Silicon Controlled Rectifier

SCR
Power Semiconductor Devices hierarchy
Thyristors - Workhorses in the industry…

Power Semiconductor devices

They are used for high power
control and switching
applications. i.e. hundreds of
amps / thousands of watts

contain 4 or more layer

of P & N type semiconductor
material
What is SCR?
• SCR – is the most important member of thyristor family
• It is like diode with additional control terminal called Gate.

SCR
Rectifier diode
4 - layer
how SCR operates……
Biasing
this way

Parts and function:

1. Anode – (A) connected to positive side of voltage source
2. Cathode – ( K) connected to negative or ground side of supply
3. Gate – ( G) control the conduction of SCR. Supplied with positive
voltage to trigger the SCR into conduction.
 remember these characteristics ……..
1. When SCR is forward
biased SCR will not turn on
at once because current is
blocked by reverse biased
junction (J2). In order to
break the gap or overcome
barriers at J2 , a trigger
voltage must be applied at
the gate .
2. Once SCR is conducting , it will will “latch”
or continue conducting even gate voltage is
removed.
Transistor Equivalent of SCR
Basic operation
Variable
50V
Question:
1. Explain why SCR will not
ANODE (A) conduct without gate
IF
voltage?
Q1

IC2=IB1
2. Explain why SCR
BJT_PNP_VIRTUAL conducts when VGT is
Q2
applied?
GATE (G)
IC1 = IB2 3. After SCR conducts,
BJT_NPN_VIRTUAL
explain why the device
continues to conduct even
IF
CATHODE (K)
gate voltage is removed ?
Two important applications of SCR
• Switching – used to turn on or off a high power load from
AC or DC source.
• Power control – controlling input electrical power to the
desired amount before delivering to load

SCR
how it works as a “switch”

“ON” condition “OFF” condition

Example of application

DC source AC source
Why SCR !!!
• Most industrial plants use DC motors
2. Use as power control AC Input

• limit conduction period of SCR

DC output
by delaying gate voltage for a
certain time (from 0° to 180 ° )

DC output

DC output
how conduction of SCR is controlled …..
• If AC source is applied to the gate of SCR, the conduction time of SCR is
varied from 0° to 180° ( only half cycle because SCR is a rectifier )
• By applying gate voltage at the desired time ( firing angle ) the conduction
of SCR is controlled.
 Firing angle vs Conduction angle

The technique of applying or delaying gate voltage is known as firing.

The angular separation after angle = 0° at which you apply the Gate
signal is called the Firing Angle.
What is conduction angle?
• A duration for which SCR is conducting or in the “on state “
• Conduction angle = 180° - firing angle
Question:
• How would you delay in degrees ( equivalent to time ) the
conduction of SCR?
• What electronic device is employed to delay conduction of
SCR?
important parameters needed in the design….
(i) Breakover voltage ( BVO)
(ii) Peak reverse voltage ( PRV )
(iii) Latching current ( IL )
(iv) Holding current ( IH )
(v) Forward current rating
(vi) Circuit fusing rating
(vii)dv/dt
(viii)di/dt
 Continue……..
• Breakover voltage (VBO) - minimum forward voltage at which
SCR starts conducting even without gate voltage.
• Commercially available SCRs have breakover voltages from about 200 V
to thousand volts.
• When a breakover voltage of SCR is 200 V, it means that at this value
SCR conduct even without gate voltage . But less than 200V, SCR stays
open. It can only triggered into conduction if is gate voltage is applied.

s eak reverse voltage ( PRV) the maximum reverse voltage that may
•P
be applied without damaging an SCR. If PRV is exceeded, this will
damage the SCR
 SCR voltage –ampere ( I-V) characteristics

Latching
current IL Gate
triggered
Peak Reverse Break over
voltage ( PRV ) Holding Voltage ( VBO )
IH
current

