EEE 5451-Laboratory 1

Single-Pulse and Dual-Pulse Rectifiers

After going through the following introductory notes, students are expected to do the
experiments in sections 1.1 and 1.2 contained in POWER ELECTRONICS 1 module of
LUCAS-NLLE LabSoft.

Training objectives
Welcome to the UniTrain-I course Power Electronics 1 - Line-commutated Static
Converters! The team from LUCAS-NLLE wishes you lots of fun and success in working
through the course topics and performing the experiments.

With this course you will acquire knowledge of how conventional line-commutated
converters are designed, how they operate and where they differ. At the same time you will
become familiar with their respective circuit characteristics while performing experiments.

Training content (Labs 1 through 6):

Learn about most line-commutated converter circuits

Analyse the voltage and current characteristics of the individual circuits
Analyse the effect of a freewheeling arm
Hole storage effect (transistor storage effect)
Learn the control characteristics of line-commutated converters
Learn how triggering works with an ignition transformer
Circuits covered include:
o M1 controlled uncontrolled
o B2 controlled half-controlled uncontrolled
o B6 controlled uncontrolled
o W1
o W3
Experiment card - line commutated converters

The experiment card SO4203-4D "Line Commutated Converters" contains electronic valves,
control circuitry and a circuit for evaluating signals. This allows you to construct all the
circuits required for the course. Along with card SO4203-4E "RLC loads" the experiment
circuits can be set up using a variety of loads.

Technical data:
Input voltages
14V Vx - COM, or 24.3V Vx-Vy
Frequency: 50Hz
Dimensions:
160 x 100 mm (width x height)

Experiment card - RLC loads

Card SO4203-4E "RLC loads" contains various passive components that can be wired up to
provide various loads for circuits built using the card SO4203-4D "Line Commutated
Converters".

Technical data:
Dimensions:
160 x 100 mm (width x height)
 During the course the blocks R1/R2, R3/R4 and R5/R6 are referred to only by the label for
the first of the two series-connected resistors (R1, R3 and R5).

NOTE: If the circuits are turned on for a long period the resistors may become quite hot.

Fundamentals

Line-commutated converters are employed in all kinds of industrial applications and also in
domestic appliances.

Power supplies, electric heaters, lighting installations and electrical drives are all typical
applications where such converters are used. Single-phase or three-phase line-commutated
converters are selected depending on the power ratings required. Another factor in the choice
is whether the voltage of the AC or three-phase is variable or whether a variable DC voltage
is to be generated.

Basically what they have in common is that they convert electrical energy from one form to
another so that this energy can be put to use.

Depending on the requirements it is important to know whether this energy is to be extracted

from a mains network via the converter or whether the converter is being used to feed energy
into the network.

Electrical energy can be converted in the following ways:

Classification of power converters

Converter circuits can be classified into externally commutated, self-commutated and those
converters that do not commutate, depending on the source of the commutating voltage. Line-
commutated converters, together with the load-commutated and machine-commutated
converters, are among the externally commutated converters:

Externally commutated converters require an external AC voltage source, independent of

the converter which provides the commutating voltage for the duration of the commutation.

Self-commutating converters do not require an external AC voltage source.

Converters without commutation or so-called "non-commutating" converters are only

equipped with one valve branch or currents flowing in the branch have natural zero
crossovers without requiring any control. Thus these current flows are briefly interrupted.

Commutation

The meaning of the term commutation generally refers to some change, conversion or
exchange of energy. When used in the context of power converters it involves the conversion
of energy in one current-carrying branch of a circuit to cause current to flow in another
branch where there is some overlap between the times current is flowing in either circuit.

This commutation can be achieved by mechanical switchgear or by actual power converting

valves.
Hole storage effect

In rectifier circuits hazardous excess voltages can arise due to the hole storage effect.

