Thyristors

Industrial Electronics
What is a thyristor?
O The basic thyristor is a _____1_____ device with ____2____
terminals, the anode and the cathode.
O It is constructed of four semiconductor layers that form a
___3____ structure. The device acts as a ____4____ and
remains _____5____ until the forward voltage reaches a
certain value; then it turns ___6____ and conducts.
Conduction continues until the current is _____7_____ a
specified value.
O This basic thyristor is also known as a silicon unilateral
switch (SUS), Shockley diode, or 4-layer diode.
 What is a thyristor?
O The basic thyristor is a 4-layer device with two terminals, the
anode and the cathode.
O It is constructed of four semiconductor layers that form a pnpn
structure. The device acts as a switch and remains off until the
forward voltage reaches a certain value; then it turns on and
conducts. Conduction continues until the current is reduced
below a specified value.
O This basic thyristor is also known as a silicon unilateral switch
(SUS), Shockley diode, or 4-layer diode.
4-layer diode
Forward break over voltage- The voltage at which a
device enters the forward-blocking region.

Holding current-The value of the anode current

below which a device switches from the forward-
conduction region to the forward-blocking region.

Switching current-The value of the anode current at

the point where the device switches from the
forward-blocking region (off) to the forward-
conduction region (on)
Application:
Relaxation Oscillator
 Silicon-
controlled
rectifier
(SCR)
Silicon-controlled rectifier
(SCR)
O 195_ -Bell Telephone Laboratories
O Application of SCR
O relay controls, time-delay circuits, regulated
power suppliers, static switches, motor
controls, choppers, inverters,
cycloconverters, battery chargers, protective
circuits, heater controls, and phase controls.
Silicon-controlled rectifier
(SCR)
O Within the family of pnpn devices, the silicon-
controlled rectifier (SCR) is unquestionably of
the greatest interest today. It was first
introduced in 1956 by Bell Telephone
Laboratories.
O A few of the more common areas of application
for SCRs include relay controls, time-delay
circuits, regulated power suppliers, static
switches, motor controls, choppers, inverters,
cycloconverters, battery chargers, protective
circuits, heater controls, and phase controls.
Silicon-controlled rectifier
(SCR)
3 Modes of SCR
1.Forward Blocking Mode
2.Forward Conduction Mode
3.Reverse blocking Mode
Turning the SCR On
 Turning the SCR Off
O When the __1__ returns to 0 V after
the trigger pulse is removed, the SCR
___2___; it __3__ in the forward-
conduction region. The anode current
must ____4___the value of the
holding current in order for turn-off to
occur.
 Turning the SCR Off
O There are two basic methods
for turning off an SCR:
O anode current interruption and
O forced commutation.
The forced commutation method basically requires momentarily forcing
current through the SCR in the direction opposite to the forward conduction
so that the net forward current is reduced below the holding value.
 Definitions
Forward-Breakover Voltage –
Holding Current-
Gate Trigger Current-
Average Forward Current
Forward-Conduction Region
Forward-blocking and Reverse-
Blocking Regions
Revers-Breakdown Voltage
 Summary:
1. SCR behaves like a ____
2. There are 2 ways to turn on an
SCR
3. There are also 2 methods to
turn off and SCR
APPLICATIONS
of SCR
 Half Wave Rectifier
One important application of an SCR is the controlled half-
wave rectification.. The ___1__ supply to be rectified is
supplied through the __2__ The load resistance RL is
connected in __3___ with the anode. A variable resistance r is
inserted in the gate circuit to ___4___ the gate current.
Half Wave Rectifier
 Half Wave Rectifier
1. During the __1__ half-cycles of a.c. voltage appearing
across secondary, the SCR does ___2__ regardless of
the gate voltage. It is because in this condition, anode is
negative w.r.t. cathode and also PRV is less than the
___3__.
2. The SCR will conduct during the ___4___ half-cycles
provided proper gate current is made to flow. The __5__
the gate current, the __6__ the supply voltage at which
SCR is turned ON. The gate current can be changed by
the variable resistance r as shown in
 Half Wave Rectifier
3 The SCR will start conducting when the secondary a.c.
voltage becomes _1_ in the positive half-cycle. Beyond
this, the SCR will continue to conduct till voltage
becomes __2__ at which point it is turned OFF. Again at
the start of the next positive half-cycle, SCR will start
conducting when secondary voltage becomes V1.