VBO
Gate
Reverse current
leakage
current
Different SCR currents ( actually anode currents )
• Latching Current IL --minimum anode current required to maintain the
SCR in ON state after gate voltage has been removed.
• The anode current must be allowed to build up such that the latching
current is attained before the gate pulse is removed. Otherwise the SCR
will be turned OFF if the gate signal is removed.
• Holding Current IH --minimum value of the anode current below which
SCR stops conducting and turns OFF.
• If an SCR has a holding current of 5mA, it means that if anode current is
made less than 5mA, then SCR will be turned off.
• Average ON-state Current Rating ( ITAV ) or ( IF ) - maximum repetitive
average value of forward current the device may safely conduct without
incurring damage
 Different Currents in SCR
Latching Current IL --minimum anode current required to maintain the SCR
in ON state after gate voltage has been removed.
The anode current must be allowed to build up such that the latching
current is attained before the gate pulse is removed. Otherwise the SCR will
be turned OFF if the gate signal is removed.
Holding Current IH --minimum value of the anode current below which SCR
stops conducting and turns OFF.
If an SCR has a holding current of 5mA, it means that if anode current is
made less than 5mA, then SCR will be turned off.
Peak repetitive blocking current IRRM - maximum value of leakage current
in off state reverse blocking mode.
Average ON-state Current Rating ( ITAV ) -- maximum repetitive average
value of forward current the device may safely conduct without incurring
damage
 Continue on important parameters ….
• VGT - Gate trigger voltage - minimum gate voltage to turn SCR into
conduction ( 0.6 V to 1.0 V)
• IGT - Gate trigger current - minimum gate voltage to turn SCR into
conduction ( 0.1 mA to 20 mA)
• Circuit fusing ( 𝐼 2 t) rating - the product of square of forward surge current and
the time of duration of the surge .
Circuit fusing rating = 𝐼2 t

• dv/dt rating – minimum value of rate of rise of forward voltage that

cause false triggering of SCR with gate open

• di/dt rating --maximum allowable rate of rise of current the device can
withstand from switching from off to on state. It is specified in the range 50 to
800 ampere/microseconds. This also caused false triggering.
Different current parameters
Latching Current IL --minimum anode current required to maintain the SCR
in ON state after gate voltage has been removed.
The anode current must be allowed to build up such that the latching
current is attained before the gate pulse is removed. Otherwise the SCR will
be turned OFF if the gate signal is removed.
Holding Current IH --minimum value of the anode current below which SCR
turns off.
If an SCR has a holding current of 5mA, it means that if anode current is
made less than 5mA, then SCR will be turned off.
Forward current
Average ON-state Current Rating ( ITAV ) or ( IF ) - maximum repetitive
average value of forward current the device may safely conduct without
incurring damage
BT151-500R SCR, 12 A, 15mA, 500 V
 Solving Problem:
1. An SCR has a breakover voltage , VBO= 400 V, a trigger current of 10
mA and holding current of 10 mA. Explain the meaning of these values?

2. What will happen to anode supply voltage if gate current is increased

to 15 mA ?
 Answer :
• A breakover voltage ( VBO) of 400 V means that SCR will conduct if anode
supply reaches 400V. However, if supply voltage is less than 400 V, the SCR will
not conduct unless a trigger voltage appears in the gate.
• A trigger current of 10 mA means that gate is supplied with 10 mA which in
turn produces a minimum gate current of 10 mA . With this value SCR will start
conducting heavily but if gate current is less than 10 mA, the device will not
conduct.
• A holding current of 10 mA means However, if you like to turn off the SCR,
reduce holding current (10 mA) to lower value.
• Assuming gate current of 10mA is increased to 15 mA, the anode supply
voltage can be decreased
Problem
3. An SCR in a circuit is subjected to a 50 A surge that lasts for 12 ms.
Determine whether or not this surge will destroy the device. Given
that circuit fusing rating is 90 A2s.
Problem
4. An SCR has a circuit fusing rating of 50 A2s. The device is being used
in a circuit where it could be subjected to a 100 A surge. Determine the
maximum allowable duration of such a surge.
Problem
5. A 220 Ω resistor is connected in series with the gate
of an SCR as shown in the figure. The gate current
required to fire the SCR is 7mA. Calculate input voltage
(Vin) required to fire the SCR ?
Answer:
The input voltage must overcome the junction voltage
between the gate and cathode (0.7V) and also cause 7mA
to flow through the 220Ω resistor.

