Classification Of Choppers

• Choppers are classified as

– Class A Chopper
– Class B Chopper
– Class C Chopper
– Class D Chopper
– Class E Chopper

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Class A Chopper

i0 v0
+

Chopper
L
O v0 V
V A
FWD D

 i0

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• When chopper is ON, supply voltage V is
connected across the load.
• When chopper is OFF, vO = 0 and the load
current continues to flow in the same direction
through the FWD.
• The average values of output voltage and
current are always positive.
• Class A Chopper is a first quadrant chopper .
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Class A Chopper is a step-down chopper in
which power always flows form source to load.
• It is used to control the speed of dc motor.
• The output current equations obtained in step
down chopper with R-L load can be used to
study the performance of Class A Chopper.

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
ig Thyristor
gate pulse

t
i0
Output current

CH ON
t
v0 FWD Conducts
Output voltage

t
tON
T
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Class B Chopper

D
i0 v0
+
R

V L v0

Chopper
E i0


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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• When chopper is ON, E drives a current
through L and R in a direction opposite to that
shown in figure.
• During the ON period of the chopper, the
inductance L stores energy.
• When Chopper is OFF, diode D conducts, and
part of the energy stored in inductor L is
returned to the supply.
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Average output voltage is positive.
• Average output current is negative.
• Therefore Class B Chopper operates in second
quadrant.
• In this chopper, power flows from load to
source.
• Class B Chopper is used for regenerative
braking of dc motor.
• Class B Chopper is a step-up chopper.

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 ig
Thyristor
gate pulse

t
i0 tOFF tON

T
t
Output current
Imax
Imin
D
conducts Chopper
conducts
v0 Output voltage

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Expression for Output Current

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
During the interval diode 'D' conducts
voltage equation is given by
LdiO
V  RiO  E
dt
For the initial condition i.e.,
iO  t   I min at t  0
The solution of the above equation is obtained
along similar lines as in step-down chopper
with R-L load
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 V E R
 t  R
 t
 iO  t   1  e
L
  I min e
L
0  t  tOFF
R  
At t  tOFF iO   t   I max
V E  
R
t  
R
tOFF
I max   
OFF
  min
L L
1 e I e
R  
During the interval chopper is ON voltage
equation is given by
LdiO
0  RiO  E
dt
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Redefining the time origin, at t  0 iO  t   I max
The solution for the stated initial condition is
R
 t E  
R
t 
iO  t   I max e L
 1  e L  0  t  tON
R 
At t  tON iO  t   I min
R
 tON E R
 tON 
 I min  I max e L
 1  e L

R 
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Class C Chopper

CH1 D1
i0 v0
+

V R

CH2 D2 L v0

Chopper
i0
E

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Class C Chopper is a combination of Class A
and Class B Choppers.
• For first quadrant operation, CH1 is ON or D2
conducts.
• For second quadrant operation, CH2 is ON or
D1 conducts.
• When CH1 is ON, the load current is positive.
• The output voltage is equal to ‘V’ & the load
receives power from the source.
• When CH1 is turned OFF, energy stored in
inductance L forces current to flow through
the diode D2 and the output voltage is zero.

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Current continues to flow in positive direction.
• When CH2 is triggered, the voltage E forces
current to flow in opposite direction through L
and CH2 .
• The output voltage is zero.
• On turning OFF CH2 , the energy stored in the
inductance drives current through diode D1
and the supply
• Output voltage is V, the input current becomes
negative and power flows from load to source.
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Average output voltage is positive
• Average output current can take both positive
and negative values.
• Choppers CH1 & CH2 should not be turned ON
simultaneously as it would result in short
circuiting the supply.
• Class C Chopper can be used both for dc motor
control and regenerative braking of dc motor.
• Class C Chopper can be used as a step-up or
step-down chopper.
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
ig1
Gate pulse
of CH1

t
ig2 Gate pulse
of CH2
t
i0
Output current

D1 CH1 D2 CH2 D1 CH1 D2 CH2

ON ON ON ON
V0
Output voltage

t
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Class D Chopper

v0
CH1 D2

R i0 L E
V
+ v0  i0

D1 CH2

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Class D is a two quadrant chopper.
• When both CH1 and CH2 are triggered
simultaneously, the output voltage vO = V and
output current flows through the load.
• When CH1 and CH2 are turned OFF, the load
current continues to flow in the same direction
through load, D1 and D2 , due to the energy
stored in the inductor L.
• Output voltage vO = - V .
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Average load voltage is positive if chopper ON
time is more than the OFF time
• Average output voltage becomes negative if
tON < tOFF .
• Hence the direction of load current is always
positive but load voltage can be positive or
negative.

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
ig1
Gate pulse
of CH1

t
ig2 Gate pulse
of CH2
t
i0
Output current

t
CH1,CH2 D1,D2 Conducting
ON
v0
Output voltage
V
Average v0
t

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
ig1
Gate pulse
of CH1

t
ig2 Gate pulse
of CH2
t
i0
Output current

CH1
CH2
t
D1, D2
v0 Output voltage
V

t
Average v0

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Class E Chopper

CH1 D1 CH3 D3

i0 R L E
V
+ 
v0
CH2 D2 CH4 D4

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Four Quadrant Operation
v0
CH2 - D4 Conducts CH1 - CH4 ON
D1 - D4 Conducts CH4 - D2 Conducts

i0

CH3 - CH2 ON D2 - D3 Conducts

CH2 - D4 Conducts CH4 - D2 Conducts
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Class E is a four quadrant chopper
• When CH1 and CH4 are triggered, output
current iO flows in positive direction through
CH1 and CH4, and with output voltage vO = V.
• This gives the first quadrant operation.
• When both CH1 and CH4 are OFF, the energy
stored in the inductor L drives iO through D2
and D3 in the same direction, but output
voltage vO = -V.
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• Therefore the chopper operates in the
fourth quadrant.
• When CH2 and CH3 are triggered, the load
current iO flows in opposite direction & output
voltage vO = -V.
• Since both iO and vO are negative, the chopper
operates in third quadrant.
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• When both CH2 and CH3 are OFF, the load
current iO continues to flow in the same
direction D1 and D4 and the output voltage
vO = V.
• Therefore the chopper operates in second
quadrant as vO is positive but iO is negative.
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Effect Of Source &
Load Inductance

• The source inductance should be as small as

possible to limit the transient voltage.
• Also source inductance may cause
commutation problem for the chopper.
• Usually an input filter is used to overcome the
problem of source inductance.

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
• The load ripple current is inversely
proportional to load inductance and chopping
frequency.
• Peak load current depends on load inductance.
• To limit the load ripple current, a smoothing
inductor is connected in series with the load.

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT