Types of Chopper Circuits

In power electronics chopper circuits, unidirectional power semiconductors are used.  If these semiconductor devices are arranged appropriately, a chopper can work in any of the four quadrants. we can classify chopper circuits according to their working in any of these four quadrants  as  type  A, type B, type C, type D and type E. Let us now take a look of these classifications and the characteristics of various classifications.

Type A Chopper or First–Quadrant Chopper

This type of chopper is shown in the figure. It is known as first-quadrant chopper or type A chopper. When the chopper is on, v_{0 =} V_S as a result and the current flows in the direction of the load. But when the chopper is off v₀   is zero but I₀  continues to flow in the same direction through the freewheeling diode FD, thus average value of voltage and current  say V₀  and I₀  will be always positive as shown in the graph.

In type A chopper the power flow will be always from source to the load. As the average voltage V₀ is less than the dc input voltage V_s  

Type B Chopper or Second-Quadrant Chopper

In type B or second quadrant chopper the load must always contain a dc source E .  When the chopper   is on, v₀   is zero but the load voltage E drives the current through the inductor L and the chopper, L stores the energy during the time T_on  of the chopper . When the chopper is off , v₀ =( E+ L .  di/dt )  will be more than the source voltage  V_s . Because of this the diode D2 will be  forward biased and begins conducting and hence the power starts flowing to the source.  No matter the chopper is on or off the current I₀  will be flowing out of the load and is treated negative . Since V_O  is positive and  the current I₀  is negative , the direction of power flow will be from load to source. The load voltage V₀  = (E+L  .di/dt )   will be more than the voltage V_s  so the  type B chopper is also known as a step up chopper .

Type -C chopper or Two-quadrant type-A Chopper

Type C chopper is obtained by connecting type –A  and type –B choppers in parallel.  We will always get a positive output voltage V₀  as the freewheeling diode FD is present across the load.  When the chopper is on the freewheeling diode starts conducting and the output voltage v₀ will be equal to V_s   . The direction of the load current i₀ will be reversed. The current i₀  will be flowing towards the source  and   it will be positive regardless the chopper is on or  the FD conducts.  The load current will be negative if the chopper is or the diode D2 conducts.  We can say the chopper and FD  operate together as type-A chopper in first quadrant. In the second quadrant, the chopper and D2 will operate together as type –B chopper.

The average voltage will be always positive but the average load current might be positive or negative. The power flow may be life the first quadrant operation ie from source to load or from load to source like the second quadrant operation.  The two choppers should not be turned on simultaneously as the combined action my cause a short circuit in supply lines. For regenerative braking and motoring these type of chopper configuration is used.

 Type D Chopper or Two-Quadrant Type –B Chopper

The circuit diagram of the type D chopper is shown in the above figure. When the two choppers are on the output voltage  v₀ will be equal to V_s  . When v₀ = – V_s  the two choppers will be off but both the diodes D1 and D2 will start conducting. V₀ the average output voltage will be positive when the choppers turn-on  the time T_on will be more than the turn off time T_off  its shown in the wave form below. As the diodes and choppers conduct current only in one direction the direction of load current will be always positive.

The power flows from source to load    as the average values of both v₀ and i₀ is positive.  From the  wave form  it is seen that the average value of V₀  is positive  thus the forth quadrant operation of type D chopper is obtained.

From the wave forms the Average value of output voltage is given by
V0= (V_s T_on-V_sT_off)/T  = V_s.(T_on-T_off)/T

Type –E chopper or the Fourth-Quadrant Chopper

Type E or the fourth quadrant chopper consists of four semiconductor switches and four diodes arranged in antiparallel.  The 4 choppers are numbered according to which quadrant they belong. Their operation will be in each quadrant and the corresponding chopper only be active in  its quadrant.

• First Quadrant

During the first quadrant operation the chopper CH4 will be on . Chopper CH3 will be off and CH1 will be operated.  AS the CH1 and CH4 is on the load voltage v₀ will be equal to the source voltage V_s  and the load current i₀  will begin to flow . v₀ and i₀ will be positive as the first quadrant operation is taking place. As soon as the chopper CH1 is turned off, the positive current freewheels through CH4  and the diode D2 .  The type E chopper acts as a step- down chopper in the first quadrant.

• Second Quadrant

In this case the chopper CH2 will be operational and the other three are kept off. As  CH2 is on  negative current will starts flowing through the inductor L . CH2 ,E and D4.  Energy is stored in the inductor L as the chopper CH2 is on. When CH2 is off the current will be fed back to the source through the diodes D1 and D4. Here (E+L.di/dt) will be more than the source voltage V_s  . In second quadrant the chopper will act as a step-up chopper as the power is fed back from load to source

• Third Quadrant

In third quadrant operation CH1 will be kept off , CH2 will be  on and CH3 is operated. For this quadrant working the polarity of the load should be reversed. As the chopper CH3 is on, the load gets connected to the source  V_s and  v₀ and i₀ will be negative  and the third quadrant operation will takes place. This chopper acts as a step-down chopper

• Fourth Quadrant

CH4 will be operated and CH1, CH2 and CH3 will be off. When the chopper CH4 is turned on positive current starts to flow through CH4, D2 ,E and the inductor L will store energy. As the CH4 is turned off the current is feedback to the source through the diodes D2 and D3 , the operation will be in fourth quadrant as the load voltage is negative but the load current is positive. The chopper acts as a step up chopper as the power is fed back from load to source.