Lecture 4 5 TRIAC P 1 2
Lecture 4 5 TRIAC P 1 2
Lecture 4 5 TRIAC P 1 2
There are several applications that need to regulate the power fed of the
load. For example: using electrical methods/devices to control the power flow in a
system. But, these devices do not allow a fine control of the power flow.
Additionally, there is an extensive wastage of power. In the present day, such
devices have been developed which can allow a fine control of a large amount of
power flow in a system. These devices perform as controlled switches and can
complete the tasks of controlled rectification, regulation, and inversion of power
in a load. These devices are semiconductor switching devices as BJT, UJT,
JFET, MOSFET, SCR, DIAC, and TRIAC.
Mode (+Ι):
with positive potential (+ve) and with positive potential (+ve), the current
flows as:
Mode (-Ι):
with positive potential (+ve) and with negative potential (-ve), the current
flows as:
Mode (+ΙΙΙ):
with negative potential (-ve) and with positive potential (+ve), the current
flows as:
Mode (-ΙΙΙ):
with negative potential (-ve) and with negative potential (-ve), the current
flows as:
The typical I-V characteristic of a TRIAC can be seen in the diagram below
with the four different quadrants labeled. Operating characteristics of TRIAC in
the 1st and 3rd quadrants are similar but the direction of current and the applied
voltage are reverses. The characteristics of TRIAC in the 1st and 3rd quadrants
are basically the same as those of a thyristor in the 1st quadrant.
1. On-state current: – 25 A
4. Holding current: – 75 mA
Applications of TRIAC
The TRIAC device is the most commonly used for power switching and
power control of AC systems; as the TRIAC can be switched on by either a
positive or negative gate pulse, regardless of the AC supply polarity at that time.
It’s often used in low to medium levels of power switching requirements of AC
systems. But where the large levels of power switching, two thyristors tend to be
used as they can be controlled more easily. Nevertheless, TRIACs are widely
used in many applications:
Lighting control.
Heaters control.
It is found that because of their slight differences between the two halves of
TRIAC in the internal construction, the results are the non-symmetrical firing of
TRIAC. This results in harmonics being generated; that meaning the less fire
symmetrical of TRIAC, the greater level of harmonics that are produced.
If the is moved to position-B, the gate current flows at every half cycle
via resistor and the full power is drawn by the lamp as the TRIAC operates in
modes (+Ι) and (–IIΙ).
But in this time when the is connected to position-C, the diode will
prevent the triggering of the gate when is negative as the diode is reversed
biased. Thus the TRIAC only conducts on the positive half-cycles operating in
mode (+Ι) only and the lamp will light at half power.
Then depending upon the position of the switch, the load is ‘Off’ at
position-A, ‘Half Power’ at position-C, or ‘Fully On’ at position-B.
1- SCR means Silicon Controlled Rectifier and TRIAC means Triode for
Alternating Current.
5- The SCR can work with only positive gate triggering; TRIAC can work with
both positive and negative gate triggering.
6- The SCR can operate in only one mode; TRIAC can operate in four modes.
7- The SCR mainly used to control DC power, TRIAC mainly used to control AC
power.
8- The SCR mainly requires two heat sinks; TRIAC mainly requires only a single
heat sink.
Disadvantages of TRIAC
It doesn’t conduct symmetrically on both sides of the waveforms.
Reference:
1. M. H. Rashid, “Power Electronics: Circuits, Devices and Applications,”
Prentice Hall India, Second Edition, 2006.