University of M’sila

Faculty of Technology
Electrical Engineering Department
Academic Masters: CE + RE
Advanced Power Electronics Tutorials

Tutorial n° : 2
Exercise 1
i L L
The DC-DC converter presented in the
opposite figure is a series chopper with D v Tp
Id
forced commutation. Its operation over an
operating period T goes through the i Tp
Tp
Da
following phases:
Phase 1; t  0, t1  : Conduction of Tp and Ta

D a only. L i Ta D Ud
E
Phase 2; t   t1 , T  : Conduction of Tp only. iL
ic
Phase 3; t  T, t 2  : Conduction of Ta and vc C
D only.
Phase 4; t   t 2 ,T  : Conduction of D only.
Initially, the converter is assumed to operate in a freewheeling phase and the capacitor is completely
discharged.
1) Analyze the operation of the converter over an operating period T by drawing the active circuit in
each phase while driving in each case the instantaneous expressions of v c (t), ic (t),i L (t) and i L (t).
Calculate the instants t1 and t 2 and deduce the switching time t c  t 2  T.
2) Draw the waveforms of the voltages v c (t), v Tp (t), v D (t) and Ud (t) as well as those of the currents
ic (t), iTp (t), i D (t) and i D (t).
3) Calculate the reverse bias time t p of the thyristor Tp and deduce the minimum value of the
capacitance C so that t p is greater than the blocking time t q of the thyristor.

Solution 1 :

1) Analysis of the operation of the forced commutation converter

Id

- Phase 0 (initial phase) for t  0 , D=ON

The voltage across the load is:

D Ud
Ud (t  0)  0

The current flowing through the diode is:

i D (t  0)  Id
Phase (0)
The voltage across the main thyristor is:

Advanced Power Electronics Tutorial Master in Electrotechnique Dr. BARKAT Said University of M’sila Page 1
v Tp (t  0)  E  0

So, the main thyristor is therefore ready to be fired

The capacitor is assumed to be completely discharged, therefore:

v c (t  0)  0

- Phase 1 : for t  0, t1  v Tp

Id
i Tp
At t  0 , we triggered the thyristor Tp, Tp
Da
which results:
v D (0)  E  0
So the freewheeling diode is turned-off E
L Ud
immediately (D=OFF). iL
The diode D is turned-off, which implies ic
that: vc C
i L (t)  0
Phase (1)
On the other hand, we have:
v Da (0)  E  v c (0)  v L (0)  0

The auxiliary diode Da is therefore conducting (Da=ON).

In this case we have:

i L  ic
vc  v L  E
dic dv
with v L  L et ic  C c
dt dt
So :
dv c2
v L  LC
dt
Which results in :
dv 2
LC c  v c  E
dt
Using the following two initial conditions:

v c (0)  0
dv c (0)
0
dt
The solution of the differential equation is of the form:
1
v c (t)  Acos(t)  Bsin(t)  E with   : is the resonant angular frequency of LC circuit.
LC
- Calculation of constants A and B

v c (0)  A  E  0  A  E
dv c (t)
  Asin(t)  Bcos(t)
dt

Advanced Power Electronics Tutorial Master in Electrotechnique Dr. BARKAT Said University of M’sila Page 2
dv c (0)
 B  0  B  0
dt
Hence the voltage across the capacitor is expressed by:
v c (t)  Ecos(t)  E  E(1  cos(t))
Therefore, the expression for the current ic (t) is:

dv c (t)
ic (t)   ic (t)  ECsin(t)  i L (t)
dt

The current in the transistor is calculated by Kirchhoff's current law as follows:

iTp (t)  ic (t)  Id  ECsin(t)  I d
The diode Da turns off at t  t1 defined by ic (t1 )  0 , which can be translate as follows:

ECsin(t1 )  0  t1    t1 

A this instant, we have:

v c (t)  2E
iTp (t)  I d v Tp
- Phase 2 : for t   t1 , T  , Tp  ON
Id
i Tp
During this phase, the thyristor is the only Tp
conducting semiconductor. So it comes:

U d (t)  E E Ud
i Tp (t)  I d
v c (t)  2E
i c (t)  0
i L (t)  0
Phase (2)
i L (t)  0

The voltage across the auxiliary thyristor is:

v Ta (t)  v c  E  E  0
So, the thyristor Ta is ready to be triggered.

