Self-Commutating Conversion

Flexible Power Transmission-The HVDC Option

1
Introduction
Line Commutated Convertors Shortcomings
Large reactive power requirement (both during
rectification and inversion),
Injection of low-order harmonic currents
Risk of inverter commutation failures
Dependence on reasonably strong AC systems to
provide the commutating voltages.
These problems can be eliminated in self-
commutated conversion by the use of more advanced
switching devices with turn-on and turn-off
capability (IGBT)
2
Voltage Source Converters (VSC)
Power transmission system requires precise control of
active and reactive power flow to maintain the system
voltage stability. This is achieved through an electronic
converter and its ability of converting electrical energy
from AC to DC or vice versa.
Voltage Source Converters operating with the specified
vector control strategy can perform independent control
of active/reactive power at both ends. This ability of VSC
makes it suitable for connection to weak AC networks,
i.e. without local voltage sources. For power reversal, the
DC voltage polarity remains the same for VSC based
transmission system and the power transfer depends only
on the direction of the DC current.
3
LCC - VSC Comparison
LCC HVDC
Mature Technology
Requires strong ac system
Lower losses 0.8% per converter
Requires 60% reactive power
AC-DC system interactions
Harmonics
Commutations failure
Special Transformers
Multi terminal operation possible
but hard
Controlled DC Current to zero
(Idref=0)
Dc voltage + to - as alpha changes
rectifier to inverter
VSC HVDC
Rapid growth
Helps ac system
Control real and reactive power
independently
Losses reducing 1.1- 1.2% per
converter
No Commutation failure
Less Special Transformers
Flexible Dispatch
Harmonics with MMC no issue
DC Grid (multi-terminal) possible
DC voltage is a constant polarity
DC Line faults are problematic
4
Line-Commutated Converters (LCC)
Depends on the line voltage of the connected AC
System for commutation
Use uncontrolled or semi-controlled switching
devices (diodes & thyristors)
Fixed DC current direction
Large inductance enables it to be almost constant
Direction of power flow controlled through reversal
of the polarity of DC voltage
On the AC side, behaves approximately as a current
source, injecting both grid-frequency and harmonic
currents
6-pulse and 12-pulse configuration

5
Voltage Source Convertor
self-commutated converters
Use IGBT with turn-on and turn-off control
Fixed polarity of DC voltage
Constant, smoothed by a large capacitance
Power reversal by reversing current direction
Easier to connect into a Multi-terminal HVDC system or DC Grid
More compact than LCC as mainly much less harmonic filtering is
required
VSC HVDC systems normally use the six-pulse connection
Less harmonic distortion as compared to LCC
Simplified construction of the converter transformer
Basically a VSC generates ac voltage from a dc voltage. It is, for
historical reasons, often referred to as an inverter, even though it has
the capability to transfer power in either direction 6
Two-level VSC Operating Principles
Two-level VSC Operating Principles
The converter valves are assumed lossless
DC capacitors ripple negligible
The converter transformer lossless

7
Two-level VSC Operating Principles
Two-level single phase VSC
AC terminals are switched in a bipolar
way between two discrete voltage
levels (+V
d
& V
d
)
Conducting period is 180
o
, square
wave switching scheme
Since the conduction in switch is
unidirectional, anti parallel diode (free-
wheeling) is connected across to
ensure the bridge voltage has one
polarity & current can flow in both
directions
Capacitor mid point is reference for
AC output voltage
8
Two-level VSC Operating Principles

S
1
is ON,
+ve current will flow through S
1
S
2
is ON,
-ve current will flow through S
2
Both switches OFF, AC present
Diode forms uncontrolled rectifire
Charge Capacitors
-ve current will flow through D
1
+ve current will flow through D
2

2
Vdc
Vac = +
2
Vdc
Vac =
9
Two-level VSC Operating Principles

Only one switch at a time is ON
Simultaneous ON will result short
circuit
Blanking period-diode conducts
S
1
ON
S1OFF- Inductance maintains
present current, D
2
conduct, voltage
reverse polarity
S
2
ON, current reversal
S
2
OFF, D
1
conducts
Operates in four quadrants

