⚡ POWER ELECTRONICS — BLOCK 2

SCR Triggering, Commutation & Protection

This block is important because the official syllabus explicitly mentions
triggering circuits. We'll also cover commutation/protection because
they directly support SCR operation.

1. Why does an SCR need triggering?

When an SCR is forward biased, it can still remain in:
Forward blocking state → OFF
To turn it ON safely, we normally apply:
Gate current pulse
Once the anode current rises above the latching current IL, the SCR
remains ON even if the gate pulse is removed.
Remember:
IL > IH
where:
 IL = latching current
 IH = holding current

2. SCR Turn-ON Methods

An SCR can be turned ON by:
1. Gate triggering ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Forward-voltage triggering
3. dv/dt triggering
4. Temperature triggering
5. Light triggering
The preferred practical method is:
Gate triggering

3. Forward-Voltage Triggering
If forward voltage reaches: Forward breakover voltage VBO
the SCR switches ON even without gate current.
But this method is normally:
❌ undesirable for controlled operation.
Why?
Because the SCR is operated close to its breakover limit.

4. Gate Triggering ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SCR is forward biased and a gate current is applied between:
Gate and Cathode
The gate-cathode junction behaves approximately like a forward-biased
PN junction.
Increasing gate current:
reduces the forward voltage required for turn-ON
or equivalently:
Higher IG → lower effective VBO

5. Gate Triggering Types

Three commonly discussed gate-signal methods:
DC gate triggering
Continuous DC applied to gate.
Simple but causes unnecessary gate power loss.
AC gate triggering
AC signal used.
Can provide pulses in appropriate cycles but gives less precise control.
Pulse gate triggering ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Short gate pulses are applied.
Advantages:
 Lower gate power loss
 Accurate firing instant
 Easy isolation
 Suitable for converter control
Therefore:
Pulse triggering is generally preferred

6. Gate Triggering Circuit

Basic idea:
Control circuit
↓
Pulse generator
↓
Isolation
↓
Gate → SCR
Isolation may use: Pulse transformer
or
Optocoupler
Purpose: Electrical isolation between low-power control circuitry
and high-power converter circuitry.

7. Firing Angle α ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This becomes extremely important from the next block onward.
α = delay angle at which SCR is triggered relative to the natural
reference point of the AC waveform
Example:
If positive half-cycle begins at:
ωt = 0°
and SCR is triggered at:
ωt = 60°
then:
α = 60°
Increasing α generally means:
later conduction → lower average rectified output voltage
for ordinary rectifier operation.

8. Gate Pulse vs Conduction

Very important:
The gate pulse: starts SCR conduction
It does NOT necessarily need to remain present throughout conduction.
After SCR current exceeds IL: Gate can be removed
and SCR remains ON as long as: IA > IH

9. SCR Turn-OFF
Ordinary SCR cannot normally be turned OFF through its gate.
To turn OFF: Anode current IA must fall below Holding current IH
and the device must remain reverse biased or without forward current
long enough to regain blocking capability.

10. Commutation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Commutation = process of turning OFF a conducting SCR
This is a key definition.
Two broad categories:
Natural commutation Uses the natural AC current zero.
Forced commutation External circuitry forces SCR current to zero /
applies appropriate reverse bias.

11. Natural / Line Commutation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Used mainly in: AC supplied converters
AC current naturally passes through zero every cycle.
At current zero:
IA < IH
→ SCR turns OFF.
Therefore:
Natural commutation requires no separate forced-commutation
circuit
Typical: Controlled rectifiers

12. Forced Commutation

Important in DC circuits because DC supply current does not naturally
cross zero.
Therefore an external circuit is used to:
 Force SCR current below IH
and/or
 Apply reverse voltage for sufficient time.
Common application: DC chopper circuits using conventional SCRs
Modern MOSFET/IGBT choppers don't require SCR commutation circuits.

13. SCR Turn-Off Time tq ⭐⭐⭐⭐

After SCR current becomes zero, the SCR does not instantly regain
forward-blocking ability.
It needs time to remove stored carriers.
This is: Turn-off time tq
The circuit must provide adequate reverse-bias/off time.
For reliable commutation:
Available circuit turn-off time > SCR tq

14. Commutation Classes — Useful Extra

Traditional classification:
Clas Common description
s
A Load/self commutation
B Resonant-pulse/self
commutation
C Complementary
commutation
D Auxiliary commutation
E External pulse commutation
F Line/natural commutation
For your syllabus, don't spend time memorizing every circuit diagram.
Most important:
Class F → Natural/line commutation
And understand the difference between: Natural vs Forced

15. Why SCR Protection Is Required

SCR can be damaged by:
  Excessive di/dt
 Excessive dv/dt
 Overvoltage
 Overcurrent
 Excessive temperature
The two most famous exam questions are:
di/dt protection → Inductor
dv/dt protection → RC snubber3

16. di/dt Protection ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

At turn-ON, conduction initially begins over a small region near the gate.
If anode current rises too quickly: Local hot spots may develop and
damage the SCR.
Therefore we limit: di/dt
using: Series inductance L
because: v = L(di/dt)
Therefore: di/dt = v/L
Increasing L → lower rate of current rise.

