UNIT IV

FIRING AND PROTECTING CIRCUITS

Todays Topics
Over Voltage Protection Under Voltage Protection
Why are these types of protection needed? Circuit Analysis Simulations in Simplorer Advantages and Disadvantages

Dangers of Over Voltage

Overheating Increase Thermal Stress on Components MTBF will decrease Waste of energy Safety Hazards increase risk of fire and electric shock

Example of Over Voltage Protection in Industry

The following circuit is from Maxim. This is a over voltage protection circuit in automotive systems. Input Voltage 16V maximum Output Voltage 5 V How does this work?

Desired Characteristics of a Good Over Voltage Protection Circuit

Fast Response Able to handle large input voltages, from voltage spikes and surges. Doesnt intrude with the normal operation of the circuit Doesnt overheat

Snubbers circuit

Non linear surge suppressor

Limit the voltage surges Types: varistors selenium surge suppressor VARISTORS(voltage dependent resistors, metal oxide varistors) Made from thyrite or metrosil material It provides current variation in proportion to the fourth or fifth power of the voltage Surge voltage cannot be limited adequately without excessive dissipation under normal conditions

Varistors
MOV provides thirteenth or higher power law and can be used effectively within their limitation of size It consist of pair of metal contact plates separated by a thin layer of small zinc oxide granules bonded in an amorphous mixture of other oxides The boundaries of granules have pn junction characteristics Varistors available with ac operating voltages from 6 to 2800V.

Selenium surge suppressors

Metal to selenium jn has low forward break over voltage but well defined reverse break over voltage. polarized: All the plates arranged in same direction and hence handles over voltage in one direction only. It is suitable for D.C circuits Non polarized:plates arranged in both directions and handle overvoltages in both directions . Used for A.C circuits

3.Avalanche diode
Semiconductor device which can operate in reverse breakdown region with a high reverse current with out damage. During transients bypass the current to the ground. Capability of significant absorbing energy during avalanche breakdown condition. Limitations are reverse breakdown voltage, peak power loss and steady state power loss.

Nonlinear devices with capacitive circuit

Nonlinear devices have advantages compare to capacitive circuits , they are free from certain inconvenient tendencies associated with stored energy in reactive suppression circuits. The event of square of unexpectedly high magnitude they will normally fail to a short circuit rather than permit a damaging voltage to be applied to more expensive equipment which they are connected

A common Over Voltage Protection Circuit is the SCR crowbar

.001

1k

R3

R5
.001

VM1
+
V

E1

S2
1k

R4
1000k

+
V

R1
1u

RLoad
+

VMLoad

R2

10k

C1 VM4

S3

How does the SCR crowbar circuit work?

.001 1k

R3

R5
.001

VM1
+
V

E1

S2
1k

R4
1000k

+
V

R1
1u

RLoad
+

VMLoad

R2

10k

C1 VM4

S3

To prevent the output from going over 5 volts the circuit is designed to short the output to ground if R load goes over 5 volts E1 and R6 are the Thevenine equivalent for the DC power supply. R1 and C2 introduce a time delay in the circuit. S2 is zener diode that closes if E1 goes over a certain value S3 is the SCR that closes if the C1 voltage goes over a certain value.

Results
10 8 C1.V [V] VM1.V [V] 6 4

-1 0 5m 10m 15m 20m 25m 30m 35m 40m 45m 50m t [s]

10

VMLoad.V [V] VM1.V [V]

0 -1 0 5m 10m 15m 20m 25m 30m 35m 40m 45m 50m t [s]

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages
Easy to create The value of C1 can be adjusted to accommodate a wide range of time delays and let thru voltages.

Disadvantages
Premature shutdown of circuit might occur is the C1 value is too low. The SCR require a manual reset if it goes off.

A more precise SCR circuit using a voltage comparator.

.001

1k

R6
1k

R1 OPV51

+
V

R2
+ -

10k

+
V
1k

VM1

E2
1k 2.5

VM2 R5

R4
1u

R3

E1 C1

S2

What does this circuit do?

.001 1k

R6
1k

R1 OPV51

+
V

R2
+ -

10k

+
V
1k

VM1

E2
1k 2.5

VM2 R5

R4
1u

R3

E1 C1

S2

This circuit also prevents the output from receiving more then 5 volts. This is done by shorting the output to ground if it goes over 5 volts. However this circuit has a much faster response time then the SCR crowbar circuit.

How does the SCR voltage comparator works?

. 001 1k

R6
1k

R1 OPV51

+
V

R2
+ -

10k

+
V
1k

VM1

E2
1k 2.5

VM2 R5

R4
1u

R3

E1 C1

S2

E2 and R6 are the Thevenin equivalent of the DC power supply. R2, R3 form a voltage divider. E1 is the reference voltage. R4, C1 introduce a time delay. S2 closes if the voltage across C1 gets too high.