10
Single-phase full wave bridge
DC capacitor -stiff voltage
Two AC connection points
1-4 valves sequence of turn-off & on
1-2 ON, a+ & b- , vab=+Vd
3-4 ON, a- & b+, vab= -Vd
Vab is independent of ac current flow
The ac current is the result of interaction of the
converter generated ac voltage with the ac
system voltage and impedance
T1-t2- 1-2 ON, vab+, iab-, dc to ac, INV
T2-t3, 1-2 ON, vab+, iab+, ac t- dc, RECT
T3-t4, 3-4 ON, vab-, iab+, ,dc to ac, INV
T4-t5, 3-4 ON, vab-, iab-, ac to dc, RECT
Id-cuurent flow in dc bus
+ ac to dc & -dc to ac
Power flow from ac to dc with lagging power
factor


11
Single-phase full wave bridge
12
Single-phase full wave bridge
DC capacitor -stiff voltage
Two AC connection points
1-2 ON, a+ & b- , vab=+Vd
3-4 ON, a- & b+, vab= -Vd
Vab is independent of ac current
flow
The ac current is the result of
interaction of the converter
generated ac voltage with the ac
system voltage and impedance
T1-t2- 1-2 ON, vab+, iab-, dc to ac,
INV
T2-t3, 1-2 ON, vab+, iab+, ac t- dc,
RECT
T3-t4, 3-4 ON, vab-, iab+, ,dc to ac,
INV
T4-t5, 3-4 ON, vab-, iab-, ac to dc,
RECT
Id-cuurent flow in dc bus
+ ac to dc & -dc to ac
Power flow from ac to dc with
lagging power factor


13
ac volt.
ac
current
dc
current
Vab
iab
id
Power Transfer Control
Passive load on AC Side
Power flow is unidirectional from DC input side to
passive AC load
Active load on AC side
Power flow is bi-directional in either direction
Phase angle of AC o/p voltage +ve or ve w.r.t AC
system voltage

14
Inverter Operation-P & Q
Active and Reactive Power exchange depends
on phase angle and magnitude of ends voltages
For reactive power compensation no DC source
required

15
Inverter Operation-different conditions
If >0 & V
2
>V
1
, P is
transferred from VSC to AC
system, else reverse
If =0, V
1
=V
2
, No P & Q is
exchanged
V
2
>V
1
, I/90
o
capacitive
action (generate Q)
V
2
<V1, I/-90
o
-Inductive
action (absorb Q)
16
VSC Components
Voltage source on DC side
DC Capacitor
Switches
Reactor
Transformer
Filters
Control
Monitoring
Protection

