R.N.G.P.I.

T, Bardoli
Electrical Engineering Department
Subject: Advanced Power Electronics
Topics: Multipulse Converter

Prepared By:
Dr. Shaikh Mohammed Suhel
Associate Professor & Head of Electrical Department
Three phase Diode Bridge Rectifier
Draw circuit diagram and waveforms of output voltage and
connected to resistive load. V
input line current in case of six-pulse diode rectifier
in
Va Vb Vc
Io
D1 D3 D5

Isa 0 π 2π ωt
Va Vab Vac Vbc Vba Vca Vcb
Vb Vo
R
Six-pulse Rectifier
Vc D1 D6 D1 D2 D3 D2 D3 D4 D5 D4 D5 D6 ωt
Isa
D4 D6 D2
π ωt
ID1
ωt
 Three phase Diode Bridge Rectifier
Io
D1 D3 D5
Vin
Va Vb Vc
Isa
Va
Vb 0 π 2π ωt
R
Vc Vab Vac Vbc Vba Vca Vcb
Vo
Six-pulse Rectifier
D4 D6 D2 D1 D6 D1 D2 D3 D2 D3 D4 D5 D4 D5 D6 ωt
➢ Two Major Issue in Three pulse Rectifier Isa
• Higher Voltage Ripple
• Input Current Harmonics π ωt
• A 6-pulse rectifier generates harmonics
at frequencies that are multiples of the
fundamental frequency. The dominant ID1
harmonics for a 6-pulse rectifier are
the 5th and 7th harmonics. ωt
 Multipulse Converter
• Converter operating in a three phase system, providing more than 6
pulse of dc per cycle is known as Multipulse converter.
• Why Multipulse ?
1. Reduction of dc output voltage ripple.
2. Reduction of ac input line current harmonics.

60𝑜
• Minimum Phase shift=
𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑟
• Why multi pulse converter is better than conventional converter?
Conventional Converter: A 6-pulse converter generates significant harmonic distortion,
particularly the 5th and 7th harmonics, in the input current, which can cause interference
in the power system.

Multi-Pulse Converter: By using multiple pulses (e.g., 12, 18, or 24 pulses), the harmonics
are significantly reduced. This is because the harmonics from the different rectifiers in the
multi-pulse configuration tend to cancel each other out. For example, a 12-pulse converter
cancels out the 5th and 7th harmonics, while an 18-pulse converter can further reduce
higher-order harmonics.
Conventional Converter: The output of a single-pulse or 6-pulse converter has a significant
ripple, which may require additional filtering to produce a stable DC output.
Multi-Pulse Converter: The ripple in the DC output is reduced due to the overlap of
multiple pulses. This reduces the need for large filtering components, making the overall
system more efficient and compact.
• Why multi pulse converter is better than conventional converter? (Contd..)
Conventional Converter: The power factor in a conventional converter can be relatively low
due to the phase displacement between voltage and current, especially under light load
conditions.
Multi-Pulse Converter: Multi-pulse converters can operate with a higher power factor
because they draw currents that are more sinusoidal and closer in phase to the supply
voltage. This is particularly true in 12-pulse and higher configurations.

Conventional Converter: Efficiency can be lower due to losses associated with harmonics
and the need for extensive filtering and reactive power compensation.
Multi-Pulse Converter: The reduction in harmonics and improved power factor contribute
to higher overall system efficiency. Additionally, less reactive power compensation is
needed, leading to lower losses and better utilization of the power [Link] of a
single-pulse or 6-pulse converter has a significant ripple, which may require additional
filtering to produce a stable DC output.
• Why multi pulse converter is better than conventional converter? (Contd..)
Conventional Converter: Single-pulse or 6-pulse converters often struggle to meet stringent
power quality standards like IEEE 519, which imposes limits on harmonic distortion.
Multi-Pulse Converter: Multi-pulse converters are better suited to meet these standards
due to their inherent harmonic cancellation, making them more compliant with modern
power quality requirements.
Application:
1) HVDC Transmission system 2) High Power Motor Drives
2) Multi-pulse converters are used in integrating renewable energy sources like wind and
solar into the grid
• Discuss star/delta phase shifting transformer with Phasor diagram.

