Commutation Techniques

Commutation Techniques
Thyristor Commutation
• Commutation is the process of turning off a
thyristor.
• The turn-off means that the forward conduction
of the thyristor has ceased and the reapplication
of a positive voltage to the anode will not cause
current flow without applying the gate signal.
• Thyristor commutation techniques are broadly
classified into two types:
– Natural commutation
– Forced commutation
Natural Commutation
• The thyristor current goes through a natural zero, and a reverse
voltage appears across the thyristor.
• The device is then automatically turned off due to the natural
behavior of the source voltage.
• The thyristor is triggered synchronously with the zero crossing of
the positive input voltage in every cycle in order to provide a
continuous control of power.
The voltage and current waveforms with a delay angle, α=0.

The delay angle α is defined as the angle between the zero crossing of the input
voltage and the instant the thyristor is fired.
Forced Commutation
• If the input voltage is dc and the forward current of the
thyristor is forced to zero by an additional circuitry called
commutation circuit to turn off the thyristor.
• Normally applied in dc-dc converters (choppers) and dc-ac
converters (inverters).
• The forced commutation of a thyristor can be achieved by
seven ways and can be classified as:
– Self-commutation
– Impulse commutation
– Resonant pulse commutation
– Complementary commutation
– External pulse commutation
– Load-side commutation
– Line-side commutation
• This classification of forced commutations is based on the
arrangement of the commutation circuit components and the
manner in which the current of a thyristor is forced to zero.
• The commutation circuit normally consists of a capacitor, an
inductor, and one or more thyristor(s) and/ or diode(s).
Self Commutation
• Thyristor is turned off due to the natural
characteristics of the circuit.
• Assuming that the capacitor is initially
uncharged.
• When thyristor T1 is switched on, the
capacitor charging current i is given by
With initial conditions VC (t=0) =0
i(t)=
Where ωm=1/√LC
after time t=to=π √LC the charging current
becomes zero and thyristor T1 is switched off itself.
When the circuit current falls to zero,
the capacitor is charged to 2Vs
Self Commutation
• The capacitor has an initial voltage of-Vo.
when thyristor T1 is fired, the current that
will flow through the circuit is given by
With initial voltage VC (t=0) = - VO and i (t=0) =0
i (t) =
Where ωm=1/√LC
after time t=tr= to=π √LC the charging current
becomes zero and thyristor T1 is switched off itself.
tr is called reverting time

When the circuit current falls to zero, the
capacitor is charged to V0
Impulse Commutation
• Assuming capacitor is initially
charged to a voltage of –VO with the
polarity shown
• Thyristor T1 is initially conducting and
carrying a load current of Im.
• When the auxiliary thyristor T2 is
fired, thyristor T1 is reversed biased
by the capacitor voltage, and T1 is
turned off.
• The current through thyristor T1 will
cease to flow and the capacitor
would carry the load current.
• The capacitor will discharge from-Vo
to zero and then charge to the dc
input voltage Vs when the capacitor
current falls to zero and thyristor T2 VO is known as voltage
turns off. commutation.
• The charge reversal of the capacitor
from VO (=Vs) to –VO is then done by The time required for the capacitor to discharge
firing thyristor T3. from-Vo to zero is called the circuit turn-off time
• Thyristor T3 is self-commutated. toff and must be greater than the turn-off time of
the thyristor, tq.
Resonant Pulse Commutation
• The capacitor is initially charged with the
polarity as shown and T1 is in the
conduction mode carrying a load current
of Im.
• When commutation thyristor T2 is fired,
a resonant circuit is formed by L, C, T1
and T2.The resonant current can be
derived as
• Ip is the peak value of resonant current

• Due to the resonant current, the forward
current of T1 is reduced to zero at t=t1,
when the resonant current equals the
load current Im.
• The time t1 must satisfy the condition
i(t=t1) =Im and is given as
Resonant Pulse Commutation
• The current through T1 will cease to
flow and the capacitor will recharge
at a rate determined by the load
current Im.
• The capacitor will discharge from - Vo
to zero and its voltage will then rise
to the Vs, and a situation similar to
the circuit in self commutation exists
with a time duration of to.
• The capacitor voltage is reversed
from VC (=VO) to –VO by firing T3.
• T3 is self-commutated
• This circuit may not be stable due to
energy build up on the commutation
capacitor.
Complementary Commutation
• A complementary commutation is
used to transfer current between
two loads
• When T1 is fired, the load with R1
is connected to the supply
voltage, Vs, and at the same time
the capacitor C is charged to Vs
through the other load with R2.
• When T2 is fired, the capacitor is then placed across T1 and the load
with R2 is connected to the supply voltage, Vs.
• T1 is reverse biased and is turned off by impulse commutating.
• Once T1 is switched off, the capacitor voltage is reversed to -Vs
through R1, T2, and the supply.
• If T1 is fired again, T2 is turned off and the cycle is repeated.
External Pulse Commutation
• A pulse of current is
obtained from an external
voltage to turn off a
conducting thyristor.
• VS is the voltage of the main
supply and V is the voltage
of the auxiliary source.
• If T3 is fired, the capacitor will charge from the auxiliary source.
• Assuming that the capacitor is initially uncharged, a resonant current
pulse of peak V, will flow through T3 and the capacitor is charged to
2V.
• If T1 is conducting and a load current is supplied from the main
source Vs, the firing of T2 will apply a reverse voltage of Vs-2V across
thyristor T1; and T1 will be turned off.
• Once T1 is turned off, the capacitor will discharge through the load at
a rate determined by the magnitude of the load current, Im.
Load-side commutation
• In load-side commutation, the load forms a series
circuit with the capacitor; and the discharging
and recharging of the capacitor are done through
the load.
• The performance of load-side commutation
circuits depends on the load and in addition the
commutation circuits cannot be tested without
connecting the load.
• Impulse commutation, Resonant pulse
commutation, are examples of load-side
commutation.
Line-side commutation
• The discharging and
recharging of the capacitor
are not accomplished through
the load and the
commutation circuit can be
tested without connecting the
load.
• When T2 is fired, capacitor C is charged to 2Vs and T2 is self-

commutated
• T3 is fired to reverse the voltage of capacitor to -2Vs and T3 is also self-
commutated.
• Assuming that T1 is conducting and carries a load current of Im, T2 is
fired to turn off T1.
• The firing of T2 will forward bias the diode Dm and apply a reverse
voltage of 2Vs across T1; and T1 will be turned off.
• The discharging and recharging of the capacitor will be done through the
supply.
• The connection of the load is not required to test the commutation
circuit.

Commutation Techniques

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Commutation Techniques

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Commutation Techniques

The voltage and current waveforms with a delay angle, α=0.

With initial conditions VC (t=0) =0

With initial voltage VC (t=0) = - VO and i (t=0) =0

tr is called reverting time

• Ip is the peak value of resonant current

• When T2 is fired, capacitor C is charged to 2Vs and T2 is self-

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