Rectifier

1. The mean value of half wave rectified sine wave is

(A) 0.707 im
(B) 0.66 im
(C) 0.5 im
(D) 0.318 im.
2. The form factor for half wave rectified sine wave is
(A) 1.0
(B) 1.11
(C) 1.44
(D) 1.57.
3. For full-wave rectified sine wave, rms value is

(A) 0.707 im
(B) 0.6036 im
(C)0.5 im
(D) 0.318 im .
4. For full-wave rectified sine wave, mean value is
(A) 0.70 im
(B) 0.636 im
(C) 0.5 im
(D) 0.318 lm.
5. For full-wave rectified sine wave, form factor is
(A) 1.5
(B) 1.41
(C) 1.28
(D) 1.11.

6. A half-wave rectifier circuit with a capacitive filter is connected to a 200 volts, 50 Hz ac line. The
output voltage across the capacitor should be approximately
(A) 300 volts
(B) 280 volts
(C) 180 volts
(D) 80 volts.
7. The ripple factor of a full-wave rectifier circuit compared to that of a half wave rectifier circuit without
filter is
(A) half of that for a half 'wave rectifier
(B) less than half that for a half-wave rectifier circuit
(C) equal to that of a half wave rectifier.
(D) none of the above.
8. A thyratron is a
(A) vacuum tube with four electrodes
(B) gas-filled diode
(C) gas-filled triode
(D) none of the above.
9. A thyristor equivalent of a thyratron tube is a
(A) Silicon controlled rectifier (SCR)
(B)Triac
(C) Diac
(D) None of the above.
10. A silicon controlled rectifier is a
(A) Unijunction device
(B) Device with three junction
(C) Device with four junctions
(D) None of the above.
11. The RMS value of a half wave rectifier current is 10 A. Its value for full wave rectification would be
(A) 10 A
(B) 14.14 A
(C) (20/) A
(D) 20 A.

12. For single phase supply frequency of 50 Hz, ripple frequency in full wave rectifier is
(A) 25
(B) 50
(C)100
(D) 200.
13. The aim of introducing reactor in the ignition circuit of mercury arc rectifier is to limit
(A) the current in the circuit
(B) wave ripple
(C) voltage of the circuit
(D) the rate of change of flux.
14. A mercury vapor discharge tube used for domestic lighting
(A) does not have a filament
(B) has one filament
(C) has two filaments
(D) has two main and one auxiliary filament.
15. For a waveform more peaky than a sine wave, the form factor will be
(A) more than 1.11
(B) less than 1.11
(C) 1.11
(D) 1.
Answer:
61.D ----- 62.D ----- 63.B ----- 64.B ----- 65.D ----- 66.B ----- 67.B ----- 68.C ----- 69.A -----70.B -----71.B ----- 72.C
-----73.A -----74.C ----- 75.A

Industrial Electronics
[1] What is AC voltage controller?
It is defined as the power electronics converter which converts the fixed AC voltage into a variable AC
voltage without change in the frequency.
[2] What is inverter? What are the types of Inverter?
A device which converts dc power into ac power at desired output voltage and frequency is called as
Inverter.
Inverters are broadly classified into
Voltage Source Inverter (VSI)
Current Source Inverter (CSI)
[3] What is chopper?
It is equivalent to a dc transformer in ac circuit. The Chopper is a static switch which is used to get the
variable dc output voltage from a constant dc input voltage.
Chopper basics, types and principle of operation is discussed in a separate page.
Step down chopper:
In this circuit, the average output voltage [VO = D . VS] is less than the input supply voltage. It is also
known as Buck converter.
Step up chopper:
It is also known as Boost converter. Here the average output voltage [VO = VS / 1 - D] is more than the
input supply voltage.
[4] What is load commutation?
In load commutation, the load current flowing through the thyristor either becomes zero or is transferred
to another device from the conducting SCR.
[5] What is meant by pulse triggered devices?
As the name indicates, to trigger these devices just a pulse is sufficient. Continuous gate voltage of entire
on time is not required. The advantage of pulse triggering is, it will avoid the hard triggering. Ex.
Thyristor, GTO
[6] What is level-sensitive devices? give some examples
Some of the level sensitive devices are
MOSFET
IGBT
MCT
IGCT