• A Star/Delta (Y-Δ) phase-shifting transformer is a type of transformer used to create a phase shift between the input (primary) and output
(secondary) voltages.

A2 b1

a2
b2

C1 A1 c1
B1
C2 B2
a1
c2
 • Discuss star/delta phase shifting transformer with Phasor diagram.

• A Star/Delta (Y-Δ) phase-shifting transformer is a type of transformer used to create a phase shift between the input (primary) and output
(secondary) voltages.
VAB1
VAN1 VAN2=VAB2

VBC1

VCN1 VBN1 VCN2 VBN2

A2 b1
a2 VCA1
b2
>The line voltage on the delta side lags the line
voltage on the star side by 30 degrees.
C1 A1 c1 > If turns ratio is unity, then the line voltage on the star
B1 side is √3 times higher than the delta side.
C2 B2
a1
c2
• Three Phase Transformer connection: 0,12 1 o clock (300)

• Connection: Yd1

9 3

6
Phase-shifting transformers are critical
components in multi-pulse converters,
serving multiple functions such as
harmonic reduction, increasing the
• The connection would be called Yd1 if the effective pulse number, load balancing,
power factor improvement, and ensuring
secondary delta voltage lags the primary compliance with harmonic standards. Their
star voltage by 30 degrees. use enhances the performance, efficiency,
and reliability of power conversion
systems, making them essential for high-
quality power delivery in various industrial
and utility applications.
Explain operation of 12-pulse converter with circuit diagram and necessary waveforms. Three
phase twelve pulse Rectifier

D1 D3 D5 Vin
Va1 Va1 Vb1 Vc1
Vb1
Vc1
0 π 2π ωt
D4 D6 D2
R
D1 D3 D5
Va2 Vb2 Vc2
Va2
Vb2
Vc2
0 ωt
D4 D6 D2
 Vin
12 Pulse Converter Va1 Vb1 Vc1

D1 D3 D5
0 π 2π ωt
Va1 Va2 Vb2 Vc2
Vb1
Vc1
0 π 2π ωt
Vaby=-sinx,
D4 D6 D2
R Vo1 Vac Vbc Vba Vca Vcb Vab
D1 D3 D5 x∊[0,2π]
Va2
Vo2 Vab Vac Vbc Vba Vca Vcb Vab ωt
Vb2
Vc2
Vo ωt
D4 D6 D2

ωt
30 degree phase shifted transformer
𝑖1 𝑖3
𝑖1𝑙 = −
3 3 1 ∶ 1ൗ
3 i1
I1/√3
I3/√3 𝑉𝐿 = 3𝑉𝑝ℎ
i3 Vo1

𝑖1𝑙

𝑉𝐿 = 𝑉𝑝ℎ
Vo2

1 ∶1
 30 degree phase shifted transformer

1 ∶ 1ൗ
3 i1
𝑖1_𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟 𝑖3_𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟
𝑖1𝑙 = − + 𝑖1_𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑎
3 3
𝑉𝐿 = 3𝑉𝑝ℎ
i3 Vo1

𝑉𝐿 = 𝑉𝑝ℎ
Vo2

1 ∶1
 Vo1 Vaby=-sinx,
Vac Vbc Vba Vca Vcb Vab
12 Pulse Converter x∊[0,2π]
𝑖1𝑙 =
𝑖1_𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟
3
−
𝑖3_𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟
3 Vo2 Vab Vac Vbc Vba Vca Vcb Vab ωt
+𝑖1_𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑎

𝑖1
3 ωt
𝑖3
3

𝑖1 𝑖3
−
3 3

𝑖1_𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑎

𝑖1_𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟 𝑖3_𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟
𝑖1𝑙 = − + 𝑖1_𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑡𝑎
3 3
• Explain how harmonic cancellation occurs in • Assumed the fundamental input vector is
moved through an angle of –Φ in a phase
multi-pulse (12 pulse) converter: shifting transformer to produce a lagging
output vector. The 5th harmonic in the
input will be shifted by an angle of +Φ
in the output. This is because the 5th
Input V1 harmonic is negative-sequence vector. At
Output V5 a later time when ωt= Φ the output
6Φ fundamental vector will reach the
Output V5 reference position of zero. At this
+Φ Φ moment the 5th harmonic will have
Input V1 and V5
-Φ moved through a further angle of +5Φ
Output V1 due to elapsed time. Thus the 5th
harmonics is at an angle of 6Φ.
Output V1 • We can consider the 7th harmonics in
Output in reference position similar manner. As this is positive
sequence it will undergo a phase shift of
ωt=0 for reference at zero
–Φ in the transformer. When output
• The phase angle of the harmonic voltage or reaches to reference position, the 7th
harmonics will have shifted further +7Φ.
current is defined relative to the harmonic Thus it too will be an angle of 6Φ with
frequency at the instant when the fundamental respect to the output.
Both 5th and 7th harmonics can be moved
vector is in the reference position. For example, •
to have an opposite input to output
in above figure the 5th harmonic is said to be phase position by choosing Φ=30. Thus,
at a phase angle of -30o (=Φ) by feeding two converters with a phase
displacement of 30o we can eliminate 5th
and 7th harmonics of current
 In an 18-pulse converter, the Y-Z₂
• Draw the transformer connections for 18 •
(Wye-Zigzag) transformer connection is
pulse converter. Explain Y-Z2 transformer used to introduce specific phase shifts
that help reduce harmonics and improve
connection used for multi-pulse converter: power quality.

• The star connection doesn’t introduce a

phase shift by itself (0-degree phase
shift). The two sets of windings is
connected in a Zigzag (Z₂)
configuration. Each phase of the Zigzag
winding is split and interconnected to
two different phases, creating a unique
phase shift of +20 degree and -20
degree respectively.

• In an 18-pulse system, the 5th, 7th,

11th, and 13th harmonics are effectively
canceled, leading to much lower total
harmonic distortion (THD).
 • The term “zigzag” refers to the
• Explain following transformer connection manner in which output voltages are
with phasor diagram used in multi pulse formed from segments of different
converter Δ-Z1: voltage vectors. With a three-phase
supply, there are in effect six ways
for the voltage vectors to zig and
zag. These depend upon selection of
one of three angles and one of two
polarities (directions). In fork
arrangement the ends of the
windings/vectors are left open like a
fork.
• Two of the fork secondary winding
arrangements can be used with a ±
15o phase shift to provide electrically
balanced supplies for 12-pulse
converters. The two converters could
then be connected either in parallel
or series.
• The basic transformer fork
connection is reviewed here in figure
with a 1:1 voltage ratio for
convenience. The method of
connection is clearly satisfactory for
any voltage ratio and can be applied
to multipulse circuits.
 • Compare multi-pulse converter with multilevel inverter.

Multi-Pulse Converter Multilevel Inverter

Definition The converter produce more than 6 pulse per The converter produce more than 2 level in pole
cycle is known as Multipulse converter voltage is known as Multi level inverter.
Basic Function AC to DC conversion (rectifier) DC to AC conversion (inverter)
Harmonic Reduces input current harmonics Reduces output voltage harmonics
Reduction
Output Increased pulses reduce output voltage ripple Increased levels reduce output current harmonics

Switching Devices Diodes or thyristors IGBTs, MOSFETs

Complexity Transformer-based, moderate complexity Higher complexity with increased levels

Application Transmission system, high power dc supply, High Renewable energy, electric vehicles, grid systems
power DC drives