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Chapter 17

 The SCR is a switching device for high-

voltage and high-current operations.
 Like an ordinary diode, an SCR conducts in
one direction

ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 2

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In these applications, the SCR gate circuit is used to monitor a situation

and trigger the SCR to turn on some portion of the circuit:

Battery-charging regulator
Temperature controller circuit
Emergency-lighting system

Higher power versions used in controlling high-voltage where timing is

critical:
X-ray beam timing controllers
High power frequency generation

ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 3

 Three terminals
◦ Anode (Positive)
◦ Cathode (Negative)
◦ Gate (Control)
 PNPN Junction

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To switch an SCR on:

• Forward bias the anode-
cathode terminals (VF),
and
• Apply sufficient gate
voltage (Vgate) and gate
current (IGT) Holding current (IH): The minimum
required current from anode to
Once an SCR is switched on, it cathode
remains latched on, even when Reverse breakdown voltage: The
the gate signal is removed.
maximum reverse bias voltage for the
SCR

ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 5

To switch an SCR off:

• Remove the power source
the anode and cathode
terminals
OR
• Reverse bias the anode
and cathode terminals
Commutation circuitry can be
An SCR cannot be switched off by used for satisfying either of the
simply removing the gate voltage. conditions for switching off an
SCR.

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 Three terminals
 Much larger than transistors
 High power versions may bolt in

ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 7

 Used to output voltage

◦ Allow conduction when energized
◦ Used to control circuit on-time
 Two main approaches
◦ Self commutation
◦ Forced commutation

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 Command to gate of SCR is dropped when

time is reached
◦ No conduction past the next 0V crossing

ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 9

 Make contactor energized

 Capacitor charged
 Break contactor off

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 Make contactor gate signal

dropped
 Break contactor fired
◦ Capacitor discharges through
Break contactor
◦ Raises potential on output of Make
contactor
 Conduction through Make contactor
stops

ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 11

The gate can be set to trigger an SCR at any point in the AC cycle.

In this example, the SCR

triggers as soon as the
AC input crosses 0 V.
Therefore it acts like a
half-wave rectifier.

In this example, the SCR

triggers later – at the 90
point on the positive half-
cycle.

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 Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor

◦ Replacing older SCR, operate like normal transistors
◦ High frequency, high power applications
 Ex- 50 kW Generator, (560 V, 89 A)
◦ Part time conduction
 Negative bias applied to G
 Conducts till bias removed, shuts off immediately

IGBT
ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 13

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 Check DC supply
 Gate driver
 SCRs
◦ May need be checked under pressure
◦ Checked similar to diodes
 IGBTs
◦ Checked similar to JFETs

ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 15

The Shockley diode conducts once

the breakover voltage is reached. It
only conducts in one direction.

The Shockley diode must be

forward biased. Once the forward
voltage reaches the breakover
level, it will conduct. Like an SCR,
it only conducts in one direction.

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The Diac is a breakover type

device.

Once the breakover voltage is

reached the Diac conducts. The
Diac, however, can conduct in
both directions. The positive and
negative breakover voltages are
very nearly symmetrical.

Applications:
• Trigger circuit for the Triac
• Proximity sensor circuit

ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 17

A triac is like a diac with a gate terminal.

When fired by the gate or by exceeding the

breakover voltage, a triac conducts in both
directions.

Application:
AC power control circuits

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Fig 17.32
ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 19

 Exclusively used as a switch

◦ No amplification
 Two base terminals (B1 and
B2) and an emitter terminal
(E).
 The emitter terminal is
angled

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 Interbase resistance (RBB)

◦ total resistance between
the two base terminals
when IE = 0 A.

 Intrinsic standoff ratio

◦ (η) ratio of RB1 to RBB when
IE = 0 A.
◦ Based on Al rod placement
in component construction

ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 21

 Conduction occurs when

VE is one diode voltage
drop above ηVBB

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After a UJT fires,

emitter voltage
decreases as emitter
current increases.
The negative
resistance region of
operation is defined by
the peak point (VP) and
the valley point (VV).

ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 23

The UJT is commonly used as a triggering device for another

breakover device, like an SCR.

The SCR shown is

triggered when the UJT
emitter circuit conducts.

As the capacitor charges, VE

increases. When it reaches
VP, the UJT fires. The voltage
developed across R2 triggers
the SCR.

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The VE and VR2

waveforms for the SCR
triggering circuit (below)
are shown.

ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 25

The phototransistor is a light-

controlled transistor. The current
through the collector and emitter
circuits is controlled by the light
input at the base.
The collector current is the product
of the transistor current gain (hfe)
and the light induced base current
(Iλ).

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 Used to transmit electrical signals using light

◦ Isolate high voltage from lower voltage
◦ Isolate high noise from sensitive components
Photodiode

Photo- Photo-SCR
Darlington
ECET 257 Consumer Power Electronics, PNC 27

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