Using Ohm’s law, Vin is given by:

Vin = VG + IG X R = 0.7V + (7mA) (220Ω) = 2.24V
Problem 6.
• The SCR shown in the figure has gate trigger voltage VT =
0.7V, gate trigger current IT = 7 mA and holding current IH =
6 mA.
(i) What is the output voltage when the SCR is off ?
(ii) What is the input voltage that triggers the SCR ?
(iii) If VCC is decreased until the SCR opens, what is the value
of VCC ?
Solution:
Switching DC load example: Electronic buzzer circuit

Explain why the other buttons are disabled once one button is first actuated ?
 Continue on power control
• Most important application of SCR is power control. This is a
technique varying the amount of input power before
delivering it to electrical load.
• Remember phase angle ?
 Power control of SCR
• If AC power source is applied to SCR, it can only control half cycle (from 0°
to 180° ) because SCR is simply a rectifier
• By delaying application of gate voltage ( from 0° to 180°) the conduction of
SCR also varies from 0° to 180°
 Firing angle vs. Conduction angle

(Firing angle)

Firing angle –is the angle at which you

apply gate voltage in order to conduct
Conduction angle - is a duration for which
SCR is conducting ( “on” state)
Question:

• How would you achieve limiting power from an

electrical source before delivering to electrical load ?
Two ways to achieve power control.
1. Varying amplitude ( voltage level) of the ac
voltage source. ( principle of electric fan )

2. Varying phase angle of the ac voltage source

( principle of lamp dimmer )
1. Varying power by means of varying amplitude of
the ac source
2. Varying power by varying phase angle of ac source
 Calculating DC output voltage in half wave circuit
• Recall ordinary half-wave rectifier,
the dc output voltage ( Vdc) is given by:

Vdc = Vm / π Vdc

Load

where, Vm = peak dc voltage

How about Vdc for full wave rectifier?

how VDC is derived from half wave SCR circuit?

where: Vdc = V average

Vm = maximum or peak Voltage
= firing angle
Continue !!!
Solving problem:
1. A half-wave rectifier circuit employing an SCR has forward
breakdown voltage of SCR of 150 V for Ig = 1mA. If a sinusoidal
voltage of 220 V rms is applied,
(i) firing angle
(ii) conduction angle
(iii) average current assuming Rl
Solution:
Solving Problem
2. An SCR half-wave rectifier has a forward breakdown voltage of
150 V when a gate current of 1 mA flows in the gate circuit. If
a sinusoidal voltage of 400 V peak is applied,
find: (i) firing angle
(ii) average output voltage
(iii) average current for a load resistance of 200Ω
(iv) power output Assume that the gate current is 1mA
throughout and the forward breakdown voltage is more than 400
V when Ig = 1 mA.
Problem 3
• An a.c. voltage v = 240 sin314 t is applied to an SCR
half-wave rectifier. If the SCR has a forward breakdown
voltage of 180 V, find the time during which SCR
remains off.
Solution.
The SCR will remain off till the voltage across it reaches 180 V. SCR will
remain off for t second.
Now v = Vm sin 314 t
where; v = 180 V; Vm = 240 V ∴ 180 = 240 sin (314 t)
Problem 4
• In an SCR half-wave rectifier circuit, what peak-load current
will occur if we measure an average (d.c.) load current of 1A
at a firing angle of 30°
 Problem 5
Power (brightness) of a 100W, 110 V tungsten lamp is to be varied by
controlling the firing angle of an SCR in a half-wave rectifier circuit
supplied with 110 V a.c. What r.m.s. voltage and current are developed
in the lamp at firing angle α = 60?
SCR full wave rectifier

Explain operation of the circuit ?