Results
12 10 7.5 5 2.5 0 -2.5 -5 -7.5 -10 0 2m 4m 6m 8m 10m 12m 14m 16m 18m 20m t [s] C1.V [V] VM 1.V [V]

5 4

VM 2.V [V]

-0.5 0 2m 4m 6m 8m 10m 12m 14m 16m 18m 20m t [s]

Second type of over voltage protection

R1
+
V

+
V

VM1

E1 D_Z_ST_2_4V1

VM2

This is a voltage clamping circuit. The zener diode automatically limits the voltages across the load.

Simulation results of Voltage limiting circuit.

6 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 0 5m 10m 15m 20m 25m 30m 35m 40m t [s] VM1.V [V]

2.5 2

VM2.V [V]

1.5

0.5

-0.25 0 5m 10m 15m 20m 25m 30m 35m 40m t [s]

Advantages and Disadvantages to voltage limiting circuits.

Advantages
Simple easy to use. Cost effective

Disadvantages
Zener diode characteristic depend on temperature You have find a Zener diode with exactly the breakdown voltage you want.

OVER CURRENT FAULT CONDITIONS

Output short circuit Internal faults in a Thyristor circuits Inversion failure in natural commutated circuits Commutation failure in force commutated circuits Short circuit between one of the phases of mains and the bridge.

Over Current Protection

In an SCR due to over-current, the junction temperature exceeds the rated value and the device gets damaged. Over-current is interrupted by conventional fuses and circuit breakers. The fault current must be interrupted before the SCR gets damaged and only the faulty branches of the network should be isolated. Circuit breaker has long tripping time. So it is used for protecting SCR against continuous over loads (or) against surge currents of long duration. Fast acting current limiting fuse is used to protect SCR against large surge currents of very short duration.

Electronic Crowbar Protection

Electronic Crowbar Protection

SCR has high surge current ability. SCR is used in electronic crowbar circuit for overcurrent protection of power converter. In this protection, an additional SCR is connected across the supply which is known as 'Crowbar SCR'. Current sensing resistor detects the value of converter current. If it exceeds preset value, then gate trigger circuits turn ON the crowbar SCR. So the input terminals are short-circuit by SCR and thus it bypass the converter over current. After some time the main fuse interrupts the fault current.

Over current protection

A semiconductor device is capable of taking overloads for a limited period, so the fuse used should have high breaking capacity and rapid interruption of current. There must be a similarity of SCR and fuse I2t rating without developing high voltage transients which endanger those SCRs in the off or infinite impedance condition. Fuses when used, their arc voltages are kept below 1.5 times the peak circuit voltage. For small power applications it is pointless to employ high speed fuses for circuit protection because it may cost more than the SCR. Current magnitude detection can be employed and is used in many applications. When an over-current is detected the gate circuits are controlled either to turn off the appropriate SCRs, or in phase commutation, to reduce the conduction period and so the average value of the current.

Over current protection

Fuses and circuit breakers are usually provided for overcurrent protection. Bimetall thermostats :Bimetal thermostats contain bimetal discs which, at a certain factory-set temperature, snap from one position to the next, opening or closing a contact in the process. Temperature-dependent resistors :Temperature-dependent resistors have the advantage over bimetal thermostats that they respond to temperature changes more quickly. An additional electronic circuit is needed to convert the change in resistance into a signal that can, for example, trigger a protective device.

Arm fuse(a) and phase fuse(b)

Arm fuse(a) and phase fuse(b)

Two semiconductor have a common ac terminal, this can be protected by common fuse in ac line is called phase or ac side fuse Each semiconductor have fuse is called arm fuse

Gate protection of SCR

Gate circuit should also be protected against overvoltages and over currents. Overvoltages across the gate circuit can cause false triggering of the SCR. Overcurrent may raise junction temperature beyond specified limit leading to its damage. Protection against over-voltages is achieved by connecting a zener diode ZD across the gate circuit. A resistor R connected in series with the gate circuit provides protection against overcurrents. A common problem in thyristor circuits is that they suffer from spurious, or noise, firing. Turning-on or turning-off of an SCR may induce trigger pulses in a nearby SCR. Sometimes transients in a power circuit may also cause unwanted signal to appear across the gate of a neighbouring SCR. These undesirable trigger pulses may turn on the SCR leading to false operation of the main SCR.

Gate protection of SCR

Gate protection against such spurious firing is obtained by using shielded cables or twisted gate leads. A varying flux caused by nearby transients cannot pass through twisted gate leads or shielded cables. As such no e.m.f. is induced in these cables and spurious firing of thyristors is thus minimised. A capacitor and a resistor are also connected across gate to cathode to bypass the noise signals. The capacitor should be less than 0.1 F and must not deteriorate the waveshape of the gate pulse.