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Choppers
A chopper is basically a dc to dc converter whose main function/usage is to create adjustable dc
voltage from fixed dc voltage sources through the use of semiconductors.
Types of choppers
The main classification of the types of choppers is given in another post. Take a look TYPES OF
CHOPPER CIRCUITS
There are two types of choppers AC and DC.
AC Link Chopper
In the case of an ac link chopper, first dc is converted to ac with the help of an inverter. After that, AC
is stepped-up or stepped-down by a transformer, which is then converted back to dc by a diode
rectifier. Ac link chopper is costly, bulky and less efficient as the conversion is done in two stages.
DC Chopper
A DC chopper is a static device that converts fixed dc input voltage to a variable dc output voltage
directly. A chopper can be said as dc equivalent of an ac transformer as they behave in an identical
manner. This kind of choppers are more efficient as they involve one stage conversion. Just like a
transformer, a chopper can be used to step up or step down the fixed dc output voltage. Choppers
are used in many applications all over the world inside various electronic equipments. A chopper
system has a high efficiency, fast response and a smooth control.
A chopper can be said as a high speed on/off semiconductor switch. Source to load connection and
disconnection from load to source happens in a rapid speed. Consider the figure, here a chopped
load voltage can be obtained from a constant dc supply of voltage, which has a magnitude
Vs. Chopper is the one represented by SW inside a dotted square which can be turned on or off as
desired.
Let us now take a look of the output current and voltage wave forms of a chopper. During the time
period Ton the chopper is turned on and the load voltage is equal to source voltage V s. During the
interval Toff the chopper is off and the load current will be flowing though the freewheeling diode FD .
The load terminals are short circuited by FD and the load voltage is therefore zero during T off. Thus,
a chopped dc voltage is produced at the load terminals. We can see from the graph that the load
current is continuous. During the time period T on, load current rises but during Toff load current
decays .
Average load Voltage is given by
V0 = Ton/ (Ton +Toff) * Vs = (Ton/T) V = A Vs(1.0)
Ton : on -time
Toff : off- time
T = Ton +Toff= chopping period
A = Ton /T = duty cycle
So we know that the load voltage can be controlled by varying the duty cycle A. equation 1.0 shows
that the load voltage is independent of load current it can be also written as
V0 = f. Ton .Vs
f= 1/T = chopping frequency
Step up Choppers
In the case of the chopper circuit (Refer figure named chopper circuit) shown in beginning of this
article, V0 or the average output voltage is less than the input voltage Vs so this type of chopper is
called a step down chopper. For a step-up chopper we can obtain an average output voltage greater
than input voltage. Figure (a) shows the elementary form of a step-up chopper.
In step-up chopper a large inductor, L is in series with the source voltage V s. This forms a closed
path as shown in the figure (b). During the time period T on the chopper is on the inductor stores
energy. When the chopper is turned off the current is forced to flow through the diode and load for a
time Toff and as the inductor current cannot die suddenly. When the current decreases the polarity of
the emf induced in L is reversed. Fig (c). As a result the total voltage available across the load is
given by the equation V0 = Vs + L (di/dt) . The voltage V0 exceeds the source voltage and hence the
circuit acts as a step-up chopper and the energy which is stored in L is released to the load.
When the chopper is turned ON the current through the inductance L will increase from I 1 to I2. As the
chopper is on the source voltage is applied to L that is vL = VS .
When the chopper is OFF, the KVL for the figure (c) can be written as
vL V0+Vs =0 or vL =V0 -Vs where vL is the voltage across L. Variation of source voltage v S , source
current IS , load voltage v0 and load current iO is sketched in the fig (d) . Let us assume that the
variation of output current is linear, the energy input to inductor from the source, during the time
period Ton , is
Win= Vs (I1+I2/2) Ton
During the time Tof the chopper is off, so the energy released by the inductor to the load is
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Wof = (V0-Vs)(I1+I2/2).Tof
Let us assume that the system is lossless, then the two energies say Win and Wof are equal.
So equating these two we will get
Vs (I1+I2/2) Ton = (V0-Vs)(I1+I2/2).Tof
Vs Ton = (V0-Vs) Tof
V0Tof = Vs (Tof + Ton) = Vs .T
V0 = VS (T/Toff) = VS (T/T-Ton) =VS (1/(1-A)
.(2.0)
From the equation 2.0 we can see that the average voltage across the load can be stepped up by
varying the duty cycle. If the chopper in the figure (a) is always off, A=0 and V 0= Vs. If the chopper is
always on, A =1 and V 0 = infinity as we can see from the graph. In practical applications the chopper
is turned on and off so that the required step-up average output voltage, more source voltage is
obtained.
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The average voltage will be always positive but the average load current might be positive or
negative. The power flow may be life the first quadrant operation ie from source to load or from load
to source like the second quadrant operation. The two choppers should not be turned on
simultaneously as the combined action my cause a short circuit in supply lines. For regenerative
braking and motoring these type of chopper configuration is used.
First Quadrant
During the first quadrant operation the chopper CH4 will be on . Chopper CH3 will be off and CH1
will be operated. AS the CH1 and CH4 is on the load voltage v 0 will be equal to the source voltage
Vs and the load current i0 will begin to flow . v0 and i0 will be positive as the first quadrant operation is
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taking place. As soon as the chopper CH1 is turned off, the positive current freewheels through CH4
and the diode D2 . The type E chopper acts as a step- down chopper in the first quadrant.
Second Quadrant
In this case the chopper CH2 will be operational and the other three are kept off. As CH2 is on
negative current will starts flowing through the inductor L . CH2 ,E and D4. Energy is stored in the
inductor L as the chopper CH2 is on. When CH2 is off the current will be fed back to the source
through the diodes D1 and D4. Here (E+L.di/dt) will be more than the source voltage V s . In second
quadrant the chopper will act as a step-up chopper as the power is fed back from load to source
Third Quadrant
In third quadrant operation CH1 will be kept off , CH2 will be on and CH3 is operated. For this
quadrant working the polarity of the load should be reversed. As the chopper CH3 is on, the load
gets connected to the source Vs and v0 and i0 will be negative and the third quadrant operation will
takes place. This chopper acts as a step-down chopper
Fourth Quadrant
CH4 will be operated and CH1, CH2 and CH3 will be off. When the chopper CH4 is turned on
positive current starts to flow through CH4, D2 ,E and the inductor L will store energy. As the CH4 is
turned off the current is feedback to the source through the diodes D2 and D3 , the operation will be
in fourth quadrant as the load voltage is negative but the load current is positive. The chopper acts
as a step up chopper as the power is fed back from load to source.
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