AC to AC Converter

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 Power Electronic Based AC-AC Converters
A power electronic ac–ac converter, in generic form,
accepts electric power from one system and converts it for
delivery to another ac system with waveforms of different
amplitude, frequency, and phase.
They may be single-phase or three-phase types depending
on theirpowerratings.
The ac–ac converters employed to vary the rms voltage
across the load at constant frequency are known as ac
voltage controllers or ac regulators.
The ac–ac power converters inwhich ac power at one
frequency is directly converted to ac power at another
frequency without any intermediated conversion link are
known as cycloconverters

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 Single-Phase AC–AC Voltage Controller
The basic power circuit of a single-phase ac–ac voltage
controller, are shown in Figure below.

Inverse-parallel
provides a uni-
oranti-parallel).
directional half-
provides wave asymmetrical
bidirectional full- voltage control with
wave symmetrical device economy,
control,and the
SCR pair

Two diodes and two

SCRs to provide a One SCR and four
common cathode
connection for
diodes to reduce
simplifying the gating the device cost
circuit without but with
requiring isolation increased device
conduction loss

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 …Contd..
For a full-wave symmetrical phase control, the SCRs T1 and T2
in Fig below are gated at α and π+α, respectively, from the zero
crossing of the input voltage.
by varyingα, the power flow to the load is controlled through
voltage control in alternate half cycles. As long as one SCR is
carrying current, the other SCR remains reverse-biased by the
voltage drop across the conducting SCR.
The principle of operation in each half cycle is similar to that
of the controlled half-wave rectifier, and one can use the same
approach for analysis of the circuit.

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 …Contd..
Wave Forms

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 …Contd..
Output rms

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 Cycloconverter
 Cycloconverters are basically AC to AC power converters.
They convert constant voltage AC power to adjustable
voltage, adjustable frequency AC power without any
intermediate DC link.
The cycloconverter is defined as a frequency changer
that converts ac power at one input frequency to output
power at a different frequency with a one-stage conversion
process
In large power industrial applications (such as cement and
ball mill drives, Rolling mill drives) thyristor phase-
controlled cycloconverters are widely used.
The cycloconverters are used for Variable-speed,
constant frequency (VFCS) power generation for aircraft
400Hz power supplies.
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 Types of The Converters
They are classified depending upon the number of phases of
the output voltage as

1. Single phase cycloconverters

2. Three phase cycloconverters

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 Single phase cycloconverters.
Single phase output may be obtained either from a single
phase source or from a three-phase source.

 If the supply source is single phase it is called single

phase to single phase cycloconverters.

If the supply source is three-phase it is called as three-

phase to single phase cycloconverters.

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 Three phase cycloconverters.
Three phase output may be obtained either from a single
phase source or from a three-phase source.

 If the supply source is single phase it is called single

phase to three phase cycloconverters.

If the supply source is three-phase it is called as three-

phase to three phase cycloconverters.

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 Three phase cycloconverters.
In this case both the supply source and the output voltage
are three-phase.
Depends upon how the firing angle of the converter is
varied, the they are classified as:

1. Envelope cycloconverters
2. Phase controlled cycloconverters

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Envelope Cycloconverter
In this type, the firing angle of the component converters
is not varied.
It is kept constant normally at α=0° for the positive
converter and α=180° for the negative converter during the
positive half cycle of the voltage.
Similarly α=180° for positive converter and α=0° for the
negative converter during the negative half cycle of the
Voltage.
Phase Controlled Cycloconverter
In this type, the firing angle of the converter component
is varied to vary both magnitude and frequency of output
voltage.

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 Applications of Cycloconverters:
Speed control of high power AC drives is achieved using
these converters.
Used in high frequency induction heating.
Used in static VAR generation.

As they are utilized for converting variable frequency

input voltage to constant frequency output voltage, they are
in use as power supply in the aircraft and space vehicles.

They play a vital role in High Voltage DC(HVDC)

Transmission for interconnecting two power grids operating
at two different frequencies.

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 Basics of Cycloconverter
AC to AC Conversion
Developed in 1930 in Germany
Uses SCR Switches
Uses Forced Commutation for Step up conversion
Can be Step Up or Step Down
Can be Single phase or three phase

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 …Contd..
Traditionally, ac-ac conversion using semiconductor
switches is done in two different ways:
1. In two stages (ac-dc and then dc-ac) as in dc link
converters

2. In one stage (ac-ac) cycloconverters.

Cycloconverters are used in high power applications driving
induction and synchronous motors.
They are usually phase-controlled and they traditionally
use thyristors due to their ease of phase commutation.

