Chapter

III:Simplified
Analysis of Graetz
Circuit
3.3.1 Without Overlap
At any instant, two valves are conducting in the bridge, one
from the upper and one from the lower commutation group.
As the next valve of a commutation group fires, the preceding
valve turns off.
This assumption, that no overlap between two
valves(meaning no two valves are on at the same instant), is
incorrect.
However, this assumption provides a simpler analysis into the
operation of a converter.
3.3.1 Without Overlap
The firing of valves are numbered in sequence, with
60 intervals, and conducts for 120.
Consecutive firing pulse is 60 in steady state.
Circuit diagram of a
basic Graetz circuit
3.3.1 Without Overlap
To further simplify analysis, the following assumptions
are taken into consideration
1. The DC current is constant
2. The valves can be modelled as ideal switches
with zero impedance when on or conducting,
and infinite impedance when off or not
conducting.
3. The AC voltages at the converter bus are
sinusoidal and remain constant.
3.3.1 Without Overlap
A period of an AC voltage supply can be divided into 6
intervals, corresponding to the firing of a pair of valves.
The DC voltage waveform repeats for each interval, thus
simplifying the calculation of the average DC voltage, since we
only have to consider one interval.
Assuming the firing of the 3rd valve is delayed by an angle
( after the crossing of the commutation voltage for valve 3
voltage eba ) the instantaneous DC voltage vd during the
interval is given by
vd = eb ec = ebc, t + 60
3.3.1 Without Overlap
Let eba = ELL sin t
Then ebc = ELL sin (t + 60)
3.3.1 Without Overlap
Eq. 3.8 that different values of (range of is from 0
to 180), vd is variable. More importantly, when
crosses 90, vd is negative value.
This means that the same converter can act as an
inverter or rectifier depending on the direction of the
DC voltage.
3.3.1 Without Overlap:
DC Voltage Waveform
The DC voltage wave contains a ripple whose
fundamental frequency is six times the supply
frequency.
It contains harmonics of the order h = np, where p is
the pulse number, and n is an integer.
The rms value of the hth order harmonic is given by:
 3.3.1 Without Overlap:
DC Voltage Waveform

As seen on the figure, 3 voltage

jumps arise due to the
commutation from one valve to
the next. The jumps have the
same magnitude given by eq.
3.10:
3.3.1 Without Overlap:
DC Voltage Waveform
The full range of 180 cannot be utilized. For all series
thyristors to fire, a minimum limit of alpha is set
greater than zero, likewise, for it to go off, an upper
limit is set less than 180. is not allowed to go beyond
the upper limit (180-), where is called the
extinction angle or margin angle. The minimum
value is 10. For normal inverter operation, is not
allowed to go below 15 or .
3.3.1 Without Overlap:
AC Current Waveform
While it is assumed that dc has no ripple(or harmonics)
due to smoothing reactors in series with the bridge
circuit. The AC currents flowing through the primary
and secondary windings of the transformer has.
Fig. 3.6 shows the current waveform in a valve winding.
3.3.1 Without Overlap:
AC Current Waveform
The rms value of the fundamental component of current is given by:

Where n is an integer, and p is the pulse number.

3.3.1 Without Overlap:
AC Current Waveform, Power Factor
AC harmonics order(6 pulse bridge converter) : 5, 7, 11,
13 and higher order.
The first four are filtered out using tuned filters for each.
The rest requires high pass filters.

The rms value of the hth is given by

The AC power supplied to the converter is

3.3.1 Without Overlap:
Power Factor
Ignoring the losses in the converter, the DC power will
be equal to the AC power. Therefore:

Substituting for Vdo and II from eqs. 3.8 and 3.11

gives : cos = cos
The reactive power requirement increases as closes
to 90 from 0 or 80. When =90, pf=0 and only
reactive power is consumed.
3.3.2 With Overlap
Due to the leakage inductance of the converter
transformers and the supply networks impedance, the
current in the valve will not suddenly change. An
example is when commutation from valve 1 to 3, there
is a finite period of time when both valves are
conducting. That is called overlap and its duration is
measured by u called overlap(commutation) angle.
3.3.2 With Overlap

The first subinterval shows three valves are conducting and 2 nd

subinterval shows 2 valves. This is based on the assumption that the
u<60. As u goes beyond 60, there is a finite period where 4 valves are
commutating and 3 valves at the rest of the interval.
Because of this, there are 3 modes of the converter.
3.3.2 With Overlap

The three modes are:

1. Mode 1 two and three valve conduction u<60
2. Mode 2 Three valve conduction u=60
3. Mode 3 Three and four valve conduction u<60
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 1
For this Mode, the bridge circuit can be simplified to
this:
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 1
For that circuit e b e a = Lc eq. 3.16

The L.H.S is called the commutating emf and its value is:

Which is also the voltage across valve 3 just before it fires.

