CHAPTER 2

INTRODUCTION TO CYCLOCONVERTERS
2.1 BASIC CONCEPT CYCLOCONVERTERS
A device which converts input power at one frequency to output power at a
different frequency with one stage conversion is called a cycloconverters. A
cycloconverters is thus one stage frequency changer. Basically, cycloconverters are of
two types, namely:
(i) Step down cycloconverters and
(ii) Step up cycloconverters.
A Cycloconverter is a means of changing the frequency of alternating power
using controlled rectifiers which are AC line commutated. The Cycloconverter is thus
an alternative to the frequency changing system using two single conversions fixed
AC to variable AC. A Cycloconverter is a direct Frequency changer that converts AC
power at one frequency to AC power at another frequency by AC-AC conversion,
without an intermediate conversion link. The majority of Cycloconverter are naturally
controlled to commutate and the maximum output frequency is limited to a value that
is only a fraction of the source frequency. As a result the major applications of
Cycloconverter are low speed. AC motor drives in the range up to 15,000kw with
frequencies from 0 to 20 Hz.
The cyclo-converter is generally used for the speed control

of motors,

constant frequency power supplies, controllable reactive power supply for an ac

system and induction heating system, VSCF (variable frequency input and constant
frequency output) generation which is used in aircraft power suppliers, mobile power
supplies and space vehicles. Since in induction and synchronous motors the speed is
directly proportional to the supply frequency, the speed can be effectively controlled
by controlling the input frequency.
Generally the cyclo-converter lies in the category of static frequency changer.
Both three phase and single phase cyclo-converters are used in different applications.
The output frequency of a three-phase cyclo-converter must be less than about onethird to one-half of the input frequency. The cyclo-converter requires high power
switching mechanism which is generally performed by thyristors, MosFETs and
TRIACs in order to get alternating output of variable frequency.
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2.2 OPERATION OF SINGLE PHASE CYCLO-CONVERTER:

To understand the operation principles of cycloconverters, the single-phase to
single-phase cycloconverter (Fig. 2) should be studied first. This converter consists of
back-to-back connection of two full-wave rectifier circuits. Fig 3 shows the operating
waveforms for this converter with a resistive load. The input voltage, Vs is an ac
voltage at a frequency, fi as shown in Fig. 3a. For easy understanding assume that all
the thyristors are fired at =0 firing angle, i.e. thyristors act like diodes. Note that the
firing angles are named as P for the positive converter and N for the negative
converter.
Consider the operation of the cycloconverter to get one-fourth of the input
frequency at the output. For the first two cycles of Vs, the positive converter operates
supplying current to the load. It rectifies the input voltage; therefore, the load sees 4
positive half cycles as seen in Fig.3b. In the next two cycles, the negative converter
operates supplying current to the load in the reverse direction. The current waveforms
are not shown in the figures because the resistive load current will have the same
waveform as the voltage but only scaled by the resistance.
Note that when one of the converters operates the other one is disabled, so that
there is no current circulating between the two rectifiers.

Fig 2.1: Cyclo Converter

Now consider the operation of the cycloconverter to get one-fourth of the
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input frequency at the output as shown below

Fig: 2.2 output waveform of F/4 pulses

Now consider the operation of the cycloconverter to get one-half of the input
frequency at the output as shown below

Fig: 2.3 output waveform of F/2 pulses

2.3 APPLICATIONS OF CYCLOCONVERTER
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With the advent of high power thyristors, cycloconverters are again becoming
popular. At present, the applications of cycloconverters include the following:

Speed control of high power ac drives

Induction heating
Cement mill drives
Ship propulsion drives
Rolling mill drives
Scherbius drives
Ore grinding mills
Mine winders
Static Var compensation
For converting variable speed alternator voltage to constant frequency output
voltage for use as power supply in aircraft or shipboards.
The general use of cycloconverters is to provide either a variable frequency

power from a fixed input frequency power or a fixed frequency power from a variable
input frequency power.

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