CALCULATIONS

(a) Single phase half wave controller

Sample calculation
Delay Angle

=2 tan

ER
EC

( )

Using the 2nd row data obtained for single phase half wave controller practical,
V =96 V , E C =9 V , ER =22 V

=2 tan

ER
EC

( )

2 tan1

( 229 )

135.5
Using the same data,
Output Voltage

V L=

Vm
(1+ cos )
2
V L=

V 2
( 1+cos )
2

96 2
(1+ cos 135.5 )
2
6.2V

VL (V)
(Theoretical)
6.20
6.20
7.40
9.30
10.64
13.53
17.71
25.50

Delay angle ()
135.50
135.50
131.11
124.71
120.51
111.96
100.39
79.61

33.91
41.27
43.22

55.29
24.53
0.00

Table 1: Theoretical and practical VL against delay angle for single phase half wave
controller
Delay angle ()
135.50
135.50
131.11
124.71
120.51
111.96
100.39
79.61
55.29
24.53
0.00

VL (V)

VL (V)

(Practical)
3
4
4
5
7
9
12
20
29
38
42

(Theoretical)
6.20
6.20
7.40
9.30
10.64
13.53
17.71
25.50
33.91
41.27
43.22

Graph 1: Theoretical and Practical VL Vs Delay Angle for Single phase half wave controller

50.00

45.00

40.00

35.00

30.00
Theoretical VL
Polynomial (Theoretical VL)
Load Voltage (V)

25.00

Practical VL
Polynomial (Practical VL)

20.00

15.00

10.00

5.00

0.00
0.00

50.00

100.00

Delay Angle ()

150.00

Comment
When we consider the theoretical and practical load voltage graphs, we can see that both graphs have
the same shape. When the delay angle increases, the load voltage decreases. But theoretical values
are somewhat higher than the practical values for the same delay angle. This may be due to errors
while taking readings. Also, the voltage drop in the diode is neglected in the theoretical calculation,
but it has affected for the practical values. So, theres a small difference between the practical and
theoretical load voltage graphs of the single phase half wave controller.

(b) Single phase full wave controller

Sample calculation
Delay Angle

=2 tan

ER
EC

( )

Using the 2nd row data obtained for single phase full wave controller practical,
V =98 V , E C =12V , E R=22 V

=2 tan 1

ER
EC

( )

2 tan1

( 2212 )

122.78

Using the same data,

Output Voltage

V L=

Vm
( 1+cos )

V L=

V 2
( 1+cos )

98 2
( 1+cos 122.78 )

20.23V

Delay angle ()
122.78
122.78
118.47
113.95
107.23
100.39
91.71
79.61
57.62
24.53
0.00

VL (V)
(Theoretical)
20.23
20.23
23.08
26.21
30.41
36.16
41.93
51.01
66.36
82.53
86.43

Table 2: Theoretical and Practical VL against Delay Angle for Single phase full wave
controller
VL (V)

VL (V)

(Practical)

(Theoretical)

122.78

10

20.23

122.78

12

20.23

118.47

14

23.08

113.95

16

26.21

107.23

20

30.41

100.39

24

36.16

91.71

30

41.93

79.61

40

51.01

57.62

55

66.36

24.53

76

82.53

0.00

84

86.43

Delay angle ()

Graph 2: Theoretical and Practical VL Vs Delay Angle for Single Phase Full Wave Controller
100.00

90.00

80.00

70.00

60.00

Theoretical VL
Load Voltage (V)

Polynomial (Theoretical VL)

50.00

Practical VL
Polynomial (Practical VL)

40.00

30.00

20.00

10.00

0.00
0.00

50.00

100.00

Delay angle ()

150.00

Comment
Similar to the half wave controller, in full wave controller also, the load voltage decreases with the
increase of delay angle. Also, the practical load voltage values are less than the theoretical values
because of the voltage drop in the diode.

(c) AC voltage controller

Sample calculation
Delay angle

=2 tan

ER
EC

( )

Using the 2nd row data obtained for AC Voltage Controller practical,
V =96 V , E C =12 V , E R=22V
=2 tan

ER
EC

( )
2 tan1

( 2212 )

122.78 =2.14 rad

Using the same data,

1 sin 2
Output Voltage V L =V m 2 2 + 4

V L =V 2

96 2

39.93V

1 sin 2

+
2 2
4

1 2.14 sin(2 2.14 )

+
2 2
4

Delay angle

VL (Theoretical)

()
122.78
122.78
118.47
113.95
107.23
98.54
90.00
75.75
53.13
19.73
0.00

(V)
39.93
39.93
43.83
47.89
53.81
61.16
67.88
77.70
88.90
95.59
96.00

Table 3: Theoretical and Practical Voltages VL Vs Delay Angle for AC Voltage Controller
Delay angle

VL (Practical)

VL (Theoretical)

()
122.78
122.78
118.47
113.95
107.23
98.54
90.00
75.75
53.13
19.73
0.00

(V)
28
30
34
40
44
50
60
72
84
96
98

(V)
39.93
39.93
43.83
47.89
53.81
61.16
67.88
77.70
88.90
95.59
96.00

Graph 3: Theoretical and Practical Voltages VL Vs Delay Angle for AC Voltage Controller
120.00

100.00

80.00

Theoretical VL
Load voltage (V)

Polynomial (Theoretical VL)

60.00

Practical VL
Polynomial (Practical VL)

40.00

20.00

0.00
0.00

50.00

100.00

Delay angle ()

150.00

Comment
In the AC voltage controller, the load voltage decreases along with the increase of delay angle. And
the practical load voltage is less than the theoretical load voltage due to errors.

DISCUSSION

Application of voltage controllers in practice

Light dimmer
Light dimmers adjusts the rms voltage and thereby, the mean power to the bulb and varies
the brightness. Thyristors are used in light dimmers and by means of delay angle
triggering, they are switched on at adjustable time and thus varies the rms voltage applied
to the lamp. Since the thyristor is triggered delayed, only a part of the voltage waveform is
passed to the lamp, chopping the rest. The brightness of the lamp depends upon the power
transferred to it and since the voltage waveform is chopped, the brightness reduces. A very
little power is wasted in this method because, to regulate the voltage output, heating
effects are not used.

Figure 1: Circuit diagram for a Thyristor based light dimmer

Thyristor-assisted tap changers

In thyristor assisted tap changers, thyristors are used to take on load current. Main contacts
change over from one tap position to the next while the on load current is taken by the
thyristors. Because of the on load current passing, arcing on the main contacts is prevented
and it helps to improve the life time. The need of a low voltage power supply for the
thyristor circuit is a disadvantage in this application.

Motor soft starter

Figure 2 Circuit diagram of a motor soft starter

During the start up of an AC motor, a high starting current is drawn. In order to

temporarily reduce the electrical current surge and to reduce the load torque, different
types of motor starters are used in the industry. Electrical soft starters are used to control
the current flow and thereby the voltage applied to the motor. In order to control the
voltage applied, reverse parallel connected thyristors are used widely, but in some cases
reverse parallel connected thyristor and a diode is used in the soft starter.

DC Motor control

Figure 3 DC motor control circuit

As shown in the figure 3, the armature voltage is varied by a single phase full wave converter.
This is a four quadrant drive and provides operation in four modes: forward powering,
regeneration, reverse powering and reverse braking. This type of a drive can be used for
applications up to 15kW.

REFERENCES
[1]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage_controller
[2].https://accelconf.web.cern.ch/accelconf/a01/PDF/THP008.pdf