POWER ELECTRONICS 4 th

MODULE
Inverters(DC to AC converter)
Requirements of a practical inverter
1. The voltage source inverter will produce an output voltage or current to required ranges and frequencies.
2. Power factor of an inverter ranges from 0.6 to 0.8
3. VA rating of inverter= Power Required/Power Factor
4. The inverter must have limited starting current.
5. It must possess efficient energy saving property.
6. An inverter with less noise is preferred.
7. The output voltage of an inverter must be pure sine wave, sometimes it may be square wave.
8. Pure sine wave inverters will have great accuracy and less power loss. But the cost is high.
Comparison between voltage source
inverter(VSI) and current source inverter(CSI)
VSI CSI

VSI is fed from a DC voltage CSI is fed from a DC source

source having small or having high impedance
negligible impedance
Input voltage is maintained constant Input current is made
constant
Output voltage does not depend on load Output current does not depend on load

The load current waveform and magnitude The load voltage waveform and magnitude
depends upon load impedence. depends upon load impedence.

Commutation circuit is complex Commutation circuit is simple.

Series Inverter
• Inverters in which commutating elements such as L and C are connected in series
with the load is called a series inverter.
• Self-commutated inverter or load commutated inverter
• These inverters are operated at high frequencies and hence small commutating
elements.
• Used in induction heating, fluorescent lighting etc.
• Circuit consists of Thyristor T1, T2 and a load R which is connected in series with
the commutating elements L and C.
• Mode 1: T1 is ON, T2 is OFF. The circuit current is flowing through T1, L ,C,
[Link] capacitor and inductor charges with this polarity.
• Mode 2: Both T1 and T2 are OFF. The charge in the capacitor commutated the
thyristor T1. No output current is flowing in this Mode
• Mode 3: T1 OFF, T2 ON. The capacitor and inductor discharged through T2 and
the load current is reversed.
Parallel inverter
• It consists of Two Thyristors T1, T2, Inductor, Capacitor C and a Transformer.
• Inductor connected in series with the source to improve the load current as
constant.
• Capacitor is the commutating element connected in parallel with the load.
• Transformer having turns ratio from each primary half to secondary is one
• Mode 1: T1 is ON, T2 is OFF. The current is flowing through the upper half of the
transformer. This current produces the same flux in the lower half and hence the
voltage across the primary winding is 2Vs. This voltage charges the capacitor to 2
Vs and this voltage commutated T1.
• Mode 2: T2 is ON, T1 is OFF. Current flows through the lower part of primary and
the total voltage across primary winding charges capacitor in the opposite polarity.
It will turn off T2.
• Mode 3: time between T1 is turned OFF and T2 is ON. Time b/w T2 is OFF and
T1 is ON. In both cases the charged capacitor gets discharged in the same direction
as it flows.
Single phase Half bridge Inverter with RL
load
• A half bridge inverter circuit consist of two thyristors T1 & T2 and two feedback
diodes D1 & D2.
Working
The operation of Half Bridge Inverter is divided into four modes. Load RL is connected between point A and
B. Point A is considered as +ve w.r.t point B. If the current flow in this direction we assume that current is
+ve.
Mode 1: (t1< t < T/2)
T1 get turned on at time instant t1 and current flow from the upper half of supply voltage and current follow
the path Vs/2 (Upper Supply) ….. T1 ….. load ….. back to Vs/2. In this mode inductor stores energy and
output current increases exponentially as a function of time from zero to its positive max value (Imax). This
time output voltage is also positive because point A is positive (+ve) w.r.t point B.
Mode 2: (T/2 < t < t2)
At time instant T/2 inductor dissipates energy and reverse its polarity, Diode D2 gets forward biased and it
conducts. Hence current follows the path, Load ….. lower half of supply (Vs/2) …… D2 ….. back to Load at
this time interval the energy release by inductor feedback to the lower half supply. At this mode output current
is positive but gradually decreases from Imax to zero because of energy dissipated by the inductive load. The
Output voltage is negative (-Vs/2) this time because point B is positive w.r.t. A.
• Mode 3: (t2 < t < T)
At time instant t2, thyristor T2 get turned on and current flow in a lower half of the circuit and follow the
path Vs/2 (lower supply) …. load …..T2…. back to Vs/2. So, the direction of current is reverse because point B
