POWER

POWER ELECTRONICS
ELECTRONICS

AC VOLTAGE
CONTROLLERS

Dr. Adel Gastli

Email: adel@gastli.net
http://adel.gastli.net

INTRODUCTION
Purpose: control the output rms voltage
using SCR- or Triac-type switch.
Name: AC Voltage Controller, AC to
controlled AC converters or AC regulators
Types: there are single-phase and three-
phase types of ac voltage controllers

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 2

 CHAPTER S CONTENT
CHAPTERS
1. 1-PHASE AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS
2. 3-PHASE AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS
3. CYCLOCONVERTERS
4. APPLICATIONS & SUMMARY

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 3

Section 1

1-PHASE AC VOLTAGE
CONTROLLERS
T2
iL iL

T1 Triac
vL ZL vL ZL

vs = Vsm sin(t ) vs = Vsm sin(t )

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 4

 SECTIONS CONTENTS
SECTIONS
1. ON-OFF CONTROL
2. PHASE CONTROL
3. SECTION SUMMARY

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 5

ON-OFF CONTROL
Integral half cycle control. Usually used for resistive load.
iL vs
Vsm

vL R
0
t
n
vs = Vsm sin(t )
N
T : period

N : number of half cycle during period T

n : number of half cycles during switch on
Similar to
V0 rms = Vsrms
n Vsm
=
n
= Vs k chopper
Duty principle.
N 2 N cycle
Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 6
 PHASE CONTROL: BI-DIRECTIONAL
1. Resistive Load
iL vs
Vsm

vL R 0 + 2 + t
vs = Vsm sin(t )

1 Vsm2
V0 rms = v d = sin 2 d
2

0
L

1 sin (2 )
V0 rms = Vs - +
2

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 7

SIMULINK SIMULATION

ia
(sp_ac_reg.mdl)
a
i
k +
g -

Triac iA

g
+
+ v v0 R=10
v vs -
120V -
50Hz vA

Press to
Plot Results

(sp_ac_regm.m)

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 8

 1.5

Gate signal
1

0.5

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
200
vs
Voltage, (V)

v0
0
= 45o
-200
0 200 400 600 800 1000
20
Current, (A)

-20
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Angle, (Deg)

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 9

2. Inductive Load Three cases to be distinguished:

i0 i. >
L ii. <
v0 R
iii. =
i) > : Discontinuous current
vs = Vsm sin(t )
Current equation is obtained similarly to
Chapter 10 (single-phase controlled
L
= tan 1 rectifier).
R
t
R

sin (t ) sin ( )e L
2Vs
i1 =
vs Z
Vsm v0
i0 is obtained by taking i1()=0.

0 + 2 + t 1 sin 2 sin 2
V0 rms = Vs +
2 2

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 10

 ii) < : / Not Practical because conduction angle cannot
exceed
> + Conduction in one alternance.

To be avoided

If triac gate pulse is large enough then we will obtain

continuous conduction.

iii) = : Continuous conduction

Vsm
= + V0 rms = = Vsrms
2

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 11

SIMULINK SIMULATION

ia
(sp_ac_reg.mdl)
a
i
k +
g -
Triac iA

g
+ R=10
+ v v0 L=10mH
v vs -
-
120V
50Hz

Press to
Plot Results

(sp_ac_regm.m)

120V
Dr. Adel Gastli 50Hz R=10 AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 12
 = 45o > = 17.44o
1.5

Gate signal
1

0.5

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
200
vs
Voltage, (V)

v0
0
= 45o
-200
0 200 400 600 800 1000
20
Current, (A)

-20
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Angle, (Deg)

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 13

= 10o < = 17.44o Short gate pulse

1.5
Gate signal

0.5

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
200
Voltage, (V)

vs
v0
0

-200
0 200 400 600 800 1000
20
Current, (A)

-20
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Angle, (Deg)

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 14

 = 10o < = 17.44o Long gate pulse

1.5

Gate signal
1

0.5

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
200
vs
Voltage, (V)

v0
0

-200
0 200 400 600 800 1000
20
Current, (A)

-20
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Angle, (Deg)

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 15

= = 17.44o Continuous conduction

1.5
Gate signal

0.5

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
200
vs
Voltage, (V)

v0
0

-200
0 200 400 600 800 1000
20
Current, (A)

-20
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Angle, (Deg)

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 16

 SECTION SUMMARY

Single-phase AC voltage rms can be controlled

by on-off control or phase delay control.
By controlling the phase delay it is possible to
control the AC output voltage rms value
between 0 and the source rms voltage value.
It is important to know beforehand the load
angle in order to be able to control the output
voltage properly.

