WhatareMultipulse ACDC Converters?

Multipulse converters are converters providing more than six pulses of DC voltage per cycle from AC input Or the converter having more steps in AC input current than that of six pulse bridge rectifier supply current. Bridge rectifier is the basic block required for ACDC conversion, however, fullwave and halfwave rectifiers are also used up to 120kW ratings. Phase shifting transformers are used to derive multiple phase supply from threephase AC mains using different combinations of transformer windings such as star, delta, zigzag, fork, polygon, etc.

ProblemsinACDCConverters
The major problems in ACDC converters are injection of harmonics at input and output . Harmonics cause dielectric, thermal or voltage stress, which cause premature ageing of electrical insulation. Voltage distortion at point of common coupling takes place due to the voltage drop of harmonic currents flowing through system impedances. Capacitor bank overloading due to system resonance. Interference on telephone and communication lines due to noise induced from the power conductors. Poor power factor. Equipment damage from voltage spikes created by high frequency resonance resulting from notching.

PowerQualityStandardsinACDC Converters
IEEE Standard IEEE519. established in 1981 as the Recommended Practices and requirements for Harmonics Control in Electrical Power System giving limits on current and voltage distortion and revised in 1992 IEC 61000 The electric equipments have been categorized in four groups: Class A, B, C and D, for the purpose of harmonic current limitation. IEEE1531 (issued in 2003) gives necessary guidelines for specifications for the use of passive shunt harmonic filters in low and medium voltage electric power systems

CurrentDistortionLimitsforGeneralDistribution Systems(120VThrough69000V),IEEE519Std.

CurrentDistortionLimitsforGeneralSubtransmission Systems(69001Vthrough161000V),IEEE519Std.

LimitsforClassAequipment,IEC 61000Std.

AdvantagesofMultipulseACDC Converters
The performance parameters such as total harmonic distortion (THD) of AC mains current and ripple factor of output DC voltage improve, simultaneously. The improvement is independent of supply frequency variation, unlike passive filters. Minimal or no control required as Diodes and/or thyristors are mainly used. Economic, maintenance free and efficient. Phase shifting transformers are used to derive multiple phase supply from threephase AC mains using different combinations of transformer windings such as star, delta, zigzag, fork, polygon, etc.

ApplicationPotential
NonIsolated Uncontrolled Rectifiers :
Front end of Switched mode powers like SMPS, UPS, ACDC motor drives, dc servo drives. aircraft VSCF (Voltage source controlled frequency) systems and aircraft maintenance systems using 60Hz/400Hz converter systems. DC motor drive system with regenerative capacity. Some power supplies of large rating also use nonisolated dual converters

Isolated Uncontrolled Rectifiers :

The railways working on DC. The welding equipment working on high Frequency HVDC systems. Battery energy storage systems. Adjustable speed synchronous motor drive of large power ratings for applications such as mining. Arc furnaces

TypicalpowersupplysystemofDCarcfurnaces
TFS=Thyristor firingscheme; CAD= Conduction Angle Determinator; FAD=Firing Angle Determinator; PLL=phase LockedLoop

Amodeloftwelvepulserailwayrectifiersystem

Loadcommutatedcurrentsource inverterfedsynchronousmotor

AdvantagesofMultipulse Converter
PASSIVEWAVESHAPING LOWCOST RUGGEDSTRUCTURE LESSLOSSES HIGHEFFICIENCY LESSERRATINGTRANSFORMERREQDIN AUTOTRANSFORMERBASEDTOPOLOGIES

CLASSIFICATIONOFMULTIPULSEAC DCCONVERTERSbasedonphaseshift
Phase Shift = 600 / Number of SixPulse Converters Pulse Based Configurations TwelvePulse Converters 00 and 300 Phase Shift TwelvePulse Converters Based on +150 and 150 Phase Shift TwentyFourPulse Converters Based on 150 Phase Shift Eighteen Pulse Converters Based on +200 and 200 Phase Shift ThirtyPulse Converters Based on 120 Phase Shift

Multipulse DiodeRectifiers

Sixpulsedioderectifierwitharesistiveload.

Sixpulsedioderectifierwithacapacitiveload.

DiscontinuousCurrentOperation

ContinuousCurrentOperation

DefinitionofTHDandPF

PerUnitSystem

THDandPFofSixPulseDiodeRectifier

SERIESTYPEMULTIPULSEDIODE RECTIFIERS
12PulseSeriesTypeDiodeRectifier

12PulseSeriesTypeDiodeRectifier

18PulseSeriesTypeDiodeRectifier

24PulseSeriesTypeDiodeRectifier

SEPARATETYPEMULTIPULSEDIODE RECTIFIERS
12PulseSeparateTypeDiodeRectifier

12PulseSeparateTypeDiode Rectifier

Applicationofthe12pulseseparatetypedioderectifierina cascadedHbridge multilevelinverterfeddrive.

PhaseShiftingTransformers

Y Transformer

Y ZTRANSFORMER

Y/Z1Transformers

Y/Z2Transformers

TurnsRatioforY/ZTransformers

/ZTRANSFORMERS

/Z1Transformer

/Z2Transformer

TurnsRatiofor/ZTransformers

Examplesofphaseshifting transformersformultipulse rectifiers.

For12PulseRectifiers

 For18PulseRectifiers

 For24PulseRectifiers