- Phase 3 : for t   T, t 2 

i L
At t  T , we fire the thyristor Ta. L

D
The conduction of Ta imposes a Id
negative voltage on Da ; so Da=OFF et
i L (t)  0 .
Ta
v Tp (T)  E  v c (T)  E  0 ,which i Ta Ud
E
leads to the blocking of Tp.
ic
v D (T)  v c (T)  E  E  0 , so the vc C
diode D is turned on.
This results in: Phase (3)

Advanced Power Electronics Tutorial Master in Electrotechnique Dr. BARKAT Said University of M’sila Page 3
 Ud (t)  v c (t)
In this case, we have:

i L   i c  I d
v c  v L  E
di L di dv
with v L  L   L c et ic  C c
dt dt dt
So :
dv c2
v L   LC
dt
Which results in:
dv 2
LC c  v c  E
dt
with :
v c ( T)  2E
dv c (T) I
 d
dt C
The solution to the differential equation is of the form:

1
v c (t)  A cos((t  T))  Bsin((t  T))  E with   : is the resonant angular frequency of the
LC
L’C circuit
- Calculation of the constants A et B
v c (T)  A  E  2E  A  E
dv c (t)
 A sin((t  T))  B cos((t  T))
dt
dv c (T) I I
 B   d  B   d
dt C C
Hence the voltage across the capacitor is expressed by:
I I
v c (t)  Ecos((t  T))  d sin((t  T))  E  E(1  cos((t  T)))  d sin((t  T))
C C
The expression for the current ic (t) passing through the capacitor is therefore:
dv (t)
ic (t)  c  ic (t)   ECsin( (t  T))  I d cos( (t  T))
dt
The current in the inductor L is expressed by:

i L (t)  ic (t)  Id  ECsin((t  T))  Id cos((t  T))  Id  ECsin((t  T))  Id (1  cos((t  T)))
The voltage across the main thyristor Tp is:
I
v Tp (t)  E  v c (t)  E  E(1  cos( (t  T)))  d sin( (t  T))
C
I
  E cos((t  T))  d sin((t  T))
C

The diode D turns on t  t 2 such as v D (t 2 )  0 , At limit v D (t 2 )  0 , which implies that:

v D (t 2 )  v C (t 2 )  Ud (t 2 )  0 , so :
I
E(1  cos((t 2  T)))  d sin((t 2  T))  0
C

Advanced Power Electronics Tutorial Master in Electrotechnique Dr. BARKAT Said University of M’sila Page 4
Or again :
Id
sin((t 2  T))  Ecos((t 2  T))  E
C
This equation can be written in the following form:

Id 2
E2  ( ) sin((t 2  T)  )  E
C
With :
Id 2 I
E2  ( ) cos()  d
C C EC
 tan() 
Id 2 Id
E2  ( ) sin()  E
C

The instant t 2 is calculated by the solution of the following equation:

E E Id 2
sin((t 2  T)  )   avec Vcm  E 2  ( )
Id 2 Vcm C
E2  ( )
C
So :
1 E
t 2  T  arcsin( )
 Vcm
At this moment, the diode D turns on and takes the load current, causing the blocking of the auxiliary
thyristor. We also have v C (t 2 )  0 . The capacitor is completely discharged. It can therefore be short-
circuited by the diode D.

At this instant also, the current in the inductor L is:

i L (t 2 )  EC sin((t 2  T))  I d cos((t 2  T))  I d

 I Lm cos((t 2  T)  )  I d
with :

Id 2
I Lm  (EC)2  (I d ) 2  C E 2  (
)  CVcm
C
CVcm cos()  I d EC
 tan() 
CVcm sin()  EC Id

With also
1 E
t 2  T  arcsin( )   , it comes :
 Vcm
E E 2
i L (t 2 )  I Lm cos(arcsin( ))  I d  CVcm 1  ( )  I d  C (Vcm ) 2  E 2  I d
Vcm Vcm
Id
Or (Vcm )2  E2  , which results in :
C

Id
i L (t 2 )  I  C  Id  0
C

Advanced Power Electronics Tutorial Master in Electrotechnique Dr. BARKAT Said University of M’sila Page 5
For this reason, the diode D turns off instantly.

Note that the capacitor current at this instant is calculated by:

ic (t 2 )  i L (t 2 )  Id  Id

- Calculation of switching time

The switching time t c is defined as the time interval between the firing of the auxiliary thyristor Ta and
the conduction of the diode D.