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 17

Section 2

3-PHASE AC VOLTAGE
CONTROLLERS
i0 A
vA
i0 B ZL
vB
ZL ZL
i0C
vC

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 18

 SECTIONS CONTENTS
SECTIONS
1. TOPOLOGIES
2. OPERATION
3. SIMULINK SIMULATION

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 19

TOPOLOGIES
i0 A 1
vA i0 A 1
T1 vA
i0 B 2 ZL T1
vB N i0 B 2 ZL
T2 ZL ZL vB
i0C 3 T2 ZL ZL
vC i0C 3
T3 vC
N T3

Equivalent to 3 single-phases Is studied in this chapter

1
vA
i0 A 1 T1 ZL
vA
T1
i0 B 2 ZL
T3
vB ZL ZL
T2 ZL ZL
i0C 3 vB 2 3
vC
T3 T2
vC
Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 20
 OPERATION
i0 A 1
vA 0 < 60o alternate between 2 and 3 switches
T1 o
60 < 90 only 2 switches conduct at a time
o
i0 B 2 ZL
vB N o
90 < 150 0 and 2 switches conduct at a time
o
T2 ZL ZL
i0C 3 > 150o there is no conduction v = 0V
vC out
T3

line on line off v12 v1N

A,B, C None VAB VA
A,B C VAB VAB/2
A,C B VAC/2 VAC/2
B,C A -VBC/2 0
None A,B,C 0 0
A Impossible
B Impossible
C Impossible
Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 21

SIMULINK SIMULATION
ia
(sp_ac_reg.mdl) Triac
+
i
Converter -
+ iA 10
Ain Aout
-
v vab
A A
i
ib
Bin Bout +
- B B
iB C C
Cin Cout

i
ic 3- Phase
+ Y-connected Load
-
+
-
v vAB iC +
v van
-
+
-
v vBC

+
-
v vCA

Press to
+ Plot Results
-
v vAN

120V
vA vB vC
50Hz
(sp_ac_regm.m)

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 22

 = 30o Purely resistive load
0.5vab va 0.5vac
va
Voltage, (V)
200
va
0

-200

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

2 2
1.5 + +
3 3 3 3
Gate signal

1 Pulse width
0.5
50%

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
20
Current, (A)

-20
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Angle, (Deg)

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 23

= 60o Purely resistive load

0.5vab 0.5vac
Voltage, (V)

200

-200

0 50 1002 1502 200 250 300 350

1.5 +
3 3
Gate signal

0.5

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
20
Current, (A)

-20
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Angle, (Deg)

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 24

 = 120o Purely resistive load
0.5vab 0.5vac

Voltage, (V)
200

-200

0 100 200 300 400 500

5 + 7
1.5
6 3 6
Gate signal

0.5

0
0 100 200 300 400 500
20
Current, (A)

-20
0 100 200 300 400 500
Angle, (Deg)

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 25

= 150o Purely resistive load

Voltage, (V)

200

-200

0 100 200 300 400 500

1.5
Gate signal

0.5

0
0 100 200 300 400 500
20
Current, (A)

-20
0 100 200 300 400 500
Angle, (Deg)

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 26

MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS: (Resistive Load)
T1
iL ia

A a
T4
vAN van
R=
T3 1o
B ib R=
N 1o
b
vBN
T6
R=
vCN
1o
T5
C ic

T2

v AN = 2Vs sin ( ) v AB = 6Vs sin +
6
2
vBN = 2Vs sin
3 vBC = 6Vs sin
2
2
vBN = 2Vs sin +
3 vCA = 6Vs sin
6
Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 27

0.5vab va 0.5vac
0 < 60 o
va
Voltage, (V)

200
va
0

-200

0 50 100
150 200 250 300 350
2 2
+ +
3 3 3 3

2
d (t )
1
V0 =
2
van
2 0

1 /3 2 / 3+ v
2
2 / 3 2 / 3+ v
2

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
/ 3 4 / 3+ 2 / 3 4 2 / 3+
= v a d t + ab
d t + v 2
a d t + ac
d t + v 2
a d t

1 / 3 sin 2 t / 3+ sin (t + / 6 ) 2 / 3 sin t 2 / 3+ sin (t / 6 ) sin 2 t

2 2 2

V0 = 6Vs d (t ) + d (t ) + d (t ) + d (t ) + d (t )
3 / 3 4 / 3 + 3 2 / 3 4 2 / 3 + 3