Since i1 = Id i3 (eq. 3.18), we get:
 3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 1
Where:

The soln from 3.20 is from the initial condition i3 (t = a) = 0 (eq. 3.22)
At t = + u, i3 = Id,, this gives Id = Is[cos cos ( +u)] (eq. 3.23)

Note: during commutation, the

instantaneous dc voltage is:

Instead of (eb ec)

3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 1 : Average Direct Voltage
The average direct voltage Vd is obtained as:
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 1 : Average Direct Voltage

Where Rc is called equivalent commutation resistance. This is

similar to armature reaction in DC machines as it only
represents voltage drop and not a power loss.
 3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 1 : DC voltage and Valve voltage waveforms

Notice the valve voltage has now 8 jumps. The two major
jumps occur at the firing and turning off and is given by:
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 1 : DC voltage and Valve voltage waveforms

The remaining 6 jumps are divided to 2 groups, the first

group composed of jumps that are equal in magnitude
to , and the other equals with .

The jumps result in extra losses in the damper circuit.

3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 1 : Inverter equations
To operate as an inverter, an advance angle is defined
where = , and use opposite polarity for the dc
voltage with voltage rise opposite to the direction of
current. Thus:
 3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 1 : Inverter equations

The subscript i refers to the inverter.

 3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 1 : AC current and DC voltage harmonics

The waveform of the valve voltage and current are

distorted. And so, the expressions derived for the case
w/out overlap becomes invalid. Through Fourier
Analysis, the actual expression for the current is :

Where is the p.f angle and = + u

3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 1 : AC current and DC voltage harmonics

From those expressions can be obtained by:

The harmonic components in the AC current are also

changed. The following is reduced form the values
calculated with no overlap and is called the reduction
factor:
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 1 : AC current and DC voltage harmonics

The DC voltage expression are also affected due to

overlap. It can be shown that
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 2
Mode 1 is the normal mode of operation. Mode 2
occurs during DC line faults or a dip in the AC voltage
occurs.
The overlap angle u may exceed 60.
When u>60, the minimum number of valves
conducting are three and there are intervals where
four valves.
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 2
The equivalent circuit of this mode is shown:
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 2

= Is cos( + u -60) + B (3.46)

3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 2
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 2 : Average Direct Voltage
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 2 : Average Direct Voltage
In this case, the comparison between eqs. 3.50 and
3.26 shows that Rc is three times that of the case
where the u<60. When =0, u reaches a value of 60
when Id increases to : Id = Is [1 cos 60] = (0.5)Is.
At u=60, three valves are conducting all the time. For
30, it is possible for the current to be increased
further, which also increases u further. The reason the
overlap angle cannot go beyond 60 for <30 is shown
in the next figure.
 3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 2 : Average Direct Voltage

As an example, picture valve 2 and 6 are still conducting, the

anode of valve 3 is at a potential of and the
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 2 : Average Direct Voltage
Cathode is at a potential of ea. Hence, unless ea is
negative, valve 3 cannot conduct and this is possible
only for 30. Thus there is an intermediate mode
when the value of overlap angle remains constant at
60. In this mode, an increase in direct current is
accompanied by automatic increase in the firing angle.
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 2 : DC and Valve Voltage Waveforms

Instantaneous voltage
across the converter
bridge (vd)

Valve voltage of #3 and

#4 valves.
3.3.2 With Overlap:
Analysis of Mode 2 : DC and Valve Voltage Waveforms
The instantaneous voltage across the bridge can have
both positive and negative excursions, followed by
periods of zero magnitude. The valve voltage has 6
jumps with three of the having the magnitude
Reference:
Padiyar, K. R. (1990). HVDC Power Transmission
Systems: Technology and System Interactions. New
Delhi: New Age International