Analysis of the Multi-pulses

Rectifiers
Oklahoma State University
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Engineering
Fenglin Zhou
Instructor: Dr. R. G. Ramakumar

Abstract
With the rapid development to power electronic technology in the
last few decades, a variety of power electronic applications are widely
used. But the nonlinear property of the traditional rectifier circuits makes
severe distortion in the input current. This distorted current inserts
massive harmonics into the grid and pollutes the grid. Thus, the methods
to reduce harmonics are required.
This paper will introduce four methods of reducing the harmonics:
passive filter, active filter, power factor correction (PFC) and multipluses rectifiers. Then, compare the advantages and disadvantages of the
four methods. Finally, discuss multi-pluses more specifically.
Keywords: harmonics, passive filter, active filter, PFC and multi-pulses
rectifiers

Content
Abstract
Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1

Overview

1.1.1 The concept of power factors and THD

1.1.2 Harmfulness of harmonics

The technology of reducing harmonics

1.2.1 The introduction of passive filter

1.2.2 The introduction of active filter

1.2.3 The introduction of PFC

1.2.4 The introduction of multi-pulses rectifiers

1.2

Chapter 2 Comparison of four methods

Chapter 3 Analysis of multi-pulse rectifiers

Chapter 4 Conclusion

14

Reference

Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Overview
People have greatly developed the power electronics technology and used
power electronics applications everywhere during the last 30 years. In various
power electronic devices, the rectifier devices occupy a large proportion.
Traditional rectifier circuits use thyristor phase-controlled rectifier or diode
rectifier. Network side current mutation caused by thyristor trigger conduction
and pulse input current in the capacitor filter circuit, not only lead to grid
current and voltage phase inconsistencies, but also make a large number of
network-side current harmonics, which result in the grid harmonic pollution.
Managing the harmonics and creating a Green Grid have become the main
directions in power electronic technology.
1.1.1 The concept of power factors and THD
Rectifier circuit is the interface between the public grid and power
electronics circuit devices. Its performance will affect the operation of public
electricity grid and the quality of electricity.
If there are nonlinear power switches in the rectifier circuits, when the
network side voltage us is a sinusoid wave, network side current is will contain
harmonics:
u N U Nm sin t

iN I Nm sin(nt n )
n 1

(1.1)
(1.2)

Thus, the network side power factor can be described as

PF

Pn
n 1

P1 Pn
n 2

(1.3)

S
1

P1 is the active power of fundamental, S is apparent power. u N has no

harmonics, the active power of harmonics is zero:

P
n2

(1.4)

P1
S

(1.5)

Rearrange Equation 1.3

PF

For single phase circuits, active power of fundamental is

P1 U1 I1 cos 1

(1.6)

S UI U1 I

(1.7)

Apparent power:
According to Equation 1.5, 1.6, and 1.7
PF

I1
cos 1
I

(1.8)

Define sine coefficient:

I1

I1

I12 I n2

I
1 n
n 2 I1

n2

1
1 THD 2

(1.9)

And,
I n

n 2 I1

THD

(1.10)

Total harmonic distortion (THD) is the main parameter to describe the

quality of current waveforms. The smaller the THD, the better current
waveforms. Equation 1.8 indicates that: power factor is the product of the
fundamental phase shift factor cos 1 and sine coefficient . If THD is larger, the
power factor is smaller correspondingly.
1.1.2 Harmfulness of harmonics
2

From 1.1.1, it can be learned that current and voltage phase shift in the
network side and harmonics in the network side current both contributes to the
low power factor. Traditional industrial applications adopt capacitors to do the
phase compensation for the current lag mainly caused by inductive loads. And
reduce the reactive current. With the high-frequency power electronic devices
widely used, massive harmonics in the input currents pollute the grid and raise
peoples concerns. On one hand, harmonics have a secondary effect which
means the current flowing through the line impedance causes harmonic voltage
drop, then make the grid voltage (the original is a sine wave) also distorted at
the same time. On the other hand, harmonics will interfere with other electrical
equipment, causing instrumentation and measurement false action and
protection.
After the rectifiers inject a large number of harmonics into the power
system, power system stability will be affected. The instability will threaten
electrical equipment, protection devices and other power system components.
What is worse, the entire power system will collapse. So, the total content of
harmonics has become an important evaluation of power quality.
1.2 The technology of reducing harmonics
Generally speaking, the technology of reducing harmonics can be divided
into two main directions: filters and new rectifiers with lower harmonics.
Filters can be divided into passive filter and active filter. The rectifier
technology with lower harmonics is power factor correction (PFC), multi-pulses
rectifier and etc.
1.2.1 The introduction of passive filter

Passive filters use components without source, such as inductors and

capacitors, to form resonator filters. In real circuits, LC filters can be put in
series or parallel with the harmonic source.