This effect arises when the current of a semiconductor becomes zero at the end of an on-state
period and charge carriers are still being stored in the semiconductor. During the following
negative voltage the so-called depletion current continues to flow via the semiconductor.
Once these charge carriers have finally been depleted, the current suddenly drops off abruptly,
the semiconductor is now reverse biased and ceases to conduct except for a tiny off-state
current.

For that reason when dealing with thyristors a "critical hold-off interval" must always be
taken into consideration. The critical hold-off interval is the time that the thyristor needs to be
able to turn off once a positive voltage is applied again (hole storage effect). If this time is not
provided, the thyristor loses its controllability. It does not switch on.

There are always inductances in the circuit (e.g. connecting tracks). Since such energy storing
elements also have to be accounted for, the "hold-off interval" designates the period when
negative voltage is present (across the valve) after the zero crossover until a sufficient current
is reached for the valve to start blocking. The hold-off interval determines the circuit's
attributes. For that reason it must be greater than the critical hold-off interval.

Types of power

Types of power consumption are defined in DIN 40110:

Apparent power :

Effective (active or real power) :

Reactive power :

The relationship between apparent, effective and reactive power is given by the following
formula. In diagrammatic form, the formula can be represented by the blue triangle shown
below:
In our present study of power converter applications, another set of definitions must be
included to cover waveforms that are not sinusoidal. For the effective power, only the
fundamental oscillation of the current comes into play:

The reactive power (yellow triangle) consists of the reactive power due to the fundamental
oscillation

added to the distortion power

The apparent power for the fundamental (green triangle) is thus calculated as follows:

The total apparent power can thus be summarised by the following:

The components of power are depicted by means of three right-angled triangles arranged
inside a cube (vector depiction). This cube form provides the ideal way of calculating the
final power consumption:
Frequency analysis

In power electronics current and voltage are both nearly always distorted, i.e. non-sinusoidal.

Fourier analysis (named after mathematician Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier) allows any
naturally occurring non-sinusoidal waveform to be resolved into an infinite series of
sinusoidal harmonics of varying amplitude.

The number of harmonics with non-negligible amplitude can thus be utilised as a measure of
the degree of distortion for a signal. If a signal is severely distorted by a load on the power
supplying network, this causes a high degree of reactive power due to the distortion. This
itself increases the load on the power supply and can even have an adverse effect on other
equipment connected to the same supply.

It is thus essential to ensure at all times that the number of harmonics is as small as possible.
The following diagram shows a distorted signal (red) for which the fundamental oscillation is
indicated by a dotted line:

The rest of the signal is due to the harmonics shown in magenta, yellow and cyan. These
harmonics are superimposed on the dotted fundamental and the red signal is what results.

Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) is used to determine what the harmonics of a signal are.
This kind of frequency analysis (LAB 4) displays the harmonic frequencies and their
amplitudes as in the following diagram:
The above diagram is called a frequency spectrum. A pure sinusoidal signal has only one
column in its spectrum that shows 100% of the signal amplitude at the frequency of the
signal.

The harmonics are numbered as multiples of the fundamental frequency. The first harmonic
or fundamental is at 50 Hz here, there is a near invisible component at 100 Hz then a third at
150 Hz.

1.1 SINGLE-PULSE CENTRE-TAP CONNECTION M1

1.1.1 Uncontrolled centre-tap connection M1U

This experiment investigates an M1U circuit. You should determine the following:
Output and input current
Input and output voltages
Power components
Set up the experiment as follows and then follow the instructions:

Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Timing diagram
Circuit configuration: M1U
Trigger angle: 0
Multi-pulse: Off

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Input voltage V1
Measurement:
Input current I1
Output voltage U
Output current I

Now display the input and output voltage along with the input current in a timing diagram .
Click on to start and stop the measurement. Finally copy the timing diagram into your
answer paper.

What statements can you make about the voltage and current waveform at the output?

a) The waveform for the output voltage and current is sinusoidal in both cases
b) Current and voltage are constant at the output
c) Each half-wave of the current or voltage is blocked out by the rectifying action
of the circuit. The result is a pulsating DC voltage
d) The waveform is a sine wave with purely absolute values (negative values
reflected in the time axis so that they are positive).