17
DC Capacitor
Strongly capacitive, and thus voltage stiff
Establish voltage across switches
Required - Voltages are well defined and
independent of convertor operation
Practically
produce harmonics currents on DC side
Results in harmin voltages and DC voltage ripple
Size of C inversely related to switching frequencies
Capacitor current direction changes with valve
switching
18
Coupling Reactance
Between AC system & Converter terminal
Includes transformer Reactance & added reactor
Reduces fault current
Stabilizes AC current
Reduce harmonic current content
Control P & Q from the VSC
AC filter included to reduce the high-frequency
voltage stresses
19
High-voltage IGBT switches
Self Commutating
Series connected for high-voltage applications
Single IGBT valve comprises of
Switching device
Snubber to protect from V & I transients. Also equal
voltage sharing
Gate drive to turn ON & OFF the switch
Protection (over & under voltage, over current)
20
High-voltage IGBT switches
Snubber increases complexity &
losses
Series connected switches with
voltage sharing network
Steady-state condition
steady state & transient condition
Gate control another solution
21
High-voltage IGBT switches
Turn-on delay time variation with temperature
Turn of delay
Temperature, commutated current, fall time
di/dt control through inductor
Reduce turn on losses,
Series connected IGBTs for specific rating must
be increased for redundancy in case of failure of
one device
Failed device avoid open-ckt and establish short
circuit to conduct current
22
High-voltage IGBT switches
Unlike LCC switches, VCC switches withstand more high
voltages for a substantial part of its operation time and,
therefore, the probability of avalanche current is
increased.
The valves have to withstand peak current due to ripple
and transient over-current levels and require additional
protection margin;
Valves also need to be capable of turning off the current
following a short circuit close to the valve itself.
Gate unit must maintain safe device operation during
short-circuit conditions.
The IGBT is better behaved in this respect
23
The anti-parallel diodes
The anti-parallel diodes in the VSC bridge constitute an uncontrolled
bridge rectifier
Diodes have to be designed to withstand the fault-created stresses.
A DC short-circuit fault creates a current path through the diodes and
the fault current is limited only by the AC system and converter
impedances. This fault current needs to be cleared by a circuit breaker
on the AC side, which will require a few cycles to operate.
The diode will also experience inrush current and an overvoltage on
the DC bus.
Overvoltage must be limited by external components
The DC capacitor can be charged independently prior to converter
energisation. In this case a DC blocking voltage will appear after the
initial current surge.
24
Three-phase full-wave bridge VSC
25
The Three-phase VSC
Six-pulse VSC Consists of a three-phase bridge connecting the
AC source to a predominantly capacitive DC system
The bridge valve unit is an asymmetric turn-off device (GTO)
with a reverse-connected diode in parallel.
The turn-off device carries out the instantaneous inverter
function
The diode is needed to provide a path for the transfer of energy
from the AC to the DC side (i.e. rectifier operation) to charge the
capacitor.
During each cycle there will be periods of rectification and
inversion determined by the phase angle
The average current will determine the net power flow direction
(i.e. rectification or inversion)
26
The Three-phase VSC
If the converter operates as a rectifier with unity power factor,
only the diodes conduct the current
During inverter operation with unity power factor only the turn-
off devices conduct.
By appropriate control of the turn-on and turn-off switching, a
three-phase AC waveform is produced at the AC output.
For fast transients the DC capacitor can be regarded as a perfect
voltage source.
Thus in the short time sequence in which the switching devices
are controlled to interconnect the DC and AC terminals, the DC
voltage remains practically constant and the VSC produces a
quasi-square-wave AC voltage.
27
The Three-phase VSC
Two important differences between CSC and VSC
One is the duration of the valve conducting period, which in the
case of the VSC is 180 instead of the 120 generally adopted for
the CSC configuration
The 180 conduction is needed in the VSC case to avoid the
condition in which both arms of the bridge leg are in the off-
state; this condition would occur if a 120 period were used,
which would cause uncertainty in the output voltage.
The other important difference is the absence of commutation
overlap, which makes VSC operation more predictable and easier
to analyze.
28
The Three-phase VSC
The switches of an leg cannot be switched ON or OFF simultaneously
Order 1 to 6 represents the sequence of valve operation in time
Three phase-legs, which operate in concert, 120 degrees apart
Square wave mode, 180
o
ON, 180
o
OFF
v
aN
, v
bN
, v
cN
are phase voltages w.r.t. Capacitor mid point, N
v
ab
, v
bc
,v
ca
are line voltages
v
nN
is the voltage of T/F neutral w.r.t. capacitor mid point , N
equals the sum of the instantaneous potentials of the three phases v
aN
,
v
bN
, v
cN
and is a square AC waveform varying at three times the
fundamental frequency, with a magnitude equal to one-sixth of the DC
voltage.
v
an
, v
bn
, v
cn
The phase voltage across the star-connected transformer
secondary.
v
p-p
=0 for 60
o
, two valves on the same side of the dc bus are closed
on their dc bus


29
Three-phase full-wave bridge VSC
30
Switch states
31
AC voltage waveforms-gate sequence
32
AC voltage waveforms
33
AC
waveforms
34
AC waveforms
35
DC current waveforms
36
AC voltage waveforms
The current flow itself is the result of the interaction of the ac voltage
with the ac system
Each converter phase-leg can handle resultant current flow in either
direction
Assumed ac current i
a
in phase a, with positive current representing
current from the ac to the dc side
The current is assumed to have fundamental frequency only
In a leg, when device is turned ON, it takes the current of diode of
other leg
In a leg, when device is turned OFF, same leg diode takes the current
of device
At any time, three valves are conducting in a three-phase converter
system.
Only the active power part of the ac current and part of the harmonics
flows into the dc side

