POWER ELECTRONICS QUESTION BANK

**Bolded questions are repeated in Anna University exams

PART A

Unit 1

What is a snubber circuit? [or] how is di/dt and dv/dt protection provided in
SCR.
CO1 The function of a snubber circuit is to reduce the electrical stress during switching K1
by a power electronic converter.
● Limiting voltages applied to devices during turn off transients.
● Limiting device currents during turn on transients.
● Limiting the rate of rise (di/dt) of currents at turn on
● Limiting the rate of rise (dv/dt) of voltages across devices at turn off

di/dt protection:
The di/dt is limited by adding a series inductor Ls,

dv/dt protection:
The dv/dt can be limited by connecting capacitor C s, as shown in Figure When
thyristor T1 is turned on, the discharge current of capacitor is limited by resistor Rs,

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CO1 Define the threshold gate voltage of power MOSFET
The threshold voltage of a power MOSFET is the minimum voltage between the
gate and source that is needed to turn on the MOSFET. K1

CO1 Differentiate holding current from latching current

Latching current (IL)is the minimum anode current required to maintain the thyristor
in the on-state immediately after a thyristor has been turned on and the gate signal K2
has been removed.
Holding current (IH) is the minimum anode current to maintain the thyristor in the
on-state. The holding current is less than the latching current.

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CO1 What do you mean by second breakdown in power BJT?
A breakdown voltage is defined as the absolute maximum voltage between two
terminals with the third terminal open, shorted, or biased in either forward or K1
reverse direction.
At breakdown the voltage remains constant, where the current rises rapidly.
Lateral current flow in the base leas to emitter current crowding. If the emitter
current crowding is excessive, second breakdown and device destruction
will occur.
Second breakdown can be avoided by
● Keeping the total power dissipation under control
● Avoid any current density non-uniformities during turn -on and turn -off.

CO1 Mention the different methods to turn on the SCR

A thyristor is turned on by increasing the anode current.
This can be accomplished in one of the following ways. K2
● Light
● Thermal
● Gate current
● High voltage
● dv/dt

CO1 What is meant by commutation of a SCR? And list its type

Commutation is defined as the process of turning off a thyristor.
● Class A commutation - Load commutation K1
● Class B commutation - Resonant pulse commutation
● Class C commutation - Complementary commutation
● Class D commutation - Impulse commutation
● Class E commutation - External pulse commutation
● Class F commutation - Line commutation

CO! Mention the advantage of RC triggering over R triggering

The limited range of firing angle control by resistance firing circuit can be overcome
by RC triggering circuit. K2

CO1 Infer the advantages of GTO over SCR?

● GTO has faster switching speed.
● Compact size K2
● GTO has reduced electromagnetic noise due to elimination of commutation
circuits.

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CO1 Summarize the basic features of IGBT

K2

CO1 Mention the advantages of IGBT

● High impedance gate which require only a small amount of energy to switch
the device. K2
● Lower switching losses and smaller snubber circuit
● More efficient with less size compared to converter based BJT

CO1 Why TRIAC is not popular as compared to SCR? Justify

K5

Unit 2

CO2 Classify different types of controlled rectifier.

● Single-phase full and dual converters
● Three-phase full and dual converters K2
● Single-phase series full-converters
● Twelve-pulse converters
● Pulse-width-modulated (PWM) control converters.

CO2 Define pulse number

The pulse-number is, directly related to the repetition period of the D.C. voltage
waveform during one cycle of the A.C.-supply waveform K1

CO2 Mention the output ripple frequency of 2 pulse, 3 pulse and 6 pulse converters

K2

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CO2 Relate the α, 𝜷 and ɣ in single phase fully controlled rectifier when operating
with RL load
K4

CO2 What is the basic function of an excitation system

K1

CO2 What is the function of freewheeling diode and state its advantages
If the load is inductive, an antiparallel diode known as the freewheeling diode must
be connected across the load to provide a path for the inductive current to flow. K1
Otherwise, energy may be trapped into an inductive load.
 Prevents the output voltage becoming negative.
 Input factor is improved.
 Load current waveform is improved.

CO2 Compare freewheeling diode with feedback diode

K2

CO2 Distinguish between symmetric and asymmetric semi converter configuration.

K4

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CO2 List out the difference between full and semi converter.

K1

CO2 Discover the cause of circulating current in dual converter.

K4

CO2 Why is the power factor of semi converter better than that of full converters?
Justify
Due to the freewheeling action with half-controlled bridge-circuit, power factor is K5
improved in half-controlled-converters

Unit 3

● 𝛂=Ton/T where T=Ton + Toff

CO3 Define duty cycle in DC chopper.

● The duty cycle 𝛂 can be varied from 0 to 1 by varying Ton, T, or f. K1

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CO3 A step-up chopper is operated with a duty ratio of 0.6 for a dc input of 100V.

Vo=Vs/(1-𝛂)
Determine the output voltage for a load resistance RL=5Ω.
K3
=100/(1-0.6) =100/0.4=250V

CO3 What is a time ratio control (OR) Name the two type of control strategies
available for DC choppers? (OR) what is meant by current limit control of a
chopper? K1
Control Strategies:
● Time Ratio Control
● Current Limit Control
Time Ratio Control:
1. Constant-frequency operation: The converter, or switching, frequency f (or
chopping period T) is kept constant and the on-time T on is varied. The width of the
pulse is varied and this type of control is known as pulse-width-modulation (PWM)
control.