Calculate the RMS value of the voltage and the rectified mean of the output from the peak
values
The RMS voltage is..... V. The rectified mean is. V.

Measure the active power consumed and output.

Active power consumed..... W.
Active power output: .... W.

Determine the power components for the circuit

Now display the power components as vectors. Open the Power Vectors virtual instrument

. Set it to measure power consumed . Click to start and stop the measurement.

Finally copy the diagram into your answer sheet.

Determine the power output in the same way.

1.1.2 Controlled centre-tap connection M1C

This experiment investigates an M1C circuit. Determine the following:
Input and output signals
Power components
Control characteristic
Set up the experiment as follows:

Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Timing diagram
Circuit configuration: M1C
Trigger angle: 0
Multi-pulse: Off

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Input voltage V1
Measurement: Input current I1
Output voltage U
Output current I
Trigger pulses Gate 1

Now display the measured signals in a timing diagram . Click on to start and stop the
measurement. Finally copy the timing diagram into your answer paper.

Compare the output voltage and output current with the uncontrolled circuit

(a) Currents and voltages differ significantly

(b) Currents and voltages are the same
Change the phase control trigger angle to 90. Now display the measured signals in a
timing diagram . Click on to start and stop the measurement. Finally copy the timing
diagram into your answer paper.

What difference do you identify when changing the phase control trigger angle?

(a) The current follows the input voltage (sinusoidal) but

the value is no longer as high.
(b) Due to the phase control the voltage can be adjusted
continuously. The conducting interval is thereby
reduced to 180 - the trigger angle.
(c) The voltage and current are shifted towards each other.

Distortions in the sinusoidal input voltage are caused by currents due to harmonics that are
whole number multiples of the fundamental frequency. Can such a change in the voltage
trace be found in the sinusoidal voltage?

(a) No, nothing like this can be seen. The voltage is always
consistently sinusoidal (across all of the phase angles).
(b) Yes, the voltage collapses briefly at the instance of
triggering.

Based on the peak value of the voltage, compute the rectified value of the output voltage at a
phase control trigger angle of 90
The rectified value is:.... V.

Determine the power components for the circuit

Now display the power vectors for the M1C circuit for a phase control trigger angle of

90. Open the Power Vectors virtual instrument . Set it to measure consumed power .

Click on to start and to stop the measurement. Finally copy the diagram into your answer
paper. Use the same method to determine the output power components
By what factor does the output active power of the M1C circuit with 90 trigger angle
change as compared to the M1U circuit?

100%
75%
 50%
25%
0%

Determining the control characteristic:

Using the control characteristic function display the control characteristic of the M1
circuit. The current can be determined with respect to the phase control trigger angle using
this control characteristic. This control characteristic has a typical form. Generally the RMS
value of the load current is used for this characteristic.
Tool: Control characteristic
Circuit
M1C
configuration:
Trigger angle: 0 - 180
Multi-pulse: Off
Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing
diagram
Measurement:
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
RMS value of the output current I

Click on to start the measurement.

In conclusion copy the finished control characteristic trace into your answer paper.

1.1.3 Controlled centre-tap connection (M1C) with RL load

Investigate the response of an M1C circuit under resistive-inductive load. Determine the
following:
Current and voltage in the circuit
Single-pulse, multi-pulse control
Set up the experiment as follows:
Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Timing diagram

Circuit configuration: M1C

Trigger angle: 0
Multi-pulse: Off

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Input voltage V1
Measurement: Input current I1
Output voltage U
Output current I
Trigger pulses Gate 1

Now display the measured signals in a timing diagram . Click on to start and stop the
measurement. Finally copy the timing diagram into your answer paper.

Interpret the measurement. Which of these statements is true?

