EET 421

POWER ELECTRONIC DRIVES

p

˜ General Concept

˜ Speed Control

˜ SCR Drives

˜ Switched-mode DC Drives
Ädvantages of DC motor :
ã Ease of control
ã Deliver high starting torque
ã Near-linear performance

Disadvantages:
Ñ èigh maintenance
Ñ Large and expensive (compared to induction
motor)
Ñ Not suitable for high-speed operation due to
commutator and brushes
Ñ Not suitable in explosive or very clean environment
˜ The DC drive is relatively simple and cheap (compared to
induction motor drives). But DC motor itself is more expensive.
˜ Due to the numerous disadvantages of DC motor (especially
maintenance), it is getting less popular, particularly in high
power applications.
˜ For low power applications the cost of DC motor plus drives
is still economical.
˜ For servo application, DC drives is still popular because of
good dynamic response and ease of control.
˜ Future Trend? Not so bright prospect for DC, especially in
high power drives.
˜ The field windings is used to excite the field flux.
˜ Armature current is supplied to the rotor via brush
and commutator for the mechanical work.
˜ Interaction of field flux and armature current in the
rotor produces torque.
˜ When a separately excited motor is excited by a
field current of ÷
and an armature current of ÷
flows in
the circuit, the motor develops a back emf and a
torque to balance the load torque at a particular speed.

˜ The ÷
is independent of the ÷ .Each windings are

supplied separately. Any change in the armature
current has no effect on the field current.

˜ The ÷
is normally much less than the ÷.

 ·ield and armature equations
Instantaneous field current :

where Rf and Lf are the field resistor and inductor, respectively

Instantaneous armature current :

where Ra and La are the armature resistor and inductor,

respectively
The motor back emf, which is also known as speed voltage,
is expressed :
eg = Kv X
f
Kv is the motor voltage constant (in V/A-rad/s)
and X is the motor speed (in rad/det)
 ‰asic Torque Equation
The torque developed by the motor is :
Td = Kt if ia
Where (Kt = Kv) is the torque constant in V/A ± rad/s
Sometimes it is written as :
Td = Kt ĭ ia
For normal operation the developed torque must be equal to the load
torque plus the friction and inertia, i.e, :

where
B : viscous friction constant (N-m/rad/s)

TL : load torque (N-m)

J : inertia of the motor (kg.m2)

 6nder steady-state operation, time
derivatives is zero. Assuming the motor
is saturated

For field circuit,

Vf = If Rf
The back emf is given by:
Eg = Kv Ȧ if

The armature circuit

Va = Ia Ra + Eg
Va = Ia Ra + Kv Ȧ If
 j
j 
 

j


The motor speed can be easily derived :

If Ra is a small value (which is usual), or when the motor is slightly

loaded, i.e, Ia is small

That is if the field current is kept constant, the motor speed depends
only on the supply voltage.

The developed torque is :

Td = Kt If Ia = ‰ Ȧ + TL

The required power is :

@
 X
Ô From the derivation, several important facts can be
deduced for steady-state operation of DC motor.

Ô For a fixed field current, or flux (p ) , the torque demand

can be satisfied by varying the armature current (p).

Ô The motor speed can be varied by:

± controlling O (voltage control)
± controlling O
(field control)

Ô These observations leads to the application of

variable DC voltage to control the speed and torque
of DC motor.
 Consider a 500V, 10kW , 20A rated- DC motor with armature resistance
of 1 ohm. When supplied at 500V, the unloaded motor runs at 1040
rev/min, drawing a current of 0.8A
± Estimate the full load speed at rated values
± Estimate the no-load speed at 250V.
Va = Ia Ra + Kv Ȧ If
At full load and rated value, „  „ „



†
 


 Ë Ë 
O
At no load and voltage at 250 V O




÷
÷
÷
÷

÷



ù Family of steady-state torque speed curves for a range
of armature voltage can be drawn as above.
ù The speed of DC motor can simply be set by applying
the correct voltage.
ù Note that speed variation from no-load to full load (rated) can
be quite small. It depends on the armature resistance.
  „  „
†
„ †
u
 m  m ár  m   m 2

