Introduction

Chopper is a static device.

A variable dc voltage is obtained from a
constant dc voltage source.
DC Choppers
Also known as dc-to-dc converter.
Widely used for motor control.
Also used in regenerative braking.
Thyristor converter offers greater efficiency,
faster response, lower maintenance, smaller
size and smooth control.
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Principle Of
Choppers are of Two Types
Step-down Chopper
Chopper
Step-down choppers.
Step-up choppers. i0
+
In step down chopper output voltage is less
than input voltage.
V R V0
In step up chopper output voltage is more
than input voltage.

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 v0
V
A step-down chopper with resistive load.
Vdc
The thyristor in the circuit acts as a switch.
t
When thyristor is ON, supply voltage appears tON tOFF
across the load i0
When thyristor is OFF, the voltage across the
load will be zero. V/R
Idc
t
T

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

Vdc Average value of output or load voltage.

Average Output Voltage
I dc Average value of output or load current. tON
Vdc V
tON Time interval for which SCR conducts. tON tOFF
tOFF Time interval for which SCR is OFF.
tON
T tON tOFF Period of switching or chopping period. Vdc V V .d
1
T
f Freq. of chopper switching or chopping freq.
T tON
but d duty cycle
t
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Average Output Current But during tON , vo V
Vdc Therefore RMS output voltage
I dc
R tON
V tON V 1
I dc d VO V 2 dt
R T R T 0

RMS value of output voltage V2 tON

tON VO tON .V
VO
1
vo2 dt
T T
T 0 VO d .V
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Output power PO VO I O
Effective input resistance of chopper
VO
But IO V
R Ri
Output power I dc

VO2
R
PO Ri
R d
dV 2
The output voltage can be varied by
PO varying the duty cycle.
R
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Methods Of Control Pulse Width Modulation
The output dc voltage can be varied by the tON &
following methods.
Pulse width modulation control or constant Output voltage is varied by varying the ON
frequency operation. time tON
Variable frequency control.

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

V0
V Variable Frequency Control
tON tOFF
Chopping frequency is varied keeping either
t tON or tOFF constant.
T
V0 To obtain full output voltage range, frequency
has to be varied over a wide range.
V
This method produces harmonics in the output
and for large tOFF load current may become
discontinuous
t
tON tOFF
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 v0
V Step-down Chopper
With R-L Load
tON tOFF
t
T
v0

tON tOFF
t
T
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

When chopper is ON, supply is connected Load current can be continuous or

across load. discontinuous depending on the values of
Current flows from supply to load. and duty cycle
When chopper is OFF, load current continues For a continuous current operation, load current
to flow in the same direction through FWD due varies between two limits Imax and Imin
to energy stored in inductor . When current becomes equal to Imax the
chopper is turned-off and it is turned-on when
current reduces to Imin.

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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
v0 Output
voltage
V
tON tOFF Principle Of Step-up Chopper
t
T
i0 Output
current I L D
Imax
+
+
Continuous
Imin current L
t C O VO
i0 Output V A
current D
Chopper
Discontinuous
current
t
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Step-up chopper is used to obtain a load

voltage higher than the input voltage V. When the chopper is off, the inductor current I
The values of L and C are chosen depending is forced to flow through the diode D and load
upon the requirement of output voltage and for a period, tOFF.
current. The current tends to decrease resulting in
When the chopper is ON, the inductor L is reversing the polarity of induced EMF in L.
connected across the supply. Therefore voltage across load is given by
The inductor current rises and the inductor
stores energy during the ON time of the dI
VO V L i.e., VO V
chopper, tON. dt
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Expression For Output Voltage
load, will provide a continuous output voltage. Assume the average inductor current to be
Diode D prevents any current flow from I during ON and OFF time of Chopper.
capacitor to the source.
When Chopper is ON
Step up choppers are used for regenerative
braking of dc motors. Voltage across inductor L V
Therefore energy stored in inductor
= V .I .tON
Where tON ON period of chopper.
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