The signal traces for the input and output sides correspond to
those measured for a purely resistive load
No current flows and there is no output voltage present

Continue the experiment. Click on to start the measurement and slowly modify the phase
angle until a change settles in. Click on to complete the measurement.
Finally copy the timing diagram into your answer paper.
As of what angle do you obtain a stable output voltage?
The output voltage is stable starting at an angle of.. .
Explanation:
Due to the inductance the current lags behind the voltage. After the thyristor is triggered the
current is so low in the case of small trigger delay angle that the holding current is not
reached. The thyristor does not fire. The voltage drop at the semiconductor is too small so the
trigger pulse is thus too short for the inductive load.
Solution:
Repeat the trigger pulse. This enables a voltage to build up across the thyristor until it
remains switched on (on-state).
Use of multi-pulse triggering

Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Timing diagram

Circuit configuration: M1C

Trigger angle: 0
Multipulse: On

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Input voltage V1
Measurement: Input current I1
Output voltage U
Output current I
Trigger pulses Gate 1

Click on to start the measurement and slowly change the phase angle to 0. Click on
to end the measurement. Finally copy the timing diagram into your answer paper.

Why do you need the multi-pulse function?

The multipulse function is responsible for reducing current due to harmonics.

The multipulse function ensures that the thyristor switches to the on-state reliably
under resistive-inductive loads.

What exactly does the multipulse function do?

The trigger pulses are constantly repeated.

The trigger pulse is applied to the thyristor constantly.
After the desired trigger angle is set, the trigger pulse is repeated
until the natural commutation resets the thyristor to the off-state.

1.1.4 Output voltage response with an RL load

Investigate the effect of a freewheeling diode on the output voltage for resistive-inductive
loads. Set up the experiment as follows:
Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Timing diagram

Circuit configuration: M1C

Trigger angle: 90
Multipulse: On

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Input voltage V1
Measurement: Input current I1
Output voltage U
Output current I
Trigger pulses Gate 1

Now display the measured signals in a timing diagram . Click on to start and stop
the measurement. Finally copy the timing diagram into your answer paper.

What is conspicuous about the trace for the output voltage?

The output voltage is always positive

The output voltage has positive and negative components
The output voltage is negative

How do the times when the voltage is negative arise?

Thyristors only switch off when the holding current is

exceeded. Due to the inductance the current continues even
after the zero crossover of the voltage. Thus the thyristor is
 also switched on during a portion of the negative half-wave.
Due to the component design the thyristor does not easily
switch to its off-state. The current simply continues to flow.

Use of a freewheeling arm for a resistive-inductive load

Investigate the effects of a freewheeling diode on the circuit. Modify the experiment set up as
follows:

Repeat the measurement using the settings of the previous experiment

Now display the measured signals in a timing diagram . Click on to start and stop the
measurement. Finally copy the timing diagram into your answer paper.

What influence does this use of the freewheeling diode have on the current and voltage?

The negative voltage at the output is no longer present. The

diode allows the magnetisation current to flow through itself
when the mains voltage is less than or equal to zero.
The additional diode corrects the current characteristic and
allows for phase equality between the output current and
voltage.
The diode makes no difference whatsoever.

Let us assume that the inductance is very large. The current would also be very high during
switch-off. What would it mean for the thyristor if no freewheeling diode were used?

The selection of the thyristor would have to be geared toward

dealing with the switch-off current.
Due to the law of inductivity U=L*di/dt the blocking voltage of the
thyristors would rise so severely that the excessive voltage would
destroy the thyristor.
 This has no effect on this circuit. The current continues to flow due
to the inductance, which is absolutely no problem for the thyristor.

Determining the control characteristic:

Using the control characteristic function display the control characteristic of the M1
circuit. The current can be determined with respect to the phase control trigger angle using
this control characteristic. This control characteristic has a typical form. Generally the RMS
value of the load current is used for this characteristic.
Tool: Control characteristic

Circuit configuration: M1C

Trigger angle: 0 - 180

Multipulse: Off

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Measurement: Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
RMS value of the output current I

Click on the button in order to start the measurement.