Picture 1.1 (a) Second order high frequency pass filter

(b) Property of second order impedance frequency

Second order high frequency filter circuit is showed by Picture 1 .1(a), its
impedance is
1
1
1
Zn

jnws C R jnws L

(1.11)
4

The waveform of Z n with changing frequency is showed in Picture 1.1 (b).

This waveform is low impendence in a wide range of various frequencies. It
forms the low impendence path for the high order harmonics. Most of those
high order harmonic currents flow into the filter. Thus, the purpose of reducing
harmonics is achieved.
1.2.2 The introduction of active filters
Active filters use components with source, such as thyristors and control
circuits to do the harmonic compensation. Its basic principle is to compensate
for the current by detecting harmonics and generate an equal value, but opposite
polarity current of those harmonics. So, the grid contains only the
fundamental component of the current. The structure of active filters
can be divided into series model and parallel model. And active filters are
mainly used in the power system.
1.2.3 The introduction of power factor correction (PFC) converters
PFC converters use converter design or control strategy to track the input
current with the input voltage. So, this technology makes input voltage and
input voltage in the same phase and makes the current waveform sinusoidal.
PFC technology has many kinds of classification. Based on the input voltage, it
can be defined as single-phase PFC and three-phase PFC, and the technology of
single-phase PFC is more mature. The converters can use Buck, Boost, BuckBoost, and etc. The input current of Boost circuit is continuous. So, the Boost
circuit is the main stream now. According to the work modes of inductor in the
PFC-Boost converter, it can be defined as continuous, critical continuous and
discontinuous mode. The control strategy can use peak current control,
hysteresis current control, average current control, and single-cycle control.
5

1.2.4 The introduction of multi-pulses rectifiers

Multi-pulses rectifiers use different wind connection modes of

phase-

shifting transformer (such as delta and star connection) to obtain voltage vectors
with different phases. Divide the input current into vectors with different
phases. Finally, the square-wave current of the three-phase bridge rectifier
circuit consists of ladder wave currents to achieve phase adjustment and
harmonic reduction.

Chapter 2 Comparison of four methods

Passive filters have the advantages of simple structure and high reliability.
And they have been widely used. But the traditional passive filters only have
obvious effects on harmonics of specific orders. But they are in large size and
weight. Moreover, they cannot reach a high power factor (generally up to 0.9).
The suppression on input current harmonics is not very good.
Active filters can track and compensate the harmonics with changing
frequencies and amplitudes. And compensation is not affected by the grid
impedance. Harmonic current detection and rapid calculation is the core of the
system control. So, the systems need digital logic devices, such as DSP and
FGPA. When the frequency of the fundamental current is much high, it is
difficult to detect harmonics and calculate rapidly.
PFC converters have a better effect on phase correction and harmonic
suppression, and smaller volumes. However, the power capacitor is not large
and overload ability and reliability are far less than the passive filters.
Multi-pulse rectifiers can reduce the AC input current harmonic content,
reduce the dc output voltage ripple, and they have simple structures, high
reliability, high efficiency, strong overload ability and other significant
advantages.

Chapter 3 Analysis of multi-pulse rectifiers

In the chapter 2, it can be inferred that multi-pulses rectifiers have more
advantages than other kinds of harmonic reduction technology. In this chapter,
specific details will be given.
Multi-pulses rectifiers use different wind connection modes of

phase-

shifting transformer (such as delta and star connection) to obtain voltage vectors
with different phases. Divide the input current into vectors with different
phases. Finally, the square-wave current of the three-phase bridge rectifier
circuit consists of ladder wave currents to achieve phase adjustment and
harmonic reduction. When the steps number of forming the current is larger,
that is to say, there are more voltage vectors with different phases, the
waveform is more likely to be sinusoidal, and THD is smaller.
Generally, different multi-pulses rectifiers can be defined by
the number of pulses, such as 6, 12, 18, 24, and etc. The
analysis of the harmonic content is shown in Table 3.1 below.
Number of

12

18

24

6K1

12K1

18K1

24K1

31.08%

15.2%

10.1%

6.8%

pulses
Content of
harmonics
Theoretical
value of THD
Table 3.1 Current harmonics of multiple-pulses rectifiers

In practical project, THD equal or less than 10% is tolerable. Compared with
6-pulse and 12-pulse rectifiers, the 18-pulse rectifiers have a better effect. And
compared with 24-pulse and 30-pulse rectifiers, the structures of 18-pulse
8

rectifiers in real circuit are simpler and cost less. Thus, that is why the 18-pulses
rectifiers are mostly widely used. Then, 18-pluse rectifiers will be discussed
more specifically next.
The circuit diagram of an 18-pulse rectifier is showed in Picture 3.1.