Shunt and Separately Excited Motor

With a constant field current, the flux can be assumed to be constant. Let
 m
 (Constant)
 
„

 Ë „
„
 Ë 2
u

Series Motor
 ‰
  
  

˜ ‰ase speed: Ȧbase

the speed which correspond to the rated Va, rated Ia and
rated p .
˜ Constant Torque region ( w > wD)
p and p are maintained constant to met torque demand.
O is varied to control the speed. Power increases with speed.
˜ Constant Power region ( w > wD)
O is maintained at the rated value and ÷
is reduced to increase speed.
èowever, the power developed by the motor (= torque x speed) remains
constant. Known as K

   
˜ Say the motor running at position A. Suddenly  is reduced (below  ).
The current ia will reverse direction. áperating point is shifted to B.
˜ Since ÷ is negative, torque  is negative.
˜ Power is also negative, which implies power is ³generated´ back to
the supply.
˜ In other words, during the deceleration phase, kinetic energy from the motor
and load inertia is returned to the supply.

˜ This is known as regenerative braking-an efficient way to brake a motor.

Widely employ in electric vehicle and electric trains. If we wish the motor
to operate continuously at position B, the machine have to be driven by
mechanical source.
˜ The mechanical source is a ³prime mover´.

˜ We must force the prime mover it to run faster so that the generated 
will be greater than .
˜ SCR ³phase-angle controlled´ drive
- By changing the firing angle, variable DC output voltage can be
obtained.
± Single phase (low power) and three phase (high and very high power)
supply can be used

± The line current is unidirectional, but the output voltage can reverse
polarity. èence 2- quadrant operation is inherently possible.
± 4-quadrant is also possible using ³two sets´ of controlled rectifiers.

˜ Switched-mode drive
± 6sing switched mode DC-DC converter. Dc voltage is varied by
duty cycle.
± Mainly used for low to medium power range.
± Single-quadrant converter (buck): 1- quadrant
± èalf bridge: 2-quadrant
± Full bridge: 4-quadrant operation
 ˜ Mains operated.

˜ Variable DC voltages are obtained from SCR firing angle control.

˜ Slow response.

˜ Normally field rectifier have much lower ratings than the armature
rectifier. It is only used to establish the flux.
 Continuous/Discontinuous current
˜ The key reason for successful DC drive operation is due to the large
armature inductance —.

˜ Large —
allows for almost constant armature current (with small ripple)
due to ³current filtering effect of L´. (Refer to notes on Rectifier).
˜ Average value of the ripple current is zero. No significant effect on the
torque.

˜ If — is not large enough, or when the motor is lightly loaded, or if

supply is single phase (halfwave), discontinuous current may occur.

˜ Effect of discontinuous current: áutput voltage of rectifier rises; motor

speed goes higher. In open loop operation the speed is poorly regulated.

˜ Worthwhile to add extra inductance in series with the armature

inductance.
 Armature Field
For continuous current, armature voltage is :

Ärmature (DC) current is :

·ield voltage
`
÷ 





÷





   for  
2
2

÷ 

 ÷

÷



   for 

u
A

÷ 




÷
2 

  for 

u
O

÷ 




÷
2  

u

  for
 Ärmature voltage :

Ärmature (DC) current is :

If single phase is used for field is :

`






÷

 Ë  for  
2u
2



 ÷

÷

 Ë     for 

u
2u
A






÷

 Ë  for 

u
u
O






÷
 

u

  for
A separately excited DC motor has a constant torque load of 60 Nm. The
motor is driven by a full-wave converter connected to a 240 V ac supply.
The field constant of the motor KIf = 2.5 and the armature resistance is 2
ohm. Calculate the triggering angle for the motor to operate at 200 rpm.
Assume the current is continuous.
For continuous current, 2 
„
  „
and „ Ë   „
„
Where Eg is the back emf,i.e  Ë 
Ë 2