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 28

 1 / 3 sin 2 t / 3+ sin (t + / 6 ) 2 / 3 sin t 2 / 3+ sin (t / 6 ) sin 2 t
2 2 2

V0 = 6Vs d (t ) + d (t ) + d (t ) + d (t ) + d (t )
3 /3 4 / 3+ 3 2 / 3 4 2 / 3+ 3

1 sin 2 rms Output

V0 = 6Vs + phase voltage
6 4 8

V0
I0 = P0 = 3I 0V0
R
rms output Output power
Phase Current

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 29

0.5vab 0.5vac
60o < 90o
Voltage, (V)

200

-200

0 50
100 1502 200 250 300 350
+ +
3 3
2
d (t )
1
V0 =
2
van
2 0

1 / 3+ vab
2
2 / 3+ v
2

( ) ( )
/ 3+ 4
= + d t ac
d t
4

1 / 3+ sin 2 (t + / 6 ) 2 / 3+ sin (t / 6 )
2

( ) ( )
/ 3+
V0 = 6Vs d t + d t
4 4
1 / 3+ + / 6 sin 2 t 2 / 3+ / 6 sin t
2

( ) ( )
+ / 6 / 3+ / 6 4
V0 = 6Vs d t + d t
4

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 30

 1 / 2+ sin 2 t / 2 + sin t
2

( ) ( )
+ / 6 4 / 6+ 4
V0 = 6Vs d t + d t

1 3 sin 2 3 cos 2 rms Output

V0 = 6Vs + + phase voltage

12 16 16

V0
I0 = P0 = 3I 0V0
R
rms output Output power
Phase Current

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 31

0.5vab 0.5vac
90 < 150
o o
Voltage, (V)

200

-200

0 100 200 300 400 500

5 + 7
6 3 6
2
d (t )
1
V0 =
2
van
2 0

1 5 / 6 vab
2
7 / 6 v
2

( ) ( )
/ 3+ 4
= d t + ac
d t
4
1 5 / 6 sin 2 (t + / 6) 7 / 6 sin (t / 6 )
2

( )
/ 3+
V0 = 6Vs d t + d (t )
4 4

1 5 / 6+ / 6 sin 2 t 7 / 6 / 6 sin t
2

+ / 6 / 3+ / 6 4
V0 = 6Vs d (t ) + d (t )
4
Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 32
 1 sin 2 t sin 2 t
V0 = 6Vs / 6+ d (t ) + d (t )
4 / 6 + 4

1 5 sin 2 3 cos 2 rms Output

V0 = 6Vs + + phase voltage

24 4 16 16

V0
I0 = P0 = 3I 0V0
R
rms output Output power
Phase Current

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 33

Section 3

CYCLOCONVERTERS

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 34

 SECTIONS CONTENTS
SECTIONS
1. SINGLE-PHASE
2. THREE-PHASE

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 35

SINGLE-PHASE CYCLOCONVERTER
P-converter N-converter
+
T1 T3 T2' T4' Variable voltage
variable frequency
Load

vs v01 v02
converter output
T4 T2 T3' T1' voltage.
+

vs fs
f out = (n = number of positive half cycles)
Vsm n
N-converter
1 2
on V0 = v s d

0
t
1 sin 2
P-converter = Vs +
on

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 36

 THREE-PHASE CYCLOCONVERTER

Three-phase/single-phase cycloconverter
P-converter N-converter
+
T1 T3 T5 T2' T6' T4'
A

Load
B v01 v02 C
B
C A
T4 T6 T2 T5' T3' T1'
+

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 37

Three-phase/three-phase cycloconverter

Three-phase supply
P N P N P N

Phase a Phase b Phase c

load load load

Neutral

18 thyristors are used to obtain a 3 full-wave three-phase

converter.

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 38

 Section 4

APPLICATIONS & SUMMARY

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 39

APPLICATIONS

Light dimmer.

Soft starting of ac motors

(compressors, pumps, etc.)

Variable speed drives for

appliances an tools.
vp
Transformer static tap changers.
v0

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 40

 SUMMARY
Ac voltage controllers can use on-off control or
phase-angle control.
The on-off control is more suitable for systems
having a high time constant.
Due to the switching characteristics of thyristors,
an inductive load makes the solutions of
equations describing the performance of
controllers very complex and simulation is more
convenient.
The input power factor of controllers, which vary
with the delay angle, is generally poor, especially
at low voltage output range.

Dr. Adel Gastli AC VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS 41