2. Variable-frequency operation: The chopping, or switching, frequency f is

varied. Either on-time TON or off-time TOFF is kept constant. This is called frequency
modulation. The frequency has to be varied over a wide range to obtain the full
output voltage range. This type of control would generate harmonics at
unpredictable frequencies and the filter design would be difficult.

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 Current Limit control:
In current limit control strategy, the chopper is switched ON and OFF so that the
current in the load is maintained between two limits.

CO3 Classify chopper depending upon the direction of current and voltage.
1. First quadrant converter
2. Second quadrant converter K2
3. First and second quadrant converter
4. Third and fourth quadrant converter
5. Four-quadrant converter

CO3 List the uses of class B chopper

 regenerative braking
 subway-train. K1

CO3 What is a resonant converter?

The converter circuits which employ zero -voltage and/or zero-current switching are
called resonant converters. K1

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CO3 Tabulate the advantages and disadvantages of a resonant pulse chopper?

K1

CO3 Outline the disadvantage of frequency modulated chopper?

● The large off time in frequency modulation may make the load current

● For the control of 𝛂, frequency variation would be wide, there is a possibility

discontinuous which is undesirable. K2

of interference with signaling.

Unit 4

CO4 Outline the purpose of feedback diode in inverters.

K2

CO4 State the necessity of return diodes in inverter

K1

CO4 Define modulation index

K1

CO4 What are harmonics

K1

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CO4 Show why the THD has to be mitigated?

K1

CO4 What is meant by space vector modulation?

Its an advanced control technique can maintain a near sinusoidal input current from
the ac source at unity PF and supply a near sinusoidal output voltage or current to K1
the load

CO4 Differentiate CSI over VSI

K2

CO4 Relate the use of resonant switching in power electronic circuits

K2

CO4 Summarize the applications of CSI?

K2

CO4 A single-phase half bridge inverter feeds resistive loads of 5Ω when supply voltage
of 120V, determine the RMS value of the fundamental component of output
voltage. K3

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 Unit 5

CO5 Show why is half wave AC voltage regulator not used?

It is also called single phase unidirectional voltage controller.
Waveform reveals that positive half cycle not identical with negative half cycles for K2
both voltage and current waveforms. As a result, DC component is introduced in
the supply and load circuits which is undesirable.

CO5 Explain the term sequential control of AC voltage regulators.

Sequence control of AC regulators means the use of two or more stages of voltage
controllers in parallel for the regulation of output voltage. The term sequence K2
control means that the stages of voltage controllers in parallel are triggered in a
proper sequence one after the other so as to obtain a variable output with low
harmonic content.
Sequence controlled ac regulators can be used as voltage regulators in supply
systems and for the speed control of induction motors. Such type of controllers is
also known as synchronous tap changers or transformer tap changers.

CO5 Mention the different control techniques for AC regulator?

● Unidirectional or half wave control
● Bidirectional or full wave control K2

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CO5 Enumerate the applications of AC voltage controller.
● Domestic and industrial heating
● Lighting control K1
● Speed control of single phase and three phase AC drives.

CO5 Mention the merits and demerits of AC voltage controller.

Merits:
● AC voltage controller are line commutated no complex commutation circuit K2
is required.
● High efficiency
● Compact size
● Flexibility in control
● Fast response.
Demerits:
● Presence of harmonics in the supply current and load voltage waveforms,
particularly at lower output voltage levels.

CO5 What is ON/OFF control in AC voltage controllers?

In on–off control, thyristor switches connect the load to the ac source for a few
cycles of input voltage and then disconnect it for another few cycles. Also known as K1
Integral cycle control

CO5 Differentiate ON/OFF control and phase control in AC-AC converter

In on–off control, thyristor switches connect the load to the ac source for a few
cycles of input voltage and then disconnect it for another few cycles. Also known as K2
Integral cycle control. The on–off control is used only in limited applications.
In phase control, thyristor switches connect the load to the ac source for a portion
of each cycle of input voltage.

CO5 What is bidirectional switch?

Converters with bidirectional switches, which allow the control of power flow in
either direction, require synthesizing the switching functions to obtain the desired K1
output waveforms.

CO5 State the advantage and disadvantage of ON-OFF control?

 Better input power factor and
 Less Switching devices K1
Disadvantages:
 Limited output voltage control

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CO5 A three phase six-pulse, 50 kVA, 415V cycloconverter is operating at a firing angle
of 450 and supplying load of 0.8 power factor. Determine input current to the
converters K3

CO5 What is cycloconverter

A cycloconverter is a direct-frequency changer that converts ac power at one
frequency to ac power at another frequency by ac–ac conversion, without an K1
intermediate conversion link.

CO5 List the applications of cycloconverter.

● Speed control of high-power ac drives.
● Induction heating K1
● Static VAr Compensation
● For converting variable speed alternative voltage to constant frequency
output voltage for use as power supply in aircrafts or shipboards.

CO5 Outline the demerits of cycloconverter

The output voltage waveshape contains harmonic distortion components in addition
to the required sinusoidal component. These distortions can be minimized by K2
adequate filters at the output. The distortion of the output voltage increases if the
ratio of the output and input frequency increases.

CO5 What is matrix converter

The matrix converter uses bidirectional fully controlled switches for direct
conversion from ac to ac. It is a single-stage converter that requires only nine K1
switches for three-phase to three-phase conversion

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CO5 Mention the advantages of matrix converter over conventional converter
The matrix converter has the advantages of
● inherent bidirectional power flow, K2
● sinusoidal input–output waveforms with moderate switching frequency,
● possibility of compact design due to absence of dc-link reactive
components, and
● controllable input PF independent of the output load current

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