Educational single-phase DC/AC converter using GTO thyristor

Abstract

Modem inverters have to satisfy the requirement for low cost, low weight and compact equipment, with the conflicting demands of higher power and improved output waveforms often needed. As the name implies, the aim of this project is to help engineering students familiarise with the effect of varying both the voltage and frequency at the inverter output, how this can be achieved and in some application. The introduction of Gate Tum-Off thyristors technology has enabled significant improvements in the performance of such equipment to be achieved. The GTO thyristor relies on a current drive to perform the switching function, making the gate drive complex and bulky. This manuscript describes a method of controlling the GTO by switching the, cathode current with a powernos transistor, resulting in a reduction in the complexity and cost of gate drive for high power applications.