Thyristor Switching using Snubber Circuit

Published  February 16, 2018   1
Thyristor Switching using Snubber Circuit

Snubbers are the energy absorbing circuits used to smooth the voltage spikes caused due to the circuit’s inductance. Sometimes, due to the overcurrent, overvoltage and overheating the component gets fail. So, for the overcurrent protection of the circuit we use fuses at suitable locations and for overheating we use heat sinks or fans.

Snubber circuits are used for limiting the rate of change in voltage or current (di/dt or dv/dt) and overvoltage during turning ON and OFF the circuit. A Snubber circuit is the combination of resistors and capacitors connected in series across the switch like transistor or Thyristor for the protection as well as for improving performance. Snubber circuits are also used across the switches and relays to prevent arcing.

In this project, we will show you how a Snubber circuit protects a Thyristor from overvoltage or overcurrent. The circuit is consisting of Snubber circuit across the Thyristor and a frequency generator circuit using 555 timer IC.

 

Material Required

  • Thyristor-TYN612 (SCR)
  • 555 timer IC
  • Resistor (47k-2,10k-2,1k-1,150-1)
  • Capacitor (0.01uf,0.001uf,0.1uf-2)
  • Diode-1N4007
  • Switch
  • Oscilloscope (for output confirmation)
  • 9v supply
  • Connecting wires

 

Circuit Diagram

Thyristor Switching Circuit diagram using Snubber
Part-1 of this Circuit is frequency generator circuit using 555 timer IC. When a 555 timer is operating in Astable mode we obtain a pulse on the output pin and we use the 555 Timer Astable Circuit Calculator for getting the frequency of 100 kHz.
Part 2 of this circuit is used for obtaining the switching characteristic of the Thyristor with the Snubber circuit.

 

Thyristor - TYN612

Here, in the name of Thyristor TYN612, ‘6’ indicates the value of Repetitive peak off-state voltage, VDRM and VRRM is 600 V and ‘12’ indicates the value of On-state RMS current, IT (RMS) is 12 A. Thyristor TYN612 is fit for all modes of control like overvoltage crowbar protection, motor control circuit, inrush current limiting circuits, capacitive discharge ignition and voltage regulation circuits. The range of triggering gate current (IGT) is 5 mA to 15 mA. The operating temperature ranges from -40 to 125 °C. Learn more about the Thyristor here.

 

Pinout Diagram of Thyristor TYN612

Thyristor TYN612 Pinout

 

Pin Configuration of Thyristor TYN612

Pin NO.

Pin Name

Description

1

K

Cathode of Thyristor

2

A

Anode of Thyristor

3

G

Gate of Thyristor, used for triggering

 

 

Design of Snubber Circuit

Snubber Circuit

As we know, a Snubber circuit is the combination of resistor and capacitor. Capacitor, used in Snubber circuit, is able to prevent the device from unwanted dv/dt triggering of the Thyristor or SCR. As the voltage is applied to the circuit a sudden voltage appears across the switching device. The capacitor Cs behaves like a short circuit which results in zero voltage across the SCR. As the time flies, the voltage across the capacitor Cs builds up at a slow rate. So, the value of dv/dt across the capacitor C2 and Thyristor gets decrease than the maximum dv/dt rating of the device.

Now, the question is what is the use of resistance RS? When the SCR is turned ON, capacitor discharges through the SCR and sends a current equal to Vs/RS. As the resistance is quite LOW, the di/dt will tend to be high enough that may damage the SCR. So, in order to limit the magnitude of discharge current resistance RS is used.

 

Working of Snubber Circuit

The circuit is divided into two parts. The first one is used as a frequency generator circuit using a 555 timer IC whose output is used to feed the gate terminal of Thyristor. The second part of the circuit is used to check the switching of the Thyristor or SCR with the Snubber circuit and without the Snubber circuit.

 

Case I: Without Snubber Circuit

Thyristor Switching Circuit diagram without Snubber

Thyristor Switching without Snubber Circuit

When the Snubber circuit is not present across the SCR as shown in the circuit above, high voltage spikes occur as you can see in the waveform below. So for smoothing the voltage spikes, we use a Snubber circuit which prevents the device to get damaged due to overvoltage or dv/dt false triggering.

Thyristor Switching waveform without Snubber Circuit

 

Case II: With Snubber Circuit

Thyristor Switching Circuit diagram using Snubber

Thyristor Switching with Snubber Circuit

When Snubber circuit is present across the SCR, it reduces or smoothes the voltage spikes as shown in the waveform below. Therefore, the device will not get damaged due to overvoltage and it also reduces the dv/dt value of the device than the maximum rating. 

Thyristor Switching waveform with Snubber Circuit

Video

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