Finally copy the completed control characteristic into your answer paper.
Can this circuit be controlled independently of the load?

Yes, the result shows that an inductive load does not change
anything significantly in the control characteristic
No, the load must be taken into consideration when regulating
current or power

1.2 DUAL-PULSE B2 BRIDGE CONNECTION

1.2.1 Uncontrolled two-pulse bridge circuit B2U

This experiment investigates a B2U circuit configuration. You should determine the
following:
Output and input currents
Input and output voltages
Power outputs
Set up the experiment as follows:

Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Timing diagram

Circuit configuration: B2U

Trigger angle: 0
Multipulse: Off

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Input voltage V12
Measurement:
Input current I1
Output voltage U
Output current I

Now display the measured signals in a timing diagram . Click on to start and stop the
measurement. Finally copy the timing diagram into your answer paper.
Which of the following statements is true of the current and voltage trace at the output?

The current and voltage traces at the output of the circuit are sinusoidal.

The current and voltage traces at the output have a constant characteristic.

Every second half-wave of current and voltage are blocked by the

rectification of the circuit. A pulsating DC current flows.

The signal shape of the output current and voltage is a sine wave where all
values are absolute (the negative half-wave gives rise to a positive output)
Are the current and voltage phase-shifted?

The current and voltage are phase-shifted.

The current and voltage are not phase-shifted.

Compare the RMS value of the output voltage to the value obtained for the M1U
circuit?

The RMS values of both circuits are the same.

The RMS value of the M1U circuit is lower than is the case for the B2U circuit.

The RMS value of the B2U circuit is lower than is the case for the M1U circuit

Determine the power components for the circuit

Now display the power vectors for the B2U circuit. Open the Power Vectors virtual

instrument . Set it to measure consumed power . Click on to start and end the

measurement. Finally copy the diagram into your answer paper. Use the same method to
determine the power output components

By what factor does the power taken up by the B2U circuit differ from the case of an
M1U circuit? Consider the question purely in theoretical terms because the two circuits
differ in response to load.

2
1.5
1
0.75
0.5

Why is the reactive power consumed by the B2U circuit virtually zero for the
fundamental oscillation?

There is no phase-shift between current and voltage.

Due to the absolute nature of the current waveform no reactive
power can be consumed.
1.2.2 Fully-controlled two-pulse bridge circuit B2C
This experiment investigates a B2C circuit. You should determine the following:
Output and input currents
Input and output voltages
Power components
Set up the experiment as follows:

Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Timing diagram
Circuit configuration: B2C
Trigger angle: 0
Multipulse: Off

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Input voltage V1
Measurement: Input current I1
Output voltage U
Output current I
Trigger pulses Gates 1 - 4

Now display the signal curves in a timing diagram . Click on to start and stop the
measurement. Finally, copy the timing diagram into your answer paper.
Do the output signals of the uncontrolled B2 circuit differ from those of a controlled B2
circuit with a phase angle of 0?

The output signals of the two circuits do not differ.

There is a significant change in the current signal trace.
There is a significant change in the voltage signal trace.
Determine the power components for the circuit

Now display the power vectors . Set the instrument to measure consumed power . Click

on to start and stop the measurement. Then copy the diagram into your answer paper.

Modify the phase trigger angle until the active power output is reduced by half. Copy the
diagram into your answer paper.

At which phase angle does the active output power reduce by half? Round the value up to the
nearest 10.

The phase angle is.... .

What changes occur when the output power is reduced by half?

The distortion power due to harmonics, the reactive power of

the fundamental and thus the apparent power all increase.
Only the active power is reduced by half.
All power components (apparent, active and reactive) are
reduced by half.

What can be observed when the trigger angle is made bigger (up to 90)?

The apparent, active and reactive power increase.

The apparent and active power levels increase.
The apparent and reactive power increase but the active power
decreases.

Are the distorting harmonic currents that do not appear in the mains supply desirable?