is positive w.r.t. A and inductor store energy in reverse direction from (-Imax) to zero. At this time output
voltage across load is negative (-Vs/2).
• Mode 4: (0 < t < t1)
This time interval operation is just similar to time interval after T. In this duration, D1 is on. T2 is turned off
due to inductive load and D1 turned on. And current flow from load …. D1…. Vs/2 (Upper supply) …. back
to the load. Here energy release by the inductor fed back to the upper part of supply voltage Vs/2. This time
point A is positive w.r.t point B. So, output voltage is positive Vs/2 and output current decreases exponentially
from its negative max value (-Imax) to zero.
Single phase full bridge inverter with RL load
• Single phase full Bridge Inverter circuit basically consist of four Thyristor (T1to
T4) and four diode (D1to D4) these diodes are called feedback diode. The
operation of full Bridge Inverter is divided into four modes.
• Mode I (t1< t < T/2):In this mode, firing pluses is given to thyristor T1 and T2, they will
start conduct. So current flow from Vs (supply voltage) …. T1 …. load …. T2 …. back to
Vs. In this mode inductor stores energy and output current increases exponentially. output
voltage is also positive because point A is positive (+ve) w.r.t point B.
• Mode II (T/2 < t < t2): At instant T/2 inductor dissipates energy and changes its polarity.
D3 and D4 conducts . The energy stored in inductor is returned back to source.
• Mode III (t2 < t < T): At time instant t2, firing pulses is given to thyristor T3 and T4,
they turned on and current flow from Vs (supply) …. T3 …. Load … T4 …. back to Vs.
So, the direction of current is reverse because point B is positive w.r.t. A and inductor
store energy in reverse direction. At this time output voltage across load is negative (-Vs).
• Mode IV (0 < t < t1): This time interval operation is just similar to time interval after T.
In this duration, D1and D2 is on. T3 and T4 is turned off due to inductive load and
D1and D2 turned on. And current flow from load …. D1…. Vs (Supply) …D2 …. back to
load. Here energy release by the inductor fed back to supply voltage Vs. This time point
A is positive w.r.t point B. So, output voltage is positive Vs and output current decreases
exponentially from its negative max value.
Three phase inverter 180
degree conduction mode
• Three phase inverters have a minimum 6 thyristors.
• It consists of three half-bridge inverters arranged side by side.
• The three phase load is connected to the star.
• Each thyristors conducts for 180 degree of a cycle.
• Thyristor pair in each arm i.e. (T1, T4), (T3, T6) and
(T5, T2) are turned on with a time interval of 180°.
• Thyristors in the upper group i.e. (T1, T3 & T5) conducts at an
interval of 120°. It implies that if T1 is fired at wt = 0° then T3
will be fired at 120° and T5 at 240°. Same is also true for
lower group thyristors i.e. (T4, T6 & T2).
• Switching pattern is given below
• Step1 (0-60◦)
Thyristors T1,T5 and T6 conducts.
• Step 2 (60◦ -120◦)
Thyristors T1,T2 and T6 conducts.
• Step 3 (120◦ – 180◦)
Thyristors T1,T2 and T3 conducts.
• Step 4 (180◦ -240◦)
Thyristors T1,T3, and T4 conducts.
• Step 5 (240◦ - 300◦)
Thyristors T3 ,T4 and T5 conducts.
• Step 6 (300◦ - 360◦)
Thyristors T4,T5 and T6 conducts.
Voltage control methods of inverter
• In many applications like AC motor speed control,it is very essential to control the inverter output
voltage.
Principle of pulse width modulation(PWM)
Contol of output voltage can be done inside the inverter by controlling the switching time periods.
This method of inverter control is known as pulse width modulation technique. Output signals are
constructed by comparing a reference signal and carrier signal. PWM decrease the total harmonic
distortion of load current.
[Link] pulse width modulation.
[Link] pulse width modulation.
[Link] pulse width modulation
In single pulse width modulation gating signals are generated by comparing a rectangular reference signal
with a high frequency triangular carrier wave. Whenever the magnitude of reference signal is greater than the
magnitude of carrier wave , a pulse is generated. In one half cycle only one pulse is generated.
• [Link] pulse width modulation.
In this technique gating signals are obtained by comparing a sinusoidal signal(reference) with a triangular
carrier [Link] the magnitude of reference is greater than carrier wave , comparator produces an output pulse.
SMPS(Switched mode power supply)
• SMPS works on chopper principle.
• It can handle large amount of current without taking lot of space.
• Works on high frequency hence Size is reduced.

• Output voltage can be controlled by varying duty cycle of chopper.

Working of SMPS
• Input AC supply applied to the input terminal of smps. It is converted to DC by rectifier and filter.
• This DC applied to inverter. The inverter ac output is stepped up and stepped down by a output transformer.
• The transformer output is rectified by rectifier and dc output is taken out.
• The feedback is provided with control circuit.
Advantages
• High efficiency
• High frequency hence small size.
• Light weight.
Disadvantages
• Complex circuit
• Highly expensive
• Noise is present due to high frequency switching.
 Comparison between SMPS and Linear Power
Supply
Sl no Features SMPS Linear Power supply
1 Efficiency 60-95% 30-40%
2 Temperature 20-30 percent 60-100 percent
3 Cost High Low
4 Magnetic material Ferrite core CRGO
5 Weight Less More
6 Complexity More complexity Less complexity
7 Response Fast Slow
UPS( uninterruptible power supply)
• UPS is provided with critical load to maintain the continuity of the supply in case of power failure.
• Types of UPS
1. OFF line UPS
2. ON line UPS
3. Line Interactive UPS

1. OFF line UPS

• OFF line UPS is used where short interruption of power supply is neglected.
• AC input is rectified to DC and used for battery charging.
• The battery is connected to inverter which converts DC to AC.
 1. OFF line UPS
• OFF line UPS is used where short interruption of power supply is [Link] input is rectified to DC
and used for battery charging.
• The battery is connected to inverter which converts DC to AC. Normally the inverter is OFF and main
switch deliver AC power to load through main static switch.
• When power failure occur normally OFF switch is turned ON and the inverter deliver power to load. OFF
line UPS is also called stand by power supply.
2. ON Line UPS
• AC is rectified and is used to charge the battery.
• Rectifier also supply power to inverter.
• Inverter is always ON and supply AC power to load through normallyON UPS static switch.
• Normally OFF switch is used only when inverter failure occurs.

• If inverter fails, normally OFF switch turned ON and connected the load.
3. Line Interactive UPS
• It is the combination of online and offline UPS.
• In this ups inverter plays dual role,charges the when main supply is present and regulates output voltage and
working as a normal inverter when main supply is fail.
• It appears like an online system.
Servostabilizer
• A voltage stabilizer is an electrical appliance to maintain constant voltage to the load. It protects
the load from over voltage and under voltage.
The stabilizer uses a servomotor to maintain voltage ,then it is called servostabilizer.
Working of servostabilizer

• One end of buck boost transformer primary winding is connected to the fixed tap of autotransformer ,other
end is connected to moving arm that is controlled by servomotor.
• Secondary winding of buck boost transformer is connected series with load.
• The electronic control unit detect the voltage variation by comparing input with reference voltage.
• When there is an error, it operates the servomotor and moves the arm of autotransformer. It feeds the primary
of buck boost transformer such that the secondary winding produces the desired output voltage.
Electric drives
• An electric drive is a system that controls the motion of electrical machines.
Block diagram of electric drive:
1. Load: usually a machinery to accomplish a given task. Eg
fans, pumps, washing machine etc.
2. Power modulator: modulators (adjust or converter) power
flow from the source to the motion
3. Motor: actual energy converting machine (electrical to
mechanical)
4. Source: The electrical power supply to the electric drive is
either dc or ac supply
5. Control: adjust motor and load characteristics for the optimal
mode.
6. Sensing unit: It is employed for sensing the drive
parameters, such as speed motor current etc. These signals
provide the feedback to the control unit
• Advantages of electric drives
1. It is quite clean due to the absence of fuel, fumes etc.
[Link] motors are available over a wide range of power few
watt(5W) to mega watt
[Link] energy can be transmitted easily
[Link] need of fuel storage and fuel consumption
[Link] hazardous fuel is required
6. Less pollution