and 2  u  
u Ë  „   „ Ë   „
 † 
   
A rectifier-DC motor drive is supplied by a three-phase, full controlled SCR
bridge 240Vrms/50èz per-phase. The field is supplied by a single-phase 240V
rms/50èz, with uncontrolled diode bridge rectifier. The field current is set as
maximum as possible.
The separately excited DC motor characteristics is given as follows :
Armature resistance:i = 0.3 ohm
Field resistance: i
=175 ohm
Motor constant: O =1.5 V/A-rad/s
Assume the inductance of the armature and field circuit is large enough to ensure
continuous and ripple-free currents. If the delay angle of the armature converter (Į) is
45 degrees and the required armature current is 30A,
˜ a) Calculate the developed torque, Td.
˜ b) Speed of the motor, Ȧ (rad/s)
˜ c) If the polarity of the field current is reversed, the motor back emf will reverse.
For the same armature current of 30A, determine the required delay angle of the
armature converter.
Since field current is maximum, § = 0.

(b) Motor speed

The armature is supplied by three-phase with §


Now the polarity of field is reversed, then

and

also
˜ DC motor in inherently bi-directional. èence no problem to reverse
the direction. It can be a motor or generator.

˜ But the rectifier is unidirectional, because the SCR are unidirectional

devices.
˜ èowever, if the rectifier is fully controlled, it can be operated to become
negative DC voltage, by making firing angle greater than 90 degrees,

˜ Reversal can be achieved by:

± armature reversal using contactors (2 quadrant)

± field reversal using contactors (2-quadrant)

± double converter (full 4-quadrants)

Reversal using armature or field contactors
DRIVE REVERSING USING ÄRMÄTURE OR ·IELD CONTÄCTORS

CONTÄCTOR ÄT THE ÄRMÄTURE SIDE

(SINGLE PHÄSE SYSTEM)
i÷
÷

D



Principle of reversal

Practical circuit
˜ Supply is DC (maybe from rectified-filtered AC, or some other DC sources).
˜ DC-DC converters (choppers) are used.
˜ suitable for applications requiring position control or fast response, for
example in servo applications, robotics, etc.
˜ Normally operate at high frequency
± the average output voltage response is significantly faster
± the armature current ripple is relatively less than the controlled rectifier

˜ In terms of quadrant of operations, 3 possible configurations are possible:

± single quadrant,
± two±quadrant
± and four±quadrant
 ˜ 6nidirectional speed. Braking not required.

·or 0 < t < T


The armature voltage at steady state : 
 

„ Ë 
 Ë  Ë !
u  u
Armature (DC) current is : „ 
„ Ë

„
„
And speed can be approximated as : †Ë


ó FáRWARD MáTáRING (T1 and D2 operate)
± T1 on: The supply is connected to motor terminal.
± T1 off: The armature current freewheels through D2.
± V (hence speed) is determined by the duty ratio.
ó REGENERATIáN (T2 and D1 operate)
± T2 on: motor acts as a generator
± T2 off: the motor acting as a generator returns
energy to the supply through D2.
A full-bridge DC-DC converter is used.
 ó T1 and T2 operate; T3 and T4 off.

ó T1 and T2 turn on together: the supply voltage appear across the motor
terminal. Armature current rises.

ó T1 and T2 turn off: the armature current decay through D3 and D4

 ã T1, T2 and T3 turned off.

ã When T4 is turned on, the armature current rises through T4 and D2.

ã When T4 is turned off, the motor, acting as a generator, returns energy

to the supply through D1 and D2.
 ù T3 and T3 operate; T1 and T2 off.

ù When T3 and T4 are on together, the armature current rises and flows
in reverse direction.
ù èence the motor rotates in reverse direction.

ù When T3 and T4 turn off, the armature current decays through D1 and D2.
 Ñ T1, T3 and T4 are off.

Ñ When T1 is on, the armature current rises through T2 and D4.

Ñ When Q2 is turned off, the armature current falls and the motor returns
energy to the supply through D3 and D4.