37
Fundamental & harmonic components
The square wave has substantial harmonics in addition to the
fundamental.
These harmonics are of the order 2n 1 where n is an integer,
i.e., 3rd, 5th, 7th ...
The magnitude of the 3rd is 1/3rd of the fundamental, the 5th
is 1/5th of fundamental, and so on.
An inductive interface with the ac system is essential to ensure
that the dc capacitor does not discharge rapidly into a
capacitive load such as a transmission line but it is also
essential to reduce the consequent harmonic current flow.
Generally, an ac filter would be necessary following the
inductive interface. To limit the consequent current harmonics
on the system side although the filters will only increase the
harmonic current in the converter itself.
It would therefore be preferable if the converter generated less
harmonics so that it does not require ac filters in the first
place. 38
Fundamental & harmonic components
Fourier analysis of the phase voltage waveforms ,
which are rectangular waves of amplitude V
d
/2 and 180 width,
provides the time domain expressions for the three phases as




The fundamental component is a symmetrical set of positive
sequence.
The triplen harmonics are all of zero sequence (i.e. their values
are the same in the three phases at all instants).= cos 3wt
The fifth harmonic is of positive sequence.
The seventh harmonic is of negative sequence etc

39
( )
4 1 1 1
cos( ) cos(3 ) cos(5 ) cos(7 )...
2 3 5 7
d
aN
V
v t t t t e e e e
t
| |
(
= +
|

\ .
( )
2 2 2 2 4 1 1 1
cos( ) cos3( ) cos5( ) cos7( )...
2 3 3 3 5 3 7 3
d
bN
V
v t t t t
t t t t
e e e e
t
| |
(
= +
|

\ .
( )
2 2 2 2 4 1 1 1
cos( ) cos3( ) cos5( ) cos7( )...
2 3 3 3 5 3 7 3
d
bN
V
v t t t t
t t t t
e e e e
t
| |
(
= + + + + +
|

\ .
, ,
aN bN cN
v v v
Phase & line voltages
If it is assumed that the three phases are connected to a wye
transformer secondary with floating neutral
Then the floating neutral will acquire a potential with respect to
the dc midpoint which is one-third of the sum of all three
voltages of phase terminals a, b, and c.

3 level magnitude at step of V
d
/3.
6-pulse wave form & free of 3n harmonics
v
aN
and v
an
are in phase. Same for b &c with 120
o
& 240
o
phase
shifted
fundamental component of v
ab
is phase shifted by 30, and its
amplitude is sqrt(3) times the v
an

v
ab
is 120
o
square wave of 2-level, 0 or V
d

40
2
1 1 1
cos( ) cos5( ) cos7( ) cos11( )...
5 7 11
d
an
V
v t t t t e e e e
t
| |
(
= +
|

\ .
an aN n
v v v =
2 3
1 1 1
cos( ) cos5( ) cos7( ) cos11( )...
5 7 11
d
ab
V
v t t t t e e e e
t
| |
(
= +
|

\ .
Phase & line voltages
RMS value of vp-p (120o square wave with
amplitude Vd is

