Introduction to Electric Drives

(EEC - 604)
Unit - 3
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Chopper
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Introduction
Variable speed dc and ac drives are being increasingly
used in all industries. These drives takes power from the
dc voltage sources.
In many cases, conversion of dc source voltage to
different levels is required.
For example, subway cars, trolley buses or battery
operated vehicles requires power from a fixed voltage dc
source.
However, their speed control requires conversion of fixed
voltage dc source to variable voltage dc source for the
armature of dc motor.
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Techniques to obtain variable dc voltage
Resistance Control:
A variable resistance is inserted between the load and the
source.
High wastage of energy
For different values of load current, different values of
resistances will be required.
Motor Generator set:
Separate generator excitation gives a voltage which can be
varied from zero to rated value with either polarity.
Set up is bulky, costly, slower in response and less efficient.
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Contd
A.C. link Chopper ( Inverter rectifier):
dc is first converted to ac by an inverter (dc to ac converter).
The obtained ac is then stepped up or down by a transformer
and then rectified back to dc by a rectifier.
As the conversion is in two stages, this technique is, therefore,
costly, bulky and less efficient.
D. C. Chopper ( dc to dc power converters):
It is a static device (switch) used to obtain variable d.c. voltage
from a source of constant d.c. voltage through one stage
conversion.
The d.c. chopper offers greater efficiency, faster response,
lower maintenance, small size, smooth control, and for many
applications, lower cost than motor-generator sets or gas
tubes approaches.

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Solid state choppers due to various advantages are widely
used in trolley cars, battery-operated vehicles, traction motor
control, foklift trucks, etc.

Step up/down Chopper
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Cycloconverter
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Introduction
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A cycloconverter is a type of power electronic controller in
which an alternating voltage at one frequency is converted
directly to an alternating voltage at other frequency without
any intermediate stage.
Basically, cycloconverters are of two types, namely
Step down cycloconverters
Step up cycloconverters
In step down cycloconverters, the output frequency is lower
than the supply frequency and in step up cycloconverters,
the output frequency is higher than the input frequency.
The majority of cycloconverters are naturally commutated.
A cycloconverter is controlled through the timings of its firing
pulses, so that it produces an alternating output voltage.

Introduction Contd
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By controlling the firing angles of the converters, it is
possible to control the frequency and amplitude of the
output voltage.
The applications of cycloconverters include the following:
Speed control of high-power ac drives
Induction heating
Static VAR generation
For converting variable-speed alternator voltage to constant
frequency output voltage for use as power supply in aircraft of
shipboards.

Single Phase to Single phase
Cycloconverter
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In this cycloconverter, the input and output both are single
phase.
The input a.c. voltage of supply frequency 50 Hz is converted
into lower or higher frequency a.c. output.
There are mainly two configurations for this type of
cycloconverter:
Centre tapped transformer configuration
Bridge configuration

Centre Tapped Transformer Configuration
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(i) Step Down cycloconverter with Resistive
Load [f
o
= (1/3)*f
s
]
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(ii) With Inductive Load[f
o
= (1/4)*f
s
]
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(a) For Discontinuous Load Current
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(b) For Continuous Load Current
Bridge Configuration
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Step up cycloconverter with resistive load
(f
o
= 6*f
s
)
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Three Phase Half Wave Cycloconverters
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A three phase cycloconverter works on the same
principles as single phase cycloconverter.
The type of three phase cycloconverter depends on the
number of pulses used.
The amount of ripple content can be reduced by
increasing the number of pulses used.
(i) 3 phase to 1 phase Cycloconverters
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Three phase to three phase cycloconverter