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 …Contd..
There are other newer forms of cycloconversion such as
ac-ac matrix converters and high frequency ac-ac (hfac-ac)
converters and these use self-controlled switches. These
converters, however, are not popular yet.
Some applications of cycloconverters are: ·

Cement mill drives ·

Ship propulsion drives ·
 Rolling mill drives ·
Ore grinding mills ·
Mine winders

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 Operation Principles:
Single-phase to Single-phase Cycloconverter Step Down
This converter consists of back-to-back connection of
two full-wave rectifier circuits.

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 …Contd..
The input voltage, Vs is an ac voltage at a frequency, fi.
For easy of understanding assume that all the thyristors
are fired at a=0° firing angle, i.e. thyristors act like diodes.

The firing angles are named as aP for the positive

converter and aN 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.

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 …Contd..
It rectifies the input voltage; therefore, the load sees 4
positive half cycles.

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 …Contd..
Input and output waveforms of a 50–16(2/3)-Hz cyclocon-
verter

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 …Contd..
It rectifies the input voltage; therefore, the load sees 4
positive half cycles.
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.

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 …Contd..
Note that when one of the converters operates the other
one is disabled, so that there is no current circulating
between the two rectifiers.

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 …Contd..
The frequency of the output voltage, vo in Fig is 4 times
less than that of vs, the input voltage, i.e. fo/fi=1/4.
Thus, this is a step-down cycloconverter.
On the other hand, cycloconverters that have fo/fi>1
frequency relation are called step-up cycloconverters.
 Note that step-down cycloconverters are more widely
used than the step-up ones.

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 …Contd..
The frequency of vo can be changed by varying the
number of cycles the positive and the negative converters
work.
It can only change as integer multiples of fi in 1phase-
1phase cycloconverters.
With the above operation, the 1f-1f cycloconverter can
only supply a certain voltage at a certain firing angle a.

Constant a operation gives a crude output waveform with

rich harmonic content.

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 …Contd..
If the square wave can be modified to look more like a
sine wave, the harmonics would be reduced.
Now, the six-stepped dotted line is more like a sine wave
with fewer harmonics in Fig (d).
The more pulses there are with different a's, the less are
the harmonics.

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 Step Up Cycloconverter
Single-phase to Single-phase Step Up Cycloconverter
Provides output frequency greater than the input
frequency.
Requires forced commutation
Used in High Speed drive application.
Can be Midpoint or Bridge Type.

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 Midpoint Cycloconverter
It Contains a single transformer with mid point tap on the
secondary winding and four thyristors.
Thyristors P1 and P2 are from the positive group and
thyristors N1 and N2 are from the negative group.
From wt=0 to π terminal a is +ve w.r.t terminal b hence P1
and N2 can be forward biased.
From wt= π to 2π terminal a is -ve w.r.t terminal b hence
P2 and N1 can be forward biased.

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…Contd..
From wt=0 to π
t=t0 P1 forward biased and N2 is reverse biased
t=t1 P1 Force commutated and N2 is On
t=t2 N2 Force commutated and P1 is On
t=t3 P1 Force commutated and N2 is On
t=t4 N2 Force commutated and P1 is On
t=t5 P1 Force commutated and N2 is On

From wt= π to 2π
t=t0 P2 forward biased and N1 is reverse biased
t=t1 P2 Force commutated and N1 is On
t=t2 N1 Force commutated and P2 is On
t=t3 P2 Force commutated and N1 is On
t=t4 N1 Force commutated and P2 is On
t=t5 P2 Force commutated and N1 is On

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 Bridge Type Cycloconverters
Contains Eight cycloconverters
Thyristors P1, P2, P3, and P4 are from the positive group.
Thyristors N1, N2, N3, and N4 are from the negative group.
From wt=0 to π terminal a is +ve w.r.t terminal b hence P1P2
and N3N4 can be forward biased.
From wt= π to 2π terminal a is -ve w.r.t terminal b hence P4P3
and N2N1 can be forward biased

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…Contd..
From wt=0 to π
t=t0 P1P2 forward biased and N3N4 is reverse biased
t=t1 P1P2 Force commutated and N3N4 is On
t=t2 N3N4 Force commutated and P1P2 is On
t=t3 P1P2 Force commutated and N3N4 is On
t=t4 N3N4 Force commutated and P1P2 is On
t=t5 P1P2 Force commutated and N3N4 is On
From wt= π to 2π
t=t0 P3P4 forward biased and N1N2 is reverse biased
t=t1 P3P4 Force commutated and N1N2 is On
t=t2 N1N2 Force commutated and P3P4 is On
t=t3 P3P4 Force commutated and N1N2 is On
t=t4 N1N2 Force commutated and P3P4 is On
t=t5 P3P4 Force commutated and N1N2 is On

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 Reading Assignment
Three Phase Cyclocoverters

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