1

Single-Phase Dual
Converter
In previous section, we have seen that the
single-phase full converters with inductive
loads allow only two-quadrant operation.

If two of these converters are connected
back to back, both the output voltage and
the output current can be reversed.

This system will provide four-quadrant
operation and it is called a dual converter.
2
Dual converters are used in high-power
variable-speed drives.


If
1
and
2
are the delay angles of
converters 1 and 2, the corresponding
average output voltages will be V
dc1
and V
dc2
.
3
4
The delay angles are controlled such that
one converter operates as a rectifier and the
other converter operates as an inverter.

However, both converters produce the same
average output voltage.

Therefore,
5
2 2
1 1
cos
2
cos
2
o
t
o
t
m
dc
m
dc
V
V
V
V
=
=
One converter is rectifying and the other one is
inverting, therefore:




Since the instantaneous output voltages of the
two converters are out of phase, there will be an
instantaneous voltage difference between the
two converters.

6
1 2
1 1 2
2 1
) cos( cos cos
o t o
o t o o
=
= =
=
dc dc
V V
This will result in a circulating current between
the two converters.

The dual converters can be operated with or
without a circulating current.

In case of operation without the circulating
current, only one converter operates at a time
and carries the load current.

The other converter is completely blocked by
inhibiting gate pulses.

7
Principles of Three-Phase Half-
Wave Converters
Three-phase converters provide higher
average output voltage, and the frequency of
the ripples on the output voltage is higher
compared to that of single-phase converters.

Therefore, the filtering requirements for
smoothing out the load current and load
voltage are simpler.
8
9
If the phase voltage is , then the
average output voltage will be:


The rms value of the output voltage will be:


10
t V v
m an
e sin =
o
t
e e
t
o t
o t
cos
2
3 3
) ( sin
2
3
6 / 5
6 /
m
m dc
V
t d t V V = =
}
+
+
2 / 1
2 / 1
6 / 5
6 /
2 2
) 2 cos
8
3
6
1
( 3
) ( sin
2
3
o
t
e e
t
o t
o t
+ =
(

=
}
+
+
m rms
m rms
V V
t d t V V
Three-Phase Full
Converters
Three-phase converters are extensively
used in industrial applications up to 120 kW
level, where two-quadrant operation is
required.

This circuit is known as a three-phase
bridge converter.

The thyristors are fired at an interval of 60
degrees.
11
The frequency of the output ripple
voltage is 6f
s
.


The following figure shows a full
converter circuit with a highly inductive
load.

12
13
The line-to-neutral voltages are:




Then the line-to-line voltages are:
14
)
3
2
( sin
)
3
2
( sin
sin
t
e
t
e
e
+ =
=
=
t V v
t V v
t V v
m cn
m bn
m an
)
6
5
( sin 3
)
2
( sin 3
)
6
( sin 3
t
e
t
e
t
e
+ = =
= =
+ = =
t V v v v
t V v v v
t V v v v
m an cn ca
m cn bn bc
m bn an ab
The average output voltage is found from:



The rms value of the output voltage is:

15
o
t
e
t
o t
o t
cos
3 3
) (
3
2 /
6 /
}
+
+
= =
m
ab dc
V
t d v V
2 / 1
2 / 1
2 /
6 /
2
) 2 cos
4
3 3
2
1
( 3
) (
3
o
t
e
t
o t
o t
+ =
(

=
}
+
+
m rms
ab rms
V V
t d v V
A three-phase bridge gives a six-pulse output
voltage.

For high -power applications such as high-
voltage dc transmission, a 12 pulse output is
generally required to reduce the output ripples
and to increase the ripple frequencies.

Two six-pulse bridges can be combined either in
series or in parallel to produce a 12-pulse
output.
16