Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Question 2: Distinguish between delta supply and star supply in relation to three-
phase systems. Include diagrams in your distinction. (8 marks)
Phase impedance𝑍𝑃 = √𝑅 2 + 𝑋𝐿 2
= √(75)2 + (72.25)2
= 104.13 𝑂ℎ𝑚𝑠
𝑽𝒑 𝟒𝟏𝟓
Phase current: 𝒁 = 𝟏𝟎𝟒.𝟏𝟑 = 𝟑. 𝟗𝟖 𝑨
𝒑
b) SCR: When the anode voltage voltage is made positive with respect to the
cathode, the junctions J1 and J3 are forward biased but the middle junction J2
is reverse biased and only a small leakage current flows from anode to cathode
due to the mobile charges. The junction J2, because of the presence of
depletion layer does not allow any current to flow through the device. The
leakage current is insufficient to make the device conduct. The depletion layer
mostly of immovable charges does not constitute any flow of current. The SCR
is then said to be in the forward blocking or OFF sate condition and the
leakage current is known as OFF state current ID.
When the cathode voltage is positive with respect to the anode, the middle
junction J2 becomes forward biased but the two outer junctions J1 and J3
becomes reverse biased. This is like two series connected diodes with reverse
voltage across them. The junction J1 and J3 do not allow any current to flow
through the device. Only a very small leakage current may flow because of the
drift the charges. This leakage current is again insufficient to make the device
conduct. The SCR is in the reverse blocking state or OFF state and a reverse
leakage current known as reverse current IR flows through the device. The
width of the depletion layer at the junction J2 decreases with increase in anode
to cathode voltage (since the width is inversely proportional to the voltage). If
the anode to cathode voltage VAK is kept on increasing sufficiently to a large
value, a stage comes when the depletion layer at J2 vanishes. The reverse
biased junction J2 will breakdown due to the large voltage gradient across its
depletion layer. This is known as avalanche breakdown and the corresponding
voltage is called forward breakdown voltage VBO.
Because the other junctions J1 and J3 are already forward biased, there will be
a free carrier movement across all three junctions resulting in a large forward
anode to cathode current through the device. Due to the flow of this anode to
cathode forward current, the device is said to be in conducting state or ON
state. The voltage drop would be due to the ohmic drop in the four layers and is
small typically, 1V.
The anode to cathode forward current must be more than latching current IL to
maintain the required amount of carrier flow across the junction; otherwise, the
device reverts to blocking state as the anode to cathode voltage is reduced.
Latching Current (IL):-
It is the minimum anode to cathode current that must flow through SCR to
maintain the device in the ON state immediately after it has been turned ON
and the gate signal has been removed.
Once an SCR conducts, it behaves like a conducting diode and there is no
control over the device. The device continues to conduct because there is no
depletion layer on the junction J2 due to free movements of carriers. However,
if the forward anode current is reduced below a level known as holding current
IH, a depletion region develops around junction J2 due to the reduced number
of carriers and SCR is in the blocking state.
Holding Current (IH):-
It represents the minimum current that can flow through SCR and still "hold" it
in the ON state. The accompanying voltage is termed as VH. If the forward
anode current is reduced below holding current, SCR will be turned OFF. The
holding current is defined for zero gate current (IG = 0).