1 E
t c  t 2  T  arcsin( )
 Vcm

- Phase 4 : for t   t 2 ,T  , D  ON

During this phase, the diode D is conducting alone. So it comes:

Id

U d (t)  0
i D (t)  I d
v c (t)  0
i c (t)  0 D Ud
i L (t)  0
i L (t)  0

2°) Forms of voltages and currents

Phase (4)
vC
2E

Ud vTp
E

t 2
0 t
t1 T t2 T
E
vD

2E

iTp

iC iD  iD
Id

0 t
t1 T t2 T
Id

Advanced Power Electronics Tutorial Master in Electrotechnique Dr. BARKAT Said University of M’sila Page 6
3°) – Calculation of the reverse bias time of the main thyristor

During the commutation (conduction of Ta), the voltage across the thyristor Tp is:

Id
v Tp (t)  E  v c (t)   Ecos((t  T)) 
sin((t  T))
C
This voltage begins with a negative value equal to –E at t  T then it increases to zero at t  t2 defined
by:

Id
v Tp (t2 )  0   Ecos((t 2  T))  sin((t 2  T))  0
C
Id 2
v Tp (t2 )  0  E2  ( ) sin((t 2  T)  )  0
C
Which results in :


(t2  T)    0  t2  T 

The reverse bias time is the duration during which the thyristor is subjected to a negative voltage.

EC
arctan(
)
 Id
t p  t 2  T  
 
- Calculation of the minimum value of capacitance C
Taking into account the following condition:

EC
arctan( )
Id EC
tp  tq   t q  arctan( )  t q 
 Id
So :
EC I tan(t q ) I tan(t q )
 tan(t q )  C  d  Cmin  d
Id E E

Exercise 2

Consider the forced commutation chopper illustrated

in figure (2). We want to examine the operation of the Tp
Ta
converter from the moment when Tp alone conducts
C ic L Id
the supposedly constant load current; all other
E
semiconductors are turned off. The capacitor is iD
Charge

initially charged with a negative voltage vc (0)  Vc0 . vc

ud D
To analyze the operation of the chopper, the Ta
following seven phases are considered:
Figure (2)
- Phase 1: The thyristors Tp and Ta conduct
simultaneously.
- Phase 2: The thyristor Ta conducts alone.
- Phase 3: The thyristor Ta and the diode D conduct simultaneously.
- Phase 4: The thyristor D conducts alone.

Advanced Power Electronics Tutorial Master in Electrotechnique Dr. BARKAT Said University of M’sila Page 7
- Phase 5: The thyristor Ta and the diode D conduct simultaneously.
- Phase 6: The diode D conducts alone.
- Phase 7: The thyristor Tp conducts alone.
In each operating phase:
1) Draw the circuit diagram corresponding to each phase.
2) Drive the expressions of the voltages vc (t) and u d (t) as well as those of the currents ic (t) and i D (t) .
3) Draw the forms of the voltages vc (t) and u d (t) as well as those of the currents ic (t) and i D (t) .

Exercise 3

We propose to analyze the operation of the forced commutation chopper depicted in the figure below
from its initial phase during which the freewheeling diode alone conducts the load current; the other
currents in the circuit are zero. During this phase, the capacitor is charged under a positive
voltage vc (0)  v0 .
1) Analyze the operation of the converter in the following phases:
Phase 1 : At t  0 , the main thyristor is triggered; it is the only conducting component. Note that during
this phase a current flows in the LC branch.
a) Drive the instant expressions of vc (t ), ic (t ) et iTp (t ).
b) Calculate the blocking instant t1 of T p and calculate the voltage value vc (t1 ) at this moment.
Phase 2 : The diode Da is conducting alone; a current always flows in the LC branch.
a) Drive the instant expressions of vc (t ), ic (t ) et iDa (t ).
b) Calculate the blocking instant t2 of Da and vTp
calculate the voltage value vc (t2 ) .
c) What is the condition on the voltage vc (t2 ) so iTp Tp
that the freewheeling diode turns on at t  t2 . D a iDa
Phase 3 : The diode D is conducting alone; a D
current always flows in the LC branch. E iC C L vD Ud
a) Drive the instant expressions of
iD
vc (t ), ic (t ) et iD (t ). Id
vC vL
b) Calculate the instant t3 of the current
cancellation in the capacitor ic (t3 )  0 and
calculate the value of the voltage vc (t3 ) .
Phase 4 : The diode D is conducting alone; all other currents are zero.
2) Draw the waveforms of the voltages vc (t ), U (t ), vT (t ) and those of the currents ic (t ), iTp (t ), iD (t ), iDa (t ) .
3) Redo the analysis of the converter operation if condition (c) of the second phase is not met. Draw the
shapes of the voltages and currents in the converter.

