frequency (50 Hz): V/f = constant mode. Above base frequency: voltage stays at rated (field
weakening region) — torque decreases but speed continues to increase.

Tabular Column (Sample)

Sl No. Frequency (Hz) Voltage (V) V/f Ratio Speed (rpm)

1 10 80 8 ~300

2 20 160 8 ~600

3 30 240 8 ~900

4 40 320 8 ~1200

5 50 400 8 ~1480
Actual speed will be slightly less than synchronous speed due to slip. Slip ≈ 2-5% at rated load.

Result: Speed control of the squirrel cage induction motor was successfully done using V/f
drive. Speed vs Frequency characteristics were plotted.
Experiment No. 12 — Single Phase Sine PWM Inverter (Hardware –
IGBT Kit)
Aim
To study the operation of a bridge inverter with sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) method using
IGBT-based trainer kit.

Components & Their Working

Component Working / Purpose

IGBT-based Inverter Trainer Contains
Kit a fully built H-bridge (4 IGBTs with freewheeling diodes), control board (generates SPWM gate s

SPWM Control Board Internally generates sinusoidal reference and triangular carrier; comparator produces PWM pulses; gate d

Patch Cords Connect control board signal outputs to gate driver inputs for each IGBT.

DSO (Digital Storage Oscilloscope)

Observes: (a) reference sine + carrier triangle waveforms, (b) gate pulses, (c) output voltage across load.

SPWM – Detailed Working

The SPWM control board generates: (1) A sinusoidal reference at desired output frequency (50 Hz), (2) A
high-frequency triangular carrier (e.g. 1 kHz, adjustable). The comparator compares them:
• Vref > Vcarrier → Gate pulse to S11 & S22 (diagonal pair 1 ON) → Current through load: + to −
• Vref < Vcarrier → Gate pulse to S21 & S12 (diagonal pair 2 ON) → Current through load: − to +
The output is a series of variable-width pulses. The width of each pulse follows the sine wave envelope.
The fundamental component of this PWM output is a sine wave at 50 Hz. Load inductance or external LC
filter removes higher harmonics.
Modulation Index: m = Ar / Ac (Reference Amplitude / Carrier Amplitude)

Output Fundamental Voltage: Vo1 = m × Vdc

Varying m from 0 to 1 (linear modulation range) linearly controls the output voltage. Above m = 1
(overmodulation), output increases nonlinearly with increased THD.

What to Observe on DSO

• Channel 1: Reference sine + triangular carrier overlay → verify SPWM generation.
• Channel 2: Output voltage across R-L load → verify PWM pattern with sine envelope.
• Change modulation index on kit → observe change in output voltage magnitude.

Result: Operation of single-phase bridge inverter with SPWM was studied. AC waveform
obtained from DC input. Variation of output with modulation index was observed in CRO.
Experiment No. 13 — Experiment 13 – PE Lab
Note
Experiment 13 file (Exp13_PE_Lab.pdf) was uploaded but appears to be an additional/extended
experiment from the lab. Based on the lab sequence and KTU PE lab syllabus, this experiment likely
covers one of the following topics:
• Simulation of a DC-DC converter (Cuk / SEPIC / Buck-Boost)
• Three-phase inverter (hardware)
• Power factor correction circuit
• Solar PV / MPPT simulation
Please refer to the actual experiment sheet for the specific aim and procedure. The general component
explanations for simulation-based experiments (Simulink blocks, power circuit components) are covered in
Experiments 5(Sim), 6(Sim), 9, and 10 of this guide.

General Simulink Blocks Reference

Block Purpose
Powergui (Continuous / Discrete)
Mandatory for SimPowerSystems. Sets solver for power circuit simulation.

MOSFET / IGBT / Thyristor Power switches. Gate signal determines ON/OFF.

Series RLC Branch Models R, L, C or combinations (set unused components to 0).

AC / DC Voltage Source Input voltage source (adjustable amplitude, frequency, phase).

Diode Unidirectional switch — conducts when forward biased.

Pulse Generator Generates square wave gate pulses (set amplitude=1, frequency, duty cycle).

Scope Oscilloscope display — connect after Voltage/Current Measurement block.

Voltage / Current Measurement

Converts SimPowerSystems signals to Simulink signals for Scope.

Mux Combines multiple signals for display on a single Scope.

THD Block Computes Total Harmonic Distortion of input signal.

FFT Analysis (Powergui) Analyzes harmonic spectrum of output waveform.

Refer to the uploaded Exp13_PE_Lab.pdf for the specific experiment details.

APPENDIX — Quick Formula Reference

Experiment Key Formulas

Inductor Design E = ½LI² | Ap = 2E/(Kw·Kc·J·Bm) | N = L·Im/(Ac·Bm) | a = I/J

SCR Characteristics VBFO = forward breakover voltage; IL = latching current; IH = holding current

R-Triggering (HWR) Firing angle α: 0° to 90°. R■ = Vm/IGm. Output: Vo_avg = (Vm/2π)(1+cosα)

RC-Triggering (HWR) Firing angle α: 0° to 180°. RC ≥ 1.3T. Trigger: VC = VGT + Vd

TRIAC-DIAC Control Trigger when VC ≥ VBO(DIAC). Controls both half cycles. α: 0° to 180°.

Single Phase Full Converter Vdc = (2Vm/π)cosα (RL); Vdc = (Vm/π)(1+cosα) (R load)

Buck Converter Vo = D·Vin | L = Vo(1−D)/(fs·∆IL) | C = Vo(1−D)/(8·fs²·∆Vc·L)

Boost Converter Vo = Vin/(1−D) | L = Vin·D/(fs·∆IL) | C = Io·D/(fs·∆Vc)

Step Down Chopper Vo = D·Vs = (Ton/T)·Vs

Step Up Chopper Vo = Vs/(1−D)

3-Ph Full Converter Vdc = (3√3/π)·Vm·cosα = 2.34·Vph·cosα

SPWM Inverter Vo = m·Vdc (linear range: m ≤ 1) | m = Ar/Ac

3-Ph SPWM Inverter VL(fund) = √3·m·Vdc/2

THD THD = IH/IF = √(I²total − I²fundamental)/Ifundamental

V/f Control V/f = const. | Ns = 120f/P | φ = V/(4.44·K·T·f)

Power Electronics Lab — NSS College of Engineering, Palakkad | KTU EEE Sem 6