Types of Cyclo Converter

There are following types of cyclo converter

(A) According to output frequency
Step up cyclo converter
It is a cyclo converter in which output frequency is greater than the input frequency of the
input supply.
Step down cyclo converter
It is a cyclo converter in which output frequency is less than the input frequency of the input
supply.
(B) According to supply voltage
(a) Single phase to Single phase cyclo converter
Centre taped transformer configuration
Bridge configuration
(b) Three phase to three phase cyclo converter
(c) Three phase to single phase cyclo converter

Single phase to Single phase cyclo converter

It is a cyclo converter in which output frequency may be higher or lower than the input
frequency.
The input and output of this type of cyclo converter is single phase alternating. There are two
configurations in this type of cyclo converter : centre taped configuration and bridge configuration

Single phase to Single phase centre taped configuration

The power circuit of single phase to single phase centre taped configuration is shown in the
figure A.
There are two groups of SCRs. The positive half cycle of the output voltage is generated by
one group of SCRs ( SCR T1 and SCR T2 ).
Similarly the negative half cycle of the output voltage is generated by second group of SCRs (
SCR T3 and SCR T4 ).
The output frequency generates by this type of cyclo converter may be 1/3 that of input
frequency. The load is connected between point C and D as shown in the figure A.

Operation : Resistive load

Positive group
The point A is made positive with respect to point C in the positive half cycle of the supply
voltage.
The SCR T1 is turned on during this interval.
The SCR T2 remains turns off when point B is negative with respect to point C.
The load current flows through path A SCR T1 D Load C A during this interval.
The SCR T1 automatic turn off during negative cycle of the alternating supply because point
A is made negative with respect to point C.
As the SCR T2 is turned on, the load current flows through path point B SCR T2 D
Load C B.
The SCR T1 again turns on during positive half cycle and SCR T2 automatic turns off during
that time.
The load current flows from supply to load during three half cycle of the alternating supply (
Figure B ).
The voltage across load is equal to one half cycle which is made by combination of three half
cycle of input supply.
The output voltage of the cyclo converter is adjusted by controlling firing angle of SCR T1
and SCR T2.
Negative group
The SCR T3 and SCR T4 receive gate pulse and gate pulse of SCR T1 and SCR T2 remove in
this mode.
When point B is made positive with respect to point C, SCR T3 is switched on in spite of
SCR T2 and load current flows through path C LOAD D SCR T3 A C.
The direction of load current flows through path load to supply side.
The point A is made positive with respect to point C in the next half cycle and at that time
SCR T3 automatic turns off and SCR T4 is turns on resulting load current flows through path C
LOAD D SCR T4 B C.
The SCR T3 turns on and SCR T4 turns off in the next half cycle resulting voltage across load
is equal to one negative half cycle equivalent to three half cycle of alternating supply.
The load current flows through load to supply side.

Finally we conclude that we receive only one complete cycle at the load side for three complete
cycle at the input side therefore the output frequency is one third that of input frequency.
The output voltage of the cyclo converter is adjusted by controlling the firing angle of the SCRs.
Inductive load
The load current continues to flow in spite of complete half cycle due to energy stored in the
inductor when load is inductive.
This will result in SCR does not turn off after completion of half cycle and load voltage
becomes negative.
When positive half cycle of the supply complete and negative half cycle starts, the SCR T3
turns on by applying gate pulse but it does not turns on because the conduction of SCR T1 of positive
converter continue due to inductive load.
The SCR T1 reverse biases the SCR T3. This will result in no voltage available at the load
point during this half cycle. ( or we can say that the voltage across load becomes zero until SCR T1
does not turns off. )
The voltage across load becomes zero when conduction of cyclo converter shift from positive
half cycle to negative half cycle.
This will generate distortion in the output voltage waveform and its depend upon firing angle
of SCRs and power factor of load.
Effect of ratio of input frequency and output frequency
When the ratio of input frequency and output frequency does not integer, the conduction of
positive group SCR continue in the last half cycle but at that time conduction of SCR T3 or SCR T4
of negative group starts.
This will result in short circuit and load voltage becomes zero.
The time duration of short circuit is less than half cycle of the input supply.
The inductor is connected at the input side in order to limit the short circuit current.
Single phase to Single phase bridge configuration
The centre tapping transformer is not required in this configuration. The power circuit of the
single phase bridge configuration cyclo converter is shown in the figure A.
The SCR T1 to SCR T4 works as positive group ( P converter ) and SCR T5 to SCR T8
works as negative group ( N converter ).
If the P converter and N converter conducts simultaneously, the supply is short circuited.
It should be noted that when P group SCRs conducts, the N group SCRs remains in off
condition and vice versa.
 The output voltage becomes symmetrical if the firing angle of the both converter SCRs are
kept same.

Operation
Positive Group
The SCR T1 and SCR T3 are turned on during positive half cycle of the alternating supply
resulting load current flows through path A SCR T1 LOAD SCR T3 B.
The SCR T1 and SCR T3 naturally turns off due to negative half cycle of the alternating
supply. When SCR T2 and SCR T4 are turned on, the load current flows through path B SCR T2
LOAD SCR T4 A.
The load current flows through supply to load during positive half cycle of the alternating
supply.
There are two positive half cycle at the output due to one positive and one negative half cycle
of the alternating supply.
Negative supply
The SCR T5 and SCR T7 are turned on during positive half cycle of the alternating supply
and load current flows through path A SCR T7 LOAD SCR T5 B.
The direction of load current in the N converter is opposite to that of current flow in the P
converter.
The SCR T5 and SCR T7 naturally turns off due to negative half cycle of the alternating
supply.
When the SCR T6 and SCR T8 are turned on, the load current flows through path B SCR
T8 LOAD SCR T6 A.
The direction of load current reverses and there are two negative half cycle at the output due
to one positive and one negative half cycle of the alternating supply at the input.
 The input and output waveforms of the bridge configuration cyclo converter is shown in the
figure D.
When there are two complete cycles at the input sides, there is only one complete cycle at the
output side resulting we can say that the output frequency is one half to that of input frequency.
If the input frequency is 50 Hz, the output frequency will be 25 Hz. The waveform of the
output voltage is adjusted by adjusting firing angle of the SCRs.
Advantages, Disadvantages and Application of the Cycloconverter
Advantages
The cyclo converter is a single stage converter therefore its efficiency is very high.
The cyclo converter operates on line commutation ( except step up cyclo converter )
therefore extra force commutation components are not required.
The power transfer in the cyclo converter is possible from supply to load and vice versa at
any power factor.
If one of the SCR fails, the cyclo converter operates with distorted output.
The cyclo converter generates high quality sinusoidal waveform for low output frequency
whereas the static inverter generates square waveform for low output frequency ( < 10 Hz ).

Disadvantages
The control circuit becomes complex because there are large numbers of SCRs in the cyclo
converter.
The power factor of the cyclo converter becomes low for low output voltage. The supply gets
short circuited due to failure of commutation circuit.
The output frequency of the cyclo converter is 1/3th or 1/2 for reasonable power output and
efficiency.

Application
Variable frequency supply for air craft or shipyard
Speed control of AC drive
Induction heating