Picture 3.1 the circuit diagram of an 18-pulse rectifier

The 18 voltage vectors with different phases are shown in Picture 3.2.

Picture 3.2 18-pulse rectifier voltage vectors

The winding diagram is shown in Picture 3.3 below.

9

Picture 3.3 18-pulses rectifier winding diagram

Let Primary winding turns be N p , short primary winding turns be N p1 , long

primary winding turns be N p 2 , secondary winding turns be N s .
'

In the triangle bab ,

180o 20o
80o
2

abb ' ab 'b

.

Vbb'
sin(bab ' )
.

Vbb'

(3.1)

Vab
sin(abb ' )

(3.2)

3Vs sin 20
0.602Vs
sin 80

(3.3)

'

In the triangle bb p ,

Vbb'
sin(bpb' )

Vbp
sin(bb' p)

Vb' p
sin(pbb' )

(3.4)

bb ' p 20o , bpb ' 120o plug in (3.4),

Vbp

sin 20o 0.602Vs

0.238Vs
sin120o

(3.5)
10

Vb' p

sin 40o 0.602Vs

0.446Vs
sin120o

(3.6)

V pm Vbc 2 cos 60o Vbp 1.495Vs

(3.7)

According winding voltage, each winding turns ratio is calculated as

follows:

N p1
Np
N p2
Np

Vb' p

0.29875

V pm

(3.8)

0.40250

(3.9)

Ns

Np

Vbp

0.15896

V pm

(3.10)

The transformer winding is shown in Picture 3.4

Picture 3.4 18-pulse rectifier transformer winding

11

According to KCL,
isa ia ica1 ibc3

iab1 iab 2 ib'

i i i
ab 2 ab3 c''

(3.11)

isb ib iab1 ica 3

ibc1 ibc 2 ic'

i i i
bc 2 bc 3 a''

(3.12)

isc ic ibc1 iab3

ica1 ica 2 ia'

i i i
ca 2 ca 3 b''

(3.13)

And magnetic potential balance principle,

N p1iab1 N p 2iab 2 N p1iab3 N s (ica1 ibc 3 )

N p1ibc1 N p 2ibc 2 N p1ibc 3 N s (iab1 ica 3 )

N i N i N i N (i i )
p 2 ca 2
p1 ca 3
s bc1
ab 3
p1 ca1

(3.14)

Plug (3.8) (3.9) (3.11) (3.12) and (3.14) in (3.13)

ica1 0.714ia' 0.028ib' 0.109ic' 0.028ia'' 0.286ib'' 0.109ic''

ibc 3 0.028ia' 0.109ib' 0.286ic' 0.714ia'' 0.109ib'' 0.028ic''

i 0.109i 0.286i 0.028i 0.109i 0.028i 0.286i
a'
b'
c'
a ''
b''
c''
ab 2

(3.15)

And will get phase current isa ,

isa ia ica1 ibc 3 ia 0.742(ia' ia'' ) 0.137(ib' ic'' ) 0.395(ic' ib'' )

(3.16)

The current waveform of 18-pulse rectifier is shown below in Picture 3.5.

12

Picture 3.5 the current waveform of 18-pulse rectifier

According to Picture 3.5, all the three component currents in phase a is in

the same phase with the voltage of phase a. That is to say, the current and the
voltage are in the same phase. The purpose to improve power factor is achieved.

13

Chapter 4 Conclusion
With the rapid development of power electronics, a variety of power
electronic applications are widely used. But the nonlinear property of the
traditional rectifier circuits makes severe distortion in the input current.
Managing the harmonics and creating a Green Grid have become the main
directions in power electronic technology. In this project, 4 methods to reduce
harmonics were discussed. Among all of them, the multi-pulse rectifier
technology has the best effect on reducing harmonics. Selecting number of
pulses depends on the requirement of the practical problems.

14

Reference
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new step-up and step-down 18-pulse direct asymmetric autotransformer-rectifier. Industry
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