The rms value of the fundamental is given by

Individual harmonic voltage is given by

v
ab
& v
an
are 30
o
out of phase
41
DC current wave forms
Adding up the three currents gives the total dc
current i
d
in the de bus
It consists of direct current component and
harmonics of the order of n = 6k,
Direct current component of this current is given
by
where I is the rms ac phase current and ( is the
power factor angle.
The current is maximum at 1.35 I, cos=1I,
The angle changes from full rectification to
inversion of power.
42
SEQUENCE OF VALVE CONDUCTION
PROCESS IN EACH PHASE-LEG
Each phase-leg operates independently, and
involves alternate turn-on and turn-off of the
devices.
For instantaneous current (power) flow from ac
to de, the current flows through the diodes
For instantaneous current (power) flow from de
to ac, the current flows through the devices.
43
Sequence of valve conduction process in each
phase-leg
Each phase-leg operates independently, and involves
alternate turn-on and turn-off of the devices.
For instantaneous current (power) flow from ac to dc,
the current flows through the diodes
For instantaneous current (power) flow from dc to ac,
the current flows through the devices.
44
SEQUENCE OF VALVE CONDUCTION
PROCESS IN EACH PHASE-LEG
45
SEQUENCE OF VALVE CONDUCTION
PROCESS IN EACH PHASE-LEG
Inverter unity power factor
S1 ON, +DC to AC through S1(INV)
S4 ON, AC to DC through S4 (INV)
No diodes are involved in conduction
Soft-switching - current transfer is at
the natural current zero, i.e., Device 1
turns off and device 4 turns on (and
vice versa) when the current is zero
Involve much lower device stresses
and switching losses
46
SEQUENCE OF VALVE CONDUCTION
PROCESS IN EACH PHASE-LEG
the turn-off of device 1 and turn-on of
device 4 is delayed by 60 degrees in order
to change the phase angle for the following
one cycle by 60 degrees.
S4 ON, +I S4,120
o
, INV
S4 ON, -I D4, 60
o
, REC
S1 ON ,-I S1, 120
o
, INV
S1 ON, +I D1,60
o
, REC
Turn ON of S1 & S2 at non-zero current(Hard
Turn ON), while turn OFF at zero current
Further delayed by 30
o
S1 ON ,-I S1, 90
o
, INV
S1 ON, +I D1, 90
o
, REC
S4 ON, +I S4, 90
o
, INV
S4 ON, -I D4, 90
o
, REC
Hard Turn On and Soft turn OFF




47
SEQUENCE OF VALVE CONDUCTION
PROCESS IN EACH PHASE-LEG
Further delay 60
o
S4 ON, +I S4,60
o
, INV
S4 ON, -I D4, 120
o
, REC
S1 ON ,-I S1, 60
o
, INV
S1 ON, +I D1, 120
o
, REC
Hard Turn On and Soft turn OFF
Further delayed by 30
o
S1 ON ,-I S1, 0
o
, INV
S1 ON, +I D1, 180
o
, REC
S4 ON, +I S4, 0
o
, INV
S4 ON, -I D4, 180
o
, REC
Hard Turn On and Soft turn OFF




48
SEQUENCE OF VALVE CONDUCTION
PROCESS IN EACH PHASE-LEG
Further delay 60
o
S4 ON, -I D4,120
o
, REC
S4 ON, +I S4, 60
o
, INV
S1 ON ,+I D1, 120
o
, REC
S1 ON, +I S1, 60
o
, INV
Hard Turn OFF and Soft turn ON
Further delayed by 30
o
S1 ON ,+I D1, 90
o
, REC
S1 ON, -I S1, 90
o
, INV
S4 ON, -I D4, 90
o
, REC
S4 ON, +I S4, 90
o
, INV
Hard Turn OFF and Soft turn ON




49
SEQUENCE OF VALVE CONDUCTION
PROCESS IN EACH PHASE-LEG
In inductive operation
All turn-offs are soft, stresses and losses are minimal
Events of the current transfer are from S to D i.e. 1 to l' or 4 to 4'.
In capacitive mode,
Turn-off is hard
turn-offs transfer current to the opposite diode, i.e., 1 to 4' or 4 to 1'.
Transfer is from one device to another device, i.e., 1 to 4 or 4 to 1
during inverter operation with unity power factor,
Delay the turn-on for at least several tens of us following the turn-
off complete to avoid chance of simultaneous conduction of devices
1 and 4, which represents a direct short circuit across the dc bus
capacitor.
Except for unity power-factor inverter operation, all the current
transfers are from a device to a diode, or from a diode to a device