When Chopper is OFF VItON VO V ItOFF

(energy is supplied by inductor to load) V tON tOFF
VO
Voltage across L VO V tOFF
Energy supplied by inductor L VO V ItOFF T
VO V
where tOFF OFF period of Chopper. T tON
Neglecting losses, energy stored in inductor Where
L = energy supplied by inductor L T = Chopping period or period
of switching.
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 T tON tOFF

1
VO V For variation of duty cycle ' d ' in the
t
1 ON
T range of 0 d 1 the output voltage VO
1 will vary in the range V VO
VO V
1 d
tON
Where d duty cyle
T
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Problem
V 460 V, Vdc = 350 V, f = 2 kHz
A Chopper circuit is operating on TRC at a 1
frequency of 2 kHz on a 460 V supply. If the Chopping period T
f
load voltage is 350 volts, calculate the
conduction period of the thyristor in each 1
T 0.5 m sec
cycle. 2 10 3
tON
Output voltage Vdc V
T
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Problem
Conduction period of thyristor
Input to the step up chopper is 200 V. The
T Vdc output required is 600 V. If the conducting time
tON of thyristor is 200 sec. Compute
V
Chopping frequency,
0.5 10 3 350 If the pulse width is halved for constant
tON
460 frequency of operation, find the new output
voltage.
tON 0.38 msec
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Chopping frequency
V 200 V , tON 200 s, Vdc 600V
1
T f
Vdc V T
T tON 1
f 3.33KHz
T 300 10 6
600 200 6
T 200 10 Pulse width is halved
Solving for T 200 10 6
tON 100 s
T 300 s 2
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Frequency is constant
f 3.33KHz
Problem
1
T 300 s A dc chopper has a resistive load of 20 and
f
input voltage VS = 220V. When chopper is ON,
T its voltage drop is 1.5 volts and chopping
Output voltage = V
T tON frequency is 10 kHz. If the duty cycle is 80%,
determine the average output voltage and the
300 10 6
200 6
300 Volts chopper on time.
300 100 10
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Chopper ON time, tON dT

VS 220V , R 20 , f 10 kHz
1
t Chopping period, T
d ON 0.80 f
T 1
Vch = Voltage drop across chopper = 1.5 volts T 0.1 10 3 secs 100
10 103
Average output voltage Chopper ON time,
tON tON dT
Vdc VS Vch
T tON 0.80 0.1 10 3

Vdc 0.80 220 1.5 174.8 Volts tON 0.08 10 3

80
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
Problem I dc 30 Amps, f 250 Hz, V 110 V , R 2
1 1 3
Chopping period, T 4 10 4 msecs
In a dc chopper, the average load current is f 250
30 Amps, chopping frequency is 250 Hz, supply Vdc
voltage is 110 volts. Calculate the ON and I dc & Vdc dV
R
OFF periods of the chopper if the load
dV
resistance is 2 ohms. I dc
R
I dc R 30 2
d 0.545
V 110
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

A dc chopper in figure has a resistive load of

R = 10 and input voltage of V = 200 V.
Chopper ON period,
When chopper is ON, its voltage drop is 2 V
3
tON dT 0.545 4 10 2.18 msecs and the chopping frequency is 1 kHz. If the
Chopper OFF period, duty cycle is 60%, determine
tOFF T tON Average output voltage
3 3 RMS value of output voltage
tOFF 4 10 2.18 10
Effective input resistance of chopper
3
tOFF 1.82 10 1.82 msec Chopper efficiency.
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Chopper
i0
+ Average output voltage
Vdc d V Vch
V R v0
Vdc 0.60 200 2 118.8 Volts
RMS value of output voltage
VO d V Vch
V 200 V , R 10 , Chopper voltage drop Vch 2V
d 0.60, f 1 kHz. VO 0.6 200 2 153.37 Volts
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