In order to keep these devices in the ON state condition, we have to apply gate current/voltage
continuously to these devices.
[7] What is meant by GTO?
It is a three terminal, four layer PNPN Power Semiconductor device that can be turned on by a positive
gate current and can be turned off by a reverse gate current.
[8] What are the types of GTO?
Asymmetrical GTO
Symmetrical GTO
[9] What does 10V AC mean? Is it the RMS voltage or Peak voltage or Average voltage?
In general, AC voltages and currents are mentioned in RMS values only. It is sensible to compare with
steady DC voltages and currents.
For example 230V AC supply means, 230Vrms AC Supply.
[10] When we have to connect the SCRs in a parallel manner?
To meet the high current demand we will connect the SCRs in a parallel manner.
Similarly to meet the high voltage demand we have to connect the SCRs in series.
[11] Define Gate Charge in MOSFET?
The gate charge is defined as the amount of charge required for the device during turn-on and turn-off
time. It is the most important parameter we have to consider while selecting the MOSFET. The switching
speed of the MOSFET depends on the speed at which the gate driver can charge or discharge the input
gate charge.
[12] What is holding current in SCR?
It is the minimum current required to hold the SCR in forward conduction state.
When the forward current becomes less than holding current, SCR turns from forward conduction state to
forward blocking state.
[13] What is latching current in SCR?
It is the minimum current required to latch(turn on) the SCR from forward blocking state to forward
conduction state.
[14] What are the different turn on methods of SCR?
Forward voltage triggering
Gate Triggering
dv/dt triggering
Temperature triggering
Light triggering

[15] What is snubber circuit?

The snubber circuit is used for the dv/dt protection of the SCR. It is a series combination of a resistor and
a capacitor in parallel with the SCR.
[16] What is hard switching of the thyristor?
When gate current is several times higher than the required gate current, the SCR is said to be hard fired.
It reduces the turn ON time and enhances the di/dt capability.
[17] What is firing angle?
The angle between the zero crossing of the input voltage and the instant the SCR is fired is called as delay
angle or firing angle.
[18] What is meant by SOA?
SOA - Safe Operating Area determines the voltage and current boundary within which the Power Device
can be operated without destructive failure.
[19] What are the main components used for isolating the Power Circuits, Power Semiconductor from the
low-power circuit?
Opto-Couplers, Transformers
[20] Name some of the current controlled (current driven) devices...
SCR, GTO, GTR
[21] Name some of the voltage driven ( Voltage controlled) devices
IGBT, MCT, IGCT, SIT
[22] What is duty cycle?
It is the ratio of the ON time of the chopper to total time period of the chopper.
D = Ton / [Ton + Toff]
[23] Can fuses with an AC voltage rating be used in a DC applications?
Fuses must be rated for the voltage AC or DC in which they will be used.
Generally, fuses have a DC voltage rating that is half of the maximum AC voltage rating.
[24] What are the characteristics of ideal Opamp?
Infinite open loop voltage gain
Infinite input impedance
Zero output impedance
Infinite Bandwidth
Zero offset voltage
[25] For High voltage applications will you prefer MOSFET or IGBT?

For High voltage applications we have to use IGBT.

Because MOSFETs are low voltage devices. ie, Their voltage rating is lesser than IGBT.

General rule is MOSFETs are suitable for applications which has breakdown voltage less than
250V.

The IGBTs are suitable for applications which has breakdown voltage upto 1000V.

[26] For High frequency applications will you prefer MOSFET or IGBT? Why?

For High frequency applications, MOSFET is the right choice of the device.

Because MOSFET has low switching losses compare to that of IGBT.

General rule of thumb is for low-frequency applications having frequency range upto 20kHz, we
have to use IGBT.

For high frequency applications having frequency range of more than 200kHz, we have to use
MOSFET.

[27] Draw the buck topology?

In most of the power electronics interview questions, you are going to face this basic question. Not only
buck converter, the interviewer may ask you to draw other fundamental topologies too...

So you should be familiar with other basic topologies like Flyback, Boost , Buck-boost....
[28] Which is the good choice among the 2 options mentioned below to get the 12V as an output? why?
Option I: Input voltage = 48V,
Option II: Input voltage = 24V
Answer: We know that
Duty cycle D = Vout / VInput
For case I
D = 12/48 = 0.25
For case II
D = 12/24 = 0.5
So for case II, the duty cycle is more than case I.
It means device is turned ON more time in the second case. while designing SMPS we have to consider
the principle mentioned in Q-3.