No, not at all! The currents cause harmonic power loss and
distort the sinusoidal current signal.
This is of no interest. Only the active power has any relevance.
Yes, the distorting harmonic currents relieve the respective
conducting phases.

Display the frequency spectrum of the input current

Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Spectrum analyser
Circuit
B2C
configuration:
Trigger angle: 0
Multipulse: Off
Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing
diagram
Measurement:
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Input current I1

Now display the frequency spectrum . Click on to start and stop the measurement.
Finally, copy the diagram into your answer paper.

Change the phase trigger angle to 90 and repeat the measurement.

What can be observed from the two frequency spectra?

We can just observe even harmonic currents at a phase trigger

angle of 90, which at a phase angle of 0 are practically non-
existent.
We can just observe odd harmonic currents at a phase trigger
angle of 90, which at a phase angle of 0 are practically non-
existent.
There are no harmonics present in either measurement.

Determining the control characteristic:

Use the control characteristic function to display the control characteristic of the B2C
circuit. Using this characteristic the current can be determined with respect to the trigger
angle.
Tool: Control characteristic
Circuit configuration: B2C
Trigger angle: 0 - 180
Multi-pulse: off

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Measurement:
RMS value of the output current I
Consumed reactive power
Click on to start the measurement. Then copy the finished control characteristic diagram
into your answer paper.

At which phase trigger angle is the most reactive power consumed?

This phase trigger angle is:. .

Is it possible to adjust the output power by means of the trigger angle?

Yes, by varying the phase trigger angle from 0 to 180 the

RMS values of the current and voltage and thus the power can
be adjusted between zero and their maxima.
No, it is not possible to set the power at the output.

If you had to regulate the power what is the relationship between the power and the
phase trigger angle?

Linear
Non-linear
In accordance with the characteristic

1.2.3 Fully-controlled bridge circuit B2C with R/L load

In this experiment we will be examining the B2C - circuit with resistive-inductive load. You
should determine the following:
Output and input currents
Input and output voltages
Power components
Control characteristic
Frequency spectrum of the input current
Set up the experiment as follows:
Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Timing diagram

Circuit configuration: B2C

Trigger angle: 0
Multipulse: Off

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Input voltage V12
Measurement:
Input current I1
Output voltage U
Output current I

Now display the signal curves in a timing diagram . Click on to start and stop the
measurement. Finally copy the timing diagram into your answer paper.

Is there a noticeable difference as opposed to the case with a purely resistive load?

Yes, the current is limited due to the inductance.

Yes, the output current has less ripple and does not reach zero.
The output voltage has negative components.
No, everything remains unchanged.

Slowly increase the trigger angle to 60. Display the signal traces in a timing diagram for
a trigger angle of 60. Click on to start or stop the measurement. Then copy the timing
diagram into your answer paper.

As of which angle did the current first reach zero?

The phase angle was:

Observe the trace for the output voltage. Would you again employ a freewheeling diode
here?

Since the output voltage becomes negative, the use of a

freewheeling diode makes sense.
No, it is not necessary because the voltages at the output are
positive. A freewheeling diode would be superfluous.
Would the multi-pulse function be appropriate here to suppress the gaps in current?

Yes it would be the right solution to suppress the observed effect.

The multipulse function is not necessary here. The current gaps are
produced by the inductance. The multipulse function is superfluous
because there is always a voltage being applied to the thyristor.
The multipulse function cannot be used here because the thyristor never
switches back to the off-state.

What off-state blocking voltage should the thyristor be able to withstand in a B2C
circuit in order to avoid damage?

At least twice the amplitude.

At least the normal amplitude.
At least four times the amplitude.

Display the frequency spectrum of the input current

Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Spectrum analyser

Circuit configuration: B2C

Trigger angle: 65
Multipulse: Off

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Measurement: Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Input current I1

Display the frequency spectrum . Click on to start and stop the measurement. Then
copy the diagram into your answer sheet.

What is conspicuous about the harmonics in comparison to a case with a purely resistive
load?

The harmonic currents are identical.