50
SEQUENCE OF VALVE CONDUCTION
PROCESS IN EACH PHASE-LEG
Since power devices and transformers have losses, these losses have
to be supplied from the dc side or the ac side during inverter or
rectifier operation respectively.
During full inductive or capacitive operation, losses can be supplied
from either side by operating very slightly in rectifier or inverter
mode.
AC voltage output is strictly a function of dc voltage.
To vary the converter ac output voltage, dc voltage is variable
accordingly.
This can be done by charging/discharging the dc capacitor from
another source/absorber of power or from the ac side of the
converter itself.
The speed with which the dc voltage can be changed would
determine the response time of the converter
51
12-Pulse operation
52
12-Pulse operation
Harmonic content of the v
pp
and v
pn
The two voltages were 30o out of phase. If this phase shift is corrected, then
for the phase to neutral voltage, i.E., Van, the harmonics, other than those of
the order of 12n 1, would be in phase opposition to those of the phase-to-
phase voltage vab and with 1/V3 times the amplitude.
If the phase-to-phase voltages of a second converter were connected to a
delta-connected secondary of a second transformer, with v3 times the turns
compared to they-secondary, and the pulse train of one converter was shifted
by 30 degrees with respect to the other (in order to bring vab and van to be
in phase),
The combined output voltage would have a 12-pulse waveform, with
harmonics of the order of 12n 1, i.E., 11th, 13th, 23rd, 25th ...,
These two waveforms are then added to give the third waveform, which is
seen to be a 12-pulse waveform, closer to being a sine wave than each of the
six-pulse waveform.
Two six-pulse converters, involving a total of six phase-legs are connected
in parallel on the same de bus, and work together as a 12-pulse converter.
53
Current Source Conversion
A current-sourced converter is characterized by the fact that the dc
current flow is always in one direction and the power flow reverses
with the reversal of dc voltage.(devices- diode, thyristor, turn-off
device)
It differs from the voltage-sourced converter in which the dc
voltage always has one polarity and the power reversal takes place
with reversal of dc current.(devices-turn-off device & reverse diode)
54
CSC Diode converter
Which simply converts ac voltage to dc voltage,
Utilizes ac system voltage for commutation of dc current from one
valve to another.
Just converts ac power to dc power without any control
Consumes some reactive power on the ac side
55
CSC Line-Commutated Converter
Based on conventional thyristors (with gate turn-on but without gate
turn-off capability)
Utilizes ac system voltage for commutation of current from one
valve to another
Convert and control active power in either direction
Consumes reactive power on the ac side.
It can not supply reactive power to the ac system.
56
CSC Self-Commutated Converter
Based on turn-off devices (GTOs, IGBTs etc),
Commutation of current with the device turn-off action and
provision of ac capacitors, to facilitate transfer of current
In a self-commutated current-sourced converter, the ac capacitors
provide a stiff ac bus for supplying the fast changing current pulses
needed for the commutations.
Capable to controlled power flow in either direction, this converter,
like the voltage-sourced converter, can also supply or consume
controlled reactive power.
Capacitors and ac filters, are needed in any case.
57
CSC Self-Commutated Converter
When reactive power management is not a problem and
the reactive power consumed by the converters can be
supplied from the system capacitors and/or filters, the line-
commutated converters have a decisive economic
advantage over self-commutated converters
DC voltage in a CSC can be in either direction,
Converter valves must have both forward and reverse
blocking capability. Thyristors are usually made as
symmetric devices, i.e., They have both the forward and
reverse blocking capability
Easier and cheaper to make and can be made with peak
blocking voltage as high as 12 kv along with a high
current carrying capability
58
Three-phase full wave six-pulse diode converter
It is assumed that the dc side inductance is very large and therefore
the de current is constant
The circuit consists of six valves, numbered 1 to 6, the number
sequence conveying the order of the current transfer and the dc
output voltage
The current commutates from valve to valve to turn it into an ac
current
59
Three-phase full wave six-pulse diode converter
1or 3 or 5 conducts when V
a
,
V
b
, V
c
are most positive &
4 or 6 or 2 conducts when V
a
or
V
b
or V
c
are most negative
After every 60
o
one
commutation takes place
alternately in upper and lower
Each valve conducts for 120
o
The current is made up of 120
degree blocks of dc current,
through an upper and a lower
valve of each phase leg
60
Three-phase full wave six-pulse diode converter
Commutation takes place from
valve to valve among valves
connected to the same de bus,
i.e., Valves 1 to 3 to 5 to 1 and
Waveforms of ac current of a
three-phase CSC are made up
of 120
o
blocks and do not have
triplen harmonics (VSC 180
o
)
DC output voltage, i.e. the
voltage of the positive pole
with respect to the negative
pole
Ripple varying at 6 times the
main frequency
61
Three-phase full wave six-pulse diode converter
The dc output voltage has a six-pulse waveform, made up of the
sum of two three-phase, half-wave circuits
The dc output voltage is made up of 60
o
segments and with the peak
of ac voltage as
E is the phase-to-phase voltage.
Output voltage is given by