[29] What is effect of having more duty cycle and less duty cycle? ( continuation of above question)
If the duty cycle D is greater than 0.5, the core would not be completely demagnetized at the end of the
off-period, and a DC magnetization of the core would build up, resulting in core saturation.
Relate this answer the previous question....
[30] To design the buck converter, what are basic & essential information (parameters) we need to get
from the Customer?
We need the following inputs from the customer,
Output Voltage VOUT
Input Voltage VIN
Output Current (load current) IOUT
Maximum Ripple voltage allowed at the output side
Efficiency of the converter
[31] How to select the inductor for the buck converter?
Once the topology is finalized in the process of power supply design, the next step is selecting the
Inductor.
We know the following basic equation
Voltage across Inductor VL = L di/dt
Rewriting the above equation as follows
L = VL.dt/di
VL = Maximum voltage appears across the Inductor
dt= The time during which the maximum voltage appears across the inductor
di = Ripple current
VL The maximum voltage appears across the inductor when the power switch is turned on. During that
time the voltage will be
VL = VOUT - VIN
dt = The time during which the maximum voltage appears across the inductor
= D/FS
= Duty cycle/Switching frequency
di = Ripple current
= Generally it is assumed in between 10% to 30% of the load current
By knowing all these values we can get the required inductor value for the buck converter.
[32] What are the various parameters we have to consider, while selecting IGBT?
In IGBT datasheet, we have to focus on following parameters
Collector to emitter voltage VCES
Collector Current IC
Collector Dissipation PC
Junction Temperature Tj

[33] For Selecting MOSFET, what are the major parameters we have to consider in the datasheet?
In MOSFET datasheet, we have to focus on following parameters:
Drain to Source Voltage VDSS
On state Drain to Source Resistance R DS(ON)
Reverse Recovery Current IRR
Reverse Recovery Charge QRR
Gate Charge QG
Body Diode Characteristics
ID at ambient temperature
Channel power dissipation
Channel temperature

[32] What are the advantages of free wheeling diode in rectifier circuit?
The input power factor is improved. It prevents the output voltage from becoming negative. Load current
waveform is improved.
[33] What is meant by commutation?
The process of changing the direction of current flow in a particular path of the circuit. It is used to turn
off the SCR.
[34] What are the types of commutation?
Natural commutation
Forced commutation
[35] What is natural commutation?
The process of the current flowing through the thyristor goes through a natural zero and enable the
thyristor to turn off is called as natural commutation.
[36] What is forced commutation?
The process of the current flowing through the thyristor is forced to become zero by external circuitry is
called as forced commutation.
[37] What are the types of commutation with respect to commutation process?
Voltage commutated chopper
Current commutated chopper
Load commutated chopper

[38] What is meant by cyclo-converter?

It is also known as frequency changer. It converts input power at one frequency to output power at
another frequency with one stage conversion.
[39] What are the types of cyclo-converters?
Step up cyclo-converter
Step down cyclo-converter.
[40] What is step down cyclo-converter?
It is the converter whose output frequency is less than the input frequency.
[41] What is step up cyclo-converter ?
It is the converter whose output frequency is more than the input frequency.
[42] What does the Voltmeter in AC mode show? Is it RMS value or peak value?
Multimeter in AC mode shows RMS value of the voltage or current. Also when it is DC mode it will
show the RMS value only.
[43] What is the necessity to use the special machines?
General purpose motors (Induction motors, synchronous motors) are neither precision speed nor
precision position motors. For many automated systems require high precise speed and high precise
positioning motors. In such cases special purpose motors like stepper motors, PMDC motors etc. are used.
[44] What are the control strategies of chopper?
The control strategies of chopper are
1. Pulse width modulation PWM (Variable TON, Constant frequency)
2. Frequency modulation (Constant TON or TOFF, Variable frequency)
3. Current Limit Control (CLC)
[45] What is delay angle or what is firing angle of phase controlled rectifier?
The delay angle is the angle at which thyristors are triggered after zero crossing. After zero crossing of
supply voltage, one pair of thyristors is
forward biased. After delay angle() these SCRs are triggered.
[46] What is Universal Motor?
It is defined as a motor which can be operated either on DC or single-phase AC supply at approximately
the same speed and output.
The universal motor is built exactly like a series DC motor. But a series DC motor cannot be run as a
universal motor, even though both motors look the same internally and externally.
We cannot use these motors in the industrial applications due to the low efficiency (25% -35%). It has
high starting torque and a variable speed characteristic. It runs at dangerously high-speed on no load.

[47] Give some examples of power electronics applications in the day-to-day life?
We can list a huge number of power electronics applications. Few of the applications which we can see in
our daily life are
UPS - Uninterruptible Power Supply
SMPS - Switch Mode Power Supply
Speed Control of Motors
ICU
[48] What is meant by PMDC?
PMDC stands for Permanent Magnet DC Motor
A Permanent Magnet DC Motor is similar to an ordinary dc shunt motor except that its field is provided
by permanent magnets instead of salient-pole wound field structure.
There are three types of permanent magnets used for such motors namely;
(i) Alnico Magnets
(ii) Ceramic magnets
(iii) Rare-earth magnets
The major advantages are low noise, small size, high-efficiency, low manufacturing cost.