4. It is worthwhile to distinguish between an ordinary half-

wave rectifier and SCR half-wave rectifier.
An ordinary half-wave rectifier will ___3__ full positive half-
cycle, an SCR half-wave rectifier can be made to conduct full
or _4__ of a positive half-cycle by proper __5__ of gate
current. Therefore, an SCR can __6__ power fed to the load
and hence the name __7__.
 Half Wave Rectifier
Ex.
1. A half-wave rectifier circuit employing an SCR is
adjusted to have a gate current of 1mA. The forward
breakdown voltage of SCR is 100 V for Ig = 1mA. If a
sinusoidal voltage of 200 V peak is applied, find :
(i) firing angle
(ii) conduction angle
(iii) average current.

Assume load resistance = 100Ω and the holding current

to be zero.
 Half Wave Rectifier
Ex. 2. An SCR half-wave rectifier has a forward breakdown
voltage of 150 V when a gate current of 1 mA flows in the
gate circuit. If a sinusoidal voltage of 400 V peak is applied,
find:

(i) firing angle

(ii) average output voltage
(iii) average current for a load resistance of 200Ω
(iv) power output

Assume that the gate current is 1mA throughout and the

forward breakdown voltage is more
than 400 V when Ig = 1 mA.
 Full Wave Rectifier
The circuit of a SCR full-wave rectifier is exactly like an ordinary __1__
circuit except that the two diodes have been replaced by __2__ . The gates
of both SCRs get their supply from __3__ . One SCR conducts during the
__4__ half-cycle and the other during the __5__half-cycle. Consequently,
full-wave rectified output is obtained across the load.
Full Wave Rectifier
 Full Wave Rectifier
Ex. 1 An SCR full-wave rectifier supplies to a load
of 100 Ω. If the peak a.c. voltage between
centre tap and one end of secondary is 200V,
find
(i) d.c. output voltage and
(ii) load current for a firing angle of 60°.
 Full Wave Rectifier
2. Power (brightness) of a 100 W, 110 V lamp is to be
varied by controlling firing angle of SCR full-wave circuit;
the r.m.s. value of a.c. voltage appearing across each
SCR being 110 V. Find the r.m.s. voltage and current in
the lamp at firing angle of 60°.
ON-OFF control circuit
 Phase-control circuit

A common application of SCRs is in the control of ac power for lamp

dimmers, electric heaters, and electric motors.
By adjusting R 2 . the SCR can be made to trigger at any point on the
positive half-cycle oft he ac waveform between 0° and 90°, as shown in
Figure 11-16.
Lighting System for Power Interruptions
 Silicon Controlled Rectifier
1. An SCR has a breakover voltage of 400 V, a
trigger current of 10 mA and holding current of
10 mA. What do you infer from it ? What will
happen if gate current is made 15 mA ?
 Silicon Controlled Rectifier
2. An SCR in a circuit is subjected to a 50 A
surge that lasts for 12 ms. Determine whether
or not this surge will destroy the device. Given
that circuit fusing rating is 90 A2s.
 Silicon Controlled Rectifier
3. An SCR has a circuit fusing rating of 50 A2s.
The device is being used in a circuit where it
could be subjected to a 100 A surge. Determine
the maximum allowable duration of such a
surge.
 Silicon Controlled Rectifier
5. The SCR has a gate trigger voltage of V T = 0.7V,
gate trigger current IT = 7 mA and holding current IH
= 6 mA.
(i) What is the input voltage that triggers the SCR ?
(ii) If VCC is decreased until the SCR opens, what is
the value of VCC ?
 Silicon Controlled Rectifier
6. The SCR has a trigger voltage of 0.7 V. Calculate
the supply voltage that turns on the crowbar. Ignore
zener diode resistance.