17. di/dt Numerical

Suppose:
V = 200 V
L = 20 μH
Then:
di/dt = V/L
= 200 / (20 × 10⁻⁶)
= 10⁷ A/s
Since:
1 μs = 10⁻⁶ s
di/dt = 10 A/μs

18. dv/dt Problem ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An SCR has internal junction capacitance.
Current through capacitance:
i = C(dv/dt)
A rapidly rising anode-cathode voltage can produce displacement current.
If sufficiently large: SCR may turn ON unintentionally
This is called: dv/dt triggering

19. dv/dt Protection

Use: RC snubber circuit
connected across the SCR.
Its job is to limit the rate of rise of voltage across the SCR.
🔥 Lock it:
di/dt → Series L
dv/dt → RC across SCR

20. Snubber Circuit ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Typical idea:
R
┌--/\/\--C--┐
| |
------| SCR |------
| |
└-----------┘
The capacitor reduces rapid voltage rise.
Why include R?
The resistor:
 limits capacitor discharge current when SCR turns ON
 damps oscillations
So:
C controls dv/dt
R limits capacitor discharge current

21. Overcurrent Protection

Possible methods:
 Fast-acting fuse
 Circuit breaker/protective circuitry
 Current limiting
A semiconductor fuse may be called:
HRC / fast-acting fuse
depending on context.

22. Overvoltage Protection

Sources include:
 Switching transients
 Supply surges
 Inductive effects
Protection may include:
 RC snubber
 MOV
 TVS/surge suppressor
For basic AEE questions:
dv/dt → RC snubber
is the key association.
23. Thermal Protection
Power semiconductor junction temperature must stay below its permitted
value.
Use: Heat sink
Heat flows approximately:
Junction → case → heat sink → ambient

24. Thermal Resistance ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Analogous to electrical resistance.
Rθ = ΔT/P
where:
 Rθ = thermal resistance, °C/W
 ΔT = temperature rise, °C
 P = power dissipated, W
Therefore:
ΔT = P × Rθ

25. Thermal Numerical

Power loss:
P = 20 W
Overall thermal resistance:
Rθ = 2°C/W
Temperature rise:
ΔT = 20 × 2
= 40°C
If ambient:
Ta = 30°C
then approximate junction temperature:
Tj = 30 + 40 = 70°C

26. Freewheeling Diode ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is extremely important for upcoming rectifiers/choppers.
Suppose the load contains an inductance.
Inductor property: Current cannot change instantaneously
When the main power device turns OFF or supply reverses, the inductive
current needs another path.
We provide: Freewheeling diode (FWD) across the load.
27. Purpose of Freewheeling Diode
It:
 Provides path for inductive load current
 Maintains current continuity
 Reduces voltage spikes
 Protects switching device
 Can improve output waveform
 Can reduce reactive-power demand in some converter situations
Basic concept
Supply → Switch → R-L Load
↑ ↓
└-Diode-┘
When supply/switch stops feeding load:
inductor current circulates through the freewheeling diode.

28. Why Current Continues

Inductor:
vL = L(di/dt)
An inductor opposes sudden changes in current.
Therefore:
Inductor current cannot change instantaneously
This is why FWD is so important for:
RL loads and DC motor loads.

29. Freewheeling Period

During ideal freewheeling:
Load current circulates through:
R-L load + diode
The source may be disconnected from the load loop.
Consequently, for an ideal diode the load-terminal voltage during
freewheeling is approximately:
Vo ≈ 0
while current continues to decay gradually.

30. Firing vs Commutation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Do not mix these:
Triggering / Firing
Turns SCR ON
Commutation
Turns SCR OFF
Memory:
Trigger → ON
Commutate → OFF
31. SCR Gate Control — Important Trap
Gate can: Turn SCR ON
✅ Yes
Control exact load current continuously after latching
❌ No
Turn ordinary SCR OFF
❌ No
Once ON: load/circuit determines anode current.

32. Natural Commutation Example

Single-phase AC:
Current eventually crosses: zero
SCR current becomes less than IH.
SCR switches OFF naturally.
Hence: Line-commutated converter

33. Forced Commutation Example

DC source:
DC → SCR → Load
Current has no natural alternating zero.
Therefore conventional SCR needs:
Forced commutation circuit
to turn OFF.

34. GTO Reminder

Don't confuse this with SCR:
SCR:
Gate → ON only.
GTO:
Positive gate → ON
Negative gate → OFF.
Therefore GTO reduces/eliminates the need for a separate conventional
SCR-style forced commutation circuit for turn-off.

35. Gate Pulse Requirements — Concept

Gate pulse must have:
 Adequate amplitude
  Adequate duration
 Correct timing
and must remain within:
Gate power/current ratings
Too weak → unreliable triggering.
Too strong → possible gate damage.

36. Synchronised Triggering

In controlled rectifiers, gate pulses are synchronized with:
AC supply
Then α determines when within each appropriate cycle the SCR fires.
This gives:
Control over average DC output
We'll use this extensively in Block 3.

🔥 BLOCK 2 MASTER TABLE

Concept Remember
Gate triggering Preferred SCR turn-ON
method
Pulse triggering Efficient/precise
α Firing/delay angle
Gate removed after SCR remains ON
latching
Commutation Turn OFF SCR
Natural commutation AC current zero
Forced commutation External circuit
SCR turn-off time tq
Latching vs holding IL > IH
di/dt protection Series L
dv/dt protection RC snubber
Capacitor current i=C(dv/dt)
Inductor voltage v=L(di/dt)
Heat sink Thermal protection
Thermal resistance Rθ=ΔT/P
Freewheeling diode Path for inductive current

⭐ 10 AEE Facts to Lock

1. Triggering = SCR ON
2. Commutation = SCR OFF
3. Gate triggering is preferred
4. α = firing/delay angle
5. Natural commutation → AC current zero
6. DC SCR circuits generally require forced commutation
7. di/dt protection → series inductor
8. dv/dt protection → RC snubber
9. iC = C(dv/dt)
10. Freewheeling diode → maintains inductive-load current path
Next we'll do 15 MCQs on Block 2. After that comes Block 3 — Phase-
Controlled Rectifiers, where the major Power Electronics formulas and
numericals begin.