Introduction

6-Pulse Converter
Operation of a 6-Pulse Converter
Voltage and Current waveforms of an ideal 6-
Pulse Converter
Effect of source reactance
Voltage and Current waveforms of an 6-Pulse
Converter with overlap angle
Equations

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The demand for large amount of electric
power, today necessitates transmission at
increasingly high voltages
Power generation by large size generators is
feasible in AC only.
However various problems are faced in AC
transmission during transport of bulk power
over large distance hence HVDC systems came
into existence.
In a HVDC system sources and generation of
power is usually in AC mode.
Sub: APS Topic: 6 Pulse Converter overlap angle
So a HVDC system requires a conversion of AC
to DC at one end and inversion back to AC at
other end.
All modern HVDC systems use either 6-pulse
or 12-pulse converters for this purpose


HVDC Transmission Principle
Sub: APS Topic: 6 Pulse Converter overlap angle
6-Pulse
Converter
Sub: APS Topic: 6 Pulse Converter overlap angle
This circuit arrangement is known as Graetz
circuit and it uses six thyristor valves.
If the firing angle of thyristor is less than 90,
the converter operates as a rectifier.
If the firing angle > 90, the converter
becomes an inverter.
Sub: APS Topic: 6 Pulse Converter overlap angle
Each thyristor conducts for 120
Every 60 one Thyristor from +ve limb and one
Thyristor from ve limb is triggered
Each thyristor will be triggered when voltage across
it becomes positive
Thyristor commutates the current automatically
when the voltage across it becomes ve. Hence,
this process is called natural commutation and the
converters are called Line Commutated converters

Sub: APS Topic: 6 Pulse Converter overlap angle
Triggering can be delayed from this point and this is
called firing angle
Output voltage of the converter is controlled by
controlling the Rectifier action
If > 90 negative voltage is available across the
bridge Inverter action
Due to finite transformer inductance, current transfer
from one thyristor valve to the other cannot take
place instantly
This delay is called over lap angle and the
reactance called commutating reactance. This also
causes additional drop in the voltage

Sub: APS Topic: 6 Pulse Converter overlap angle
= 0
Overlap = 0
Voltage and Current waveforms with
= 0

Sub: APS Topic: 6 Pulse Converter overlap angle
The source reactance introduces overlap of
currents due to simultaneous conduction of
SCRs to be commutated during commutation
period.
Due to source inductance , the phase currents cannot
change instantly, therefore the transfer of current
from one phase to other takes time called overlap
or commutation time


Sub: APS Topic: 6 Pulse Converter overlap angle
6pulse converter with Lc
0
Sub: APS Topic: 6 Pulse Converter overlap angle
Voltage Waveform with overlap angle
Sub: APS Topic: 6 Pulse Converter overlap angle
< 60
0
: Normal Operation (20
0
25
0
)
During commutation, three
valves conduct
Between commutation, two
valves conduct
Since a new commutation begins
every 60
and last for angle , the angular
interval when two valves conduct is 60
.
The sequence is
12, 123, 23, 234, 34, 345, 45, 456, 56, 561,
61, 612

= 60
0
: Always a set of three valves
conduct.
123, 234, 345, 456, 561, 612.

60
0
< < 120
0
(Abnormal operation)
Alternately three and four valves
conduct

= 120
0
(Limiting case)
Always four valves conduct

During commutation,


or
Thus due to overlap, the voltage of point p rises to instead of
( )
2
a b
e e +
b
e
Without overlap, the direct voltage was , therefore with overlap
-
0 2
2
d d
d s
V I
V I
A
=
0
2
cos
2
d
d d
s
I
V V
I
o
| |
=
|
\ .
Substituting from and from
6
c
fL =
Equivalent circuit of bridge rectifier
Rectifier Equation: