An inverter is basically a converter circuit that converts dc power into ac power. The alternating output voltage obtained from a dc power with the help of inverters can be fixed at a fixed or variable frequency. In order to obtain ac power from a dc power, inverters incorporate semiconductor devices like thyristors, BJTs, MOSFETs, IGBTs. Based on the connection of thyristors and commutating components, inverters are classified into three groups,

• Bridge Inverters
  • Half Bridge Inverter, and
  • Full Bridge Inverter.
• Series Inverters
• Parallel Inverters.

Bridge inverters are basically voltage source inverters that consist of small impedance in the input dc voltage source. The input to a bridge inverter will be a dc source from a battery or a controlled rectifier. The output can be either single-phase ac voltage or three-phase ac voltage.

Compare to half-bridge and full-bridge inverters. In half-bridge inverters, only two thyristors are used to convert dc power into ac power, whereas in full-bridge inverters four thyristors are used