The output voltage is positive with dc current flowing out of the
anode bus of the converter; hence the power flow is from ac to de
(rectifier).
DC output voltage contains some harmonics.
62
Three-phase full wave six-pulse diode converter
The ac current is made up of square wave blocks of 120 degree
duration each half-cycle.
The rms value of this phase current is given by


Equating the fundamental ac power and the de power (neglecting
losses),

Substituting V
d
in terms of E gives the rms fundamental ac current

Total rms harmonic current
63
Three-phase full wave six-pulse diode converter
There was one simplifying assumption in the
above discussion that the current instantaneously
commutated from one valve to another
In reality it will take a significant time.
Typically it may take about 20 degrees to 30
degrees.
The commutation of in-line commutated converters
involves transfer of current from one phase to
another through the valves in an inductive circuit
of the ac system,
64
The commutation process
Presence of reactance
During the commutation, the magnetic
energy stored in the reactance of the
previously conducting phase has to be
transferred to the reactance of the incoming
phase
The commutation from valve 1 to valve 3
any time after the upper voltage crossing
between v
CR
and v
CY
.
Beyond that point v
CY
> v
CR

i
c
= i
3
builds up at the expense of i
1
At all times i
1
+i3= Id,
If the commutation reactances are balanced,
the rates of change of i3 and i1 are equal;
therefore, the voltage drops across X
CR
and
X
CY
are the same
during the overlap period, the direct voltage
vd is the mean value of v
CY
and v
CR
.
65
The commutation process

66
Three-phase full wave six-pulse diode converter
At t3, Valve 3 becomes FB &
starts to conduct with valve 1
carrying the full de current.
The conducting of both valves 1
& 3 gives a short circuit between
phases a and b with the short-
circuit current rising from phase
b through valve 3 into phase a
through valve 1.
Once the short-circuit current
equals the de current through
valve 1, its net current reaches
zero, valve 1 stops conducting
and the commutation is complete.
Period of commutation, angle
o
,
67
THYRISTOR-BASED CONVERTER
At
68
Three-phase full wave six-pulse diode converter
The short-circuit current between the
two phases for this period of
commutation
Assuming that when i
s
= i
d
, wt = o
Output voltage is reduced compared
During commutation, output follows
the mean of the two short-circuited
voltages.
The lost voltage corresponds to the
shaded area every 60 degrees and is
given by
DC voltage drop in the converter due to
the commutation of dc current
69
Three-phase full wave six-pulse diode converter
DC voltage drop is directly proportional to I
d

the current is shifted to the right by the commutation process.
the ac side power factor is reduced from unity to a lower value (lag),
that some reactive power is consumed.
This power factor reduction corresponds to the reduction in the dc
voltage. Equating the dc and ac power

Combibe with V
o
=1.35E and I
1
=0.78I
d


For practical estimation, power factor angle may be taken as

THYRISTOR-BASED CONVERTER
if the devices had a turn-on control, the start of each commutation
could be delayed and hence the output voltage reduced or even
reversed at will.
No Delay in firing of valve
72
Delaying the firing instants of the valves with respect to the voltage crossings,
The commencement of the natural commutations
Effect of firing delay on voltage waveforms:
73
Delaying the firing, the commencement of the natural commutations can be
delayed by a definite time interval
Voltage area, and the mean dc are reduced proportionally to the magnitude of the
delay
Large smoothing reactor on the DC side, the voltage waveform of will produce
constant DC
THYRISTOR-BASED CONVERTER