Exercise 4 vTp

In the forced commutation converter iTp

Tp
presented in the opposite figure, the vTa
L vL Ta
capacitor is assumed to be charged
Da iTa D
under a voltage vc (0)  V0 such that iL
E vD Ud
V0  E . The operation of the converter
vDa iD
goes through the following phases: C vC Id
- Phase 0 (initial phase) : The main iC

Advanced Power Electronics Tutorial Master in Electrotechnique Dr. BARKAT Said University of M’sila Page 8
thyristor T p conducts alone the assumed constant load current.
- Phase 1 : t  [T , t1 ] : the auxiliary thyristor Ta conducts alone.
- Phase 2 : t  [t1 , T ] : the freewheeling diode D conducts alone.
- Phase 3 : t  [T , t2 ] : The main thyristor T p and the auxiliary diode Da conduct simultaneously.
- Phase 4 : t  [t2 , t3 ] : the main thyristor T p conducts alone.
1) Analyze the operation of the converter over an operating period T while driving in each phase the
instantaneous expressions of vc (t ) et ic (t ) . Deduce the expressions of the instants t1 , t2 and t3 .
2) Draw the waveforms of the voltages vc (t ), U d (t ), vTp (t ) as well as those of the currents
ic (t ), iTp (t ), iD (t ), iDa (t ) .
3) What is the value of C, which allows safe blocking of the main thyristor.

Exercise 5

Consider the source-current converter in the figure below. We wish to study the switching of the current
Id from one pair of thyristors (T1, T4) to another pair (T2, T3).
Initial state t 0  T : The current Id flows through T1, D1, motor, D4 and T4. The capacitors have an initial
2
charge and their voltages are vc1=vc2=-v0. The motor emf can be considered constant during the
commutation.
1) At the instant t=t0, T2 and T3 are triggered which causes the instantaneous turn off of T1 and T4.
a) T1 and T4 are turned off, D2 and D3 remain blocked. Why?
L
b) Give the expression of vc1(t) (or vc2(t)) as a function of time. At s

what time t1 do thyristors T1 and T4 cease to be subjected to a T T

1 V 3
negative reverse voltage? c1

c) How to choose C so that the blockages are ensured. i

C c1
D D
d) At what time t2 do diodes D2 and D3 turn on? 1 3
L
2) At the instant t=t2, diodes D2 and D3 turn on; D1 and D4 remain I 
conducting. d i
D e
a) Drive the instant expressions of vc1(t) et i(t). 2 V D
c2 4
b) At what time t3 (end of the commutation), do diodes D1 and D4 i
stop conducting? What is the final value of i? T C c2 T
2 4
c) Express the value of v0.
d) For t 0  t  t 3 : Draw the waveforms of vc1 et i.

Exercise 6

We consider the complementary-commutated inverter illustrated in the opposite figure. We assume that
the mid-point coil connecting the two thyristors is perfectly coupled. The load current i is supposed to be
constant during the commutation and is equal to I0. We propose to study the commutation of the current
I0 from thyristor Th1 (initial state) to diode D2 (final state). V
i Th1
Before t0 (t<t0), the current I0 flows through Th1, L/2, and the Cf V c1 Th1 D
E c1 1
load, with vc1=0, vc2=E. At the instant t=t0, Th2 is triggered. We 2 C
2
2 L
denote by t1 the instant when Th1 ceases to be subjected to an E charge i o
2
i
inverse voltage, t2 the instant when D2 turns on and t3 the Cf v V c2 i V
Th2 Th2
E
instant when Th2 turns off. 2 c2 C D
2 2
I) First phase of the commutation : ( t 0  t  t 2 ) 2 Th2
a) Show that at time t=t0, Th1 is subjected to a reverse
voltage that needs to be calculated.

Advanced Power Electronics Tutorial Master in Electrotechnique Dr. BARKAT Said University of M’sila Page 9
 b) In this phase D1 and D2 cannot turn on. Why? Express vc2(t), iTh2(t) and vTh1(t).
c) Determine the instant t2.
II) Second phase of the commutation : ( t 2  t  t 3 )
a) In this phase, D2 turns on, Th2 is still conducting. Why?
b) Knowing that the voltage drop across a conducting semiconductor is approximately 1V. Express
iTh2(t). Deduce the instant t3 where Th2 stops conducting.
III) Draw in the interval [t0,t3] the waveforms of : vc1(t), vc2(t), vTh1(t) et iTh2(t).

Advanced Power Electronics Tutorial Master in Electrotechnique Dr. BARKAT Said University of M’sila Page 10