Effective input resistance of chopper is d V Vch

2

V V PO
Ri R
I S I dc 2
0.6 200 2
Vdc 118.8 PO 2352.24 watts
I dc 11.88 Amps 10
R 10
Input power,
V V 200
Ri 16.83 1
dT
I S I dc 11.88 Pi ViO dt
T
Output power is 0
dT
dT 2 dT 2 1 V V Vch
1 v
0 1 V Vch PO dt
PO dt dt T R
T 0
R T 0
R 0
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 dV V Vch
PO
R Classification Of Choppers
0.6 200 200 2
PO 2376 watts Choppers are classified as
10 Class A Chopper
Chopper efficiency, Class B Chopper
PO Class C Chopper
100 Class D Chopper
Pi
Class E Chopper
2352.24
100 99%
2376
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

When chopper is ON, supply voltage V is

connected across the load.
Class A Chopper When chopper is OFF, vO = 0 and the load
current continues to flow in the same direction
i0
+
v0 through the FWD.
The average values of output voltage and
Chopper
L current are always positive.
O v0 V
V A Class A Chopper is a first quadrant chopper.
FWD D
Class A Chopper is a step-down chopper in
i0 which power always flows form source to load.
It is used to control the speed of dc motor.

Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
ig
Class B Chopper
Thyristor
gate pulse D
i0 v0
+
t R
i0
Output current
V L v0

CH ON Chopper
t E i0
v0 FWD Conducts
Output voltage
Class B Chopper is a step-up chopper
Class B Chopper is used for regenerative
t
tON braking of dc motor
T
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT

When chopper is ON, E drives a current through ig

Thyristor
L and R in a direction opposite to that shown in gate pulse
figure. t
During the ON period of the chopper, the i0 tOFF tON
inductance L stores energy. T
t
When Chopper is OFF, diode D conducts, and
Output current
part of the energy stored in inductor L is returned Imax
to the supply. Imin
D
Average output voltage is positive. conducts Chopper
conducts
Average output current is negative. v0 Output voltage

Therefore Class B Chopper operates in second

quadrant. t
In this chopper, power flows from load to source.
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Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Class C Chopper is a combination of Class A
Class C Chopper and Class B Choppers.
For first quadrant operation, CH1 is ON or D2
conducts.
CH1 D1 For second quadrant operation, CH2 is ON or
i0 v0 D1 conducts.
+
When CH1 is ON, the load current is positive.
V R
The output voltage is equal to & the load
CH2 D2 L v0 receives power from the source.
Chopper When CH1 is turned OFF, energy stored in
i0
E 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. Average output voltage is positive.

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

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

t
ig2 Gate pulse
of CH2
Class D Chopper
t v0
i0
Output current CH1 D2
t
R i0 L E
D1 CH1 D2 CH2 D1 CH1 D2 CH2
V
+ v0 i0
ON ON ON ON
V0
Output voltage D1 CH2

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

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

t t
ig2 Gate pulse ig2 Gate pulse
of CH2 of CH2
t t
i0 i0
Output current Output current

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

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

Four Quadrant Operation

Class E Chopper v0
CH2 - D4 Conducts CH1 - CH4 ON
CH1 CH3 D1 - D4 Conducts CH4 - D2 Conducts
D1 D3

i0 R L E
V i0
+
v0
CH2 CH4
D2 D4 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 Prof. T.K. Anantha Kumar, E&E Dept., MSRIT
 Therefore the chopper operates in the
Class E is a four quadrant chopper
fourth quadrant.
When CH1 and CH4 are triggered, output
current iO flows in positive direction through When CH2 and CH3 are triggered, the load
CH1 and CH4, and with output voltage vO = V. current iO flows in opposite direction & output
voltage vO = -V.
This gives the first quadrant operation.
Since both iO and vO are negative, the chopper
When both CH1 and CH4 are OFF, the energy
operates in third quadrant.
stored in the inductor L drives iO through D2
and D3 in the same direction, but output
voltage vO = -V.

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

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