DC to AC Converters (Inverters): Convert from a fixed

dc input voltage into variable frequency and voltage AC

output voltage.
6.1 Introduction: DC to AC Converter (Inverter)
• DEFINITION: Converts DC to AC power by switching the DC
input voltage (or current) in a pre-determined sequence so as to
generate AC voltage (or current) output.

• General block diagram

• The semi-conductor switches

can be BJTs, thyristors, GTO,
IGCT (Insulated Gate Commutated
Thyristor). Mosfets, IGBTs, etc.

• TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
– Un-interruptible power supply (UPS), Industrial (induction motor)
drives, Traction, HVDC, static var compensators, active filters,
flexible ac transmission systems (FACTS), and voltage
compensators, which are only a few applications.
PWM INVERTERS

• Introduction

• Performance parameters for inverters

• Single-phase bridge inverters

• Three-phase inverters

• Voltage control of single-phase inverters

Introduction

• Inverter: to change a dc input voltage to a symmetric ac

output voltage of desired magnitude and frequency

A variable output voltage can be obtained by

• Varying the input dc voltage and maintaining the inverter
gain constant
• Uncontrolled fixed dc input voltage and varying the inverter
gain

• Ideal inverters should generate sinusoidal output voltage

Waveforms

• However, practical inverters generate nonsinusoidal waveforms

which contain harmonics
Introduction

Industrial applications

• Variable-speed ac motor drive, induction heating, standby

power supplies, UPS

Inverter types

• voltage-fed inverter (VFI): input voltage remains constant

• current-fed inverter (CFI): input current remains constant

• variable dc linked inverter: input voltage is controllable

 Ratings of Applications

 Application power range of inverter circuits using the basic "inverter

leg" building block is now vast (<1kW to 10MW+)
 Very large application area is in industrial (PWM controlled induction
motor) drives in the 3kW to 100kW power range. IGBT devices are
used almost exclusively in this power range.
 Recently the application area for these circuits has extended to
power levels (>1MW), previously serviced only by naturally
commutated thyristor circuits (for example naturally commutated
thyristor + synchronous motor drives).
 Inverter drive provides more functionality and flexibility in control and
allows induction motors to be used in Hybrid cars, textile & paper
mills.
 Railway locomotives (1-5MW) -Ship propulsion (eg Frigate 20MW)
 Power systems applications, for example FACTS (Flexible AC
Transmission Systems) - up to 100MW+
 Input DC
6.2 Principle of Operational
Battery, Figure 6.1: Single-phase half-bridge rectifier
Rectifier,
OR
DC-DC
converters

3-wire
DC source

Output
(Load- R or RL)
Variable Frequency
Variable Voltage
• Consists of 2 choppers, 3-wire DC source
• Transistors switched on and off alternately
• Need to isolate the gate signal for Q1 (upper device)
• Each provides opposite polarity of Vs/2 across the load
6.2 Principal of Operation Figure 6.1 Single-phase half-bridge inverter
Two- static switches

Two- diodes: The diodes are

needed to protect the
switches especially when
these switches have to carry
currents in the reverse
directions.
- In case there is only one
available dc source, we can
split its voltage equally into
two by using the circuit
shown. Once the two large
electrolytic capacitors are
fully charged, they behave
as the voltage sources.
Disadvantage of Two
Batteries: A three-wire
dc source is required.

Advantage of One
Batteries: Two
identical capacitors are
required.
Gating signals and output voltage of a
single-phase half-bridge inverter
Operation Figure 6.1: Single-phase half-bridge rectifier
T1 on, T2 off, vo = Vs/2

T2 on, T1 off, vo = -Vs/2

ON OFF

OFF ON

Figure 6.1: Single-phase half-bridge rectifier

R-L Load: In the
lagging current case,
the output current
reverses its direction
at tY. Output voltage
reverses its direction
at T/2. Therefore, from
T/2 to tY the output
current will flow
through D2.
The Voltage & Current Waveforms of Single Phase Half Bridge Inverter
Load Current for a highly inductive load

Transistors are only

switched on for a
quarter-cycle, or 90

Q1 Q2
Look at the output voltage

rms value of the output voltage, Vo

1
 To
 2
2  Vs
2 2
V
Vo   0 4 dt   2
s
Equation 6.1
 To 
 
Fourier Series of the instantaneous output
voltage
ao 
vo     an cos(nt )  bn sin(nt ) 
2 n 1
ao , an  0

1  Vs 
0
Vs
bn    sin( nt )d (t )   sin( nt )d (t ) 
   2 0
2 
2Vs
bn   n  1,3,5,...
n

2Vs
vo   sin(nt )
n 1,3,5,.. n
rms value of the fundamental component


2Vs
vo   sin nt
n 1,3,5,.. n

1 2Vs
Vo1 
2 
Vo1  0.45Vs Equation 6.3
 Fundamental Output Power
In most cases, the useful power

Po1  Vo1 I o1 cos 1  I o21 R Equation 6.5

2
 2Vs 
Po1    R
 2 R  ( L) 
2 2
• If the inverter is DC Supply Current
lossless, average
power absorbed by
the load equals the
average power
supplied by the dc T T
source.
 v (t )i (t )dt   v (t )i (t )dt
0
s s
0
o o

• For an inductive
load, the current is
approximately T T
1
fundamental 
sinusoidal and the i (t )dt 
0
s 
Vs 0
2Vo1 sin(t ) 2 I o sin(t  1 )dt  I s
component of the
output voltage I  Vo1 I cos( ) Equation 6.6
s o 1
supplies the power Vs
to the load. Also,
the dc supply
voltage remains
essentially at Vs.
6.3 Performance Parameters (Equation 6.7 to 6.10)
 Next

Single-phase full-bridge inverter

6.4 Single-phase full-bridge inverter
Figure 6.2: Single-phase full-bridge rectifier

Q1 Q3

Q4 Q2
A Full-bridge
Single-phase
Inverter
6.4 Single-phase bridge inverter Waveforms

Figure 6.2: Single-phase full-bridge rectifier

Waveforms
Control Logic I: Inductive Load

Same as half-bridge (Vs instead of Vs/2)

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q
Control Logic II: Inductive Load

Q 1 Q2 Q1 Q3 Q4 Q3

Note that during the periods [T/6 T/3] and [2T/3 5T/6] the
inductance current freewheels into the transistors and diodes.
Since there are no sufficient resistances to discharge, in a short
time, the magnetic energy stored in the inductance, then the
inductor current remains constant.
Switch states for a single-phase bridge VSI Table 6.1
Comparison of half-bridge and full-bridge inverter