The harmonic currents are much lower.
The harmonic currents have been intensified.
Determine the control characteristic:

Use the control characteristic function to display the control characteristic of the B2C
circuit. Using this characteristic the current can be determined with respect to the trigger
angle.
Tool: Control characteristic

Circuit configuration: B2C

Trigger angle: 0 - 180

Multipulse: Off
Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Measurement:
RMS value of the output current I
Consumed reactive power

Click on to start the measurement.

Then copy the completed control characteristic diagram into your answer sheet.

1.2.4 Half-controlled two-pulse bridge circuit B2HZ

This experiment investigates a B2HZ bridge circuit with resistive load. In it You should
determine the following:
Output and input currents
Input and output voltages
Power components
Control characteristic
Frequency spectrum of the input current
Set up the experiment as follows:

Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Timing diagram
Circuit configuration: B2HZ

Trigger angle: 0
Multipulse: Off

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Input voltage V12
Measurement:
Input current I1
Output voltage U
Output current I

Now display the signal curves in a timing diagram . Click on to start and stop the
measurement. Finally copy the timing trace into your answer sheet.
Change the phase trigger angle to 90.
Now display the signal curves in a timing diagram . Click on to start and stop the
measurement. Finally copy the timing trace into your answer sheet.

Has the signal curve changed in comparison to the B2C circuit?

Yes, the curve has changed.

No, the circuits cannot be differentiated on the basis of their
respective signal curves.

Determine the power components of the circuit

Now display the power vectors for a phase trigger angle of 90. Set to measure the

consumed power levels. Click on to start and stop the measurements. Then copy the
diagram in the following blank placeholder:

Does the power consumption of the B2HZ circuit differ from the B2C circuit?

The power consumption of the circuit is lower than in the B2C

circuit for the same trigger angle.
The power consumption of the two circuits is identical.
The power consumption of the circuit is higher than in the B2C
circuit for the same trigger angle.

Display the frequency spectrum of the input current

Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Spectrum analyser

Circuit configuration: B2HZ

Trigger angle: 90
Multipulse: Off

Use the left mouse button to double click on Spectrum

Measurement: Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Input current I1

Now depict the frequency spectrum . Click on to start and stop the measurement. Then
copy the diagram into your answer sheet.

Determine the control characteristic:

Use the control characteristic function to depict the control characteristic of the B2C
circuit. With this characteristic the current can be determined with respect to the trigger
angle.
Tool: Control characteristic

Circuit configuration: B2HZ

Trigger angle: 0 - 180

Multipulse: Off

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK
Measurement:
RMS value of the output current I
Consumed reactive power

Click on to start the measurement.

Then copy the completed control characteristic into your answer sheet.

Based on your measurement with resistive load can you state that there are significant
differences between the B2C and B2HZ circuits?
 Based on the measurements we can conclude that both circuits behave similarly.

The measurements demonstrate that the two circuit behave differently.

No conclusions can be drawn from the measurements.

1.2.5 Half-controlled bridge circuit with R/L load

This experiment investigates a B2HZ circuit with resistive-inductive load. You should
determine:
Output and input currents
Input and output voltages
Set up the experiment as follows:

Set the necessary parameters under Settings - Parameters - Defaults according to the
following table.
Tool: Timing diagram
Circuit
B2HZ
configuration:
Trigger angle: 90
Multipulse: On

Use the left mouse button to double click on the timing

diagram
Set the following signals and then confirm by pressing OK.
Measurement: Input voltage V12
Input current I1
Output voltage U
Output current I

Now display the measured signals in a timing diagram . Click on to start and stop the
measurement. Finally copy the timing diagram into your answer sheet.
What is the disadvantage of the fully controlled circuit as opposed to the half-controlled
version if you compare the measurements?

The fully controlled circuit needs two more controllable valves so it is more
expensive.
The half-controlled circuit does not need a freewheeling diode.

It is not possible to see any difference between the circuits from the diagram;
the only factor relates to the more complex control requirements.

End of Lab!