Full Wave Rectifier

To produce full wave operation,

trigger point is done in every half
cycle of the input voltage
56
Calculating Vdc for full wave rectifier circuit?
Solving Problem 1
• An SCR full-wave rectifier supplies to a load of 100 Ω . If the
peak a.c. voltage between centre tap and one end of
secondary is 200V, find (i) d.c. output voltage and (ii) load
current for a firing angle of 60°.
Problem 2
• Power (brightness) of a 100 W, 110 V lamp is to be varied by
controlling firing angle of SCR full-wave circuit; the r.m.s.
value of a.c. voltage appearing across each SCR being 110 V.
Find the r.m.s. voltage and current in the lamp at firing angle
of 60°.
Seatwork
Seatwork
1. In Fig. 1 shown below what value of input voltage would be required to
cause the SCR to break down if the gate current required for firing is 10 mA ?
2. In Fig. 2, if the trigger current of the SCR is 1.5 mA, what is the input voltage
that triggers the SCR? Given VT = 0.7V.
3. A 24V r.m.s. supply is connected to a half-wave SCR circuit that is triggered
at 50°. What is the d.c. voltage delivered to the load ?

FIG 1 FIG 2
Types of triggering or “firing” signals
• DC signals
• AC signals
• Pulsed signals
1. DC gating signal from the same source
2. AC gate signals
Without resistance at the gate , firing angle is zero
and thus SCR conduction is exactly 180°

In this method you are not

delaying the phase of gate
voltage, starts at nearly 0°
so SCR conduct at once
and produce a half wave
output
90° SCR conduction
Example of resistive power control
With resistance at the gate, you can achieved firing
angle between 0°- 90° and thus, maximum SCR
conduction is at 90° .
45° SCR conduction

180°
With resistance – capacitance at the gate, you can
extend firing angle beyond 90° up to 180° and thus,
SCR conduction between 90° to 180° is achieved
Operation of RC triggering
• The resistor R and capacitor C determine the point in the input
cycle at which the SCR triggers. During the negative half cycle
of the input, capacitor C is charged negatively through diode
D2 to the peak of the input voltage because diode D2 is forward-
biased. When the peak of the input negative half cycle is
passed, diode D2 gets reverse-biased and capacitor C
commences to discharge through resistor R.
Cont’d….
• By using this method we can achieve firing angle more than 90°.
• In the positive half cycle, the capacitor is charged through the variable
resistance R up to the peak value of the applied voltage.
• The variable resistor R controls the charging time of the capacitor.
• Depends upon the voltage across the capacitor, when sufficient amount
of gate current will flow in the circuit, the SCR starts to conduct.
• In the negative half cycle, the capacitor C is charged up to the negative
peak value through the diode D2.
• Diode D1 is used to prevent the reverse break down of the gate cathode
junction in the negative half cycle.
3. Pulse signals
 Advantages of Pulse triggering
1. It provides perfect gating control at whch SCR is fired
2. It provides electrical isolation between SCR and gate control
circuit
3. It reduces gate power dissipation drastically because there is
no need of applying gate signal continuously .
Advantages of pulse triggering
• Low gate dissipation at higher gate current.
• Small gate isolating pulse transformer
• Low dissipation in reverse biased condition is possible.So simple
trigger circuits are possible in some cases
• When the first trigger pulse fails to trigger the SCR, the following
pulses can succeed in latching SCR. This important while
• Triggering inductive circuits and circuits having back emf's
Power control
 Assignment:
1. The applied sine voltage to a SCR is Vm=200V and R=10Ohm. If the gate trigger
lags the ac supply by 120°, calculate the average load current.
2. A sine voltage of 200Vrms, 50Hz is applied to an SCR through 100ohm resistor.
The firing angle is 60°. Consider no voltage drop. What is the output voltage in
rms?
3. A 100VDC is applied to the inductive load through a SCR. The SCR's specified
latching current is 100mA. What is the minimum required gating pulse to turn on
the SCR?
4.
a) If the SCR has an IGT of 35 mA.
What value of R2 will cause a
firing angle of 90° assuming VGT
= 0.6 V ?
b) If R2 is set at 2.5 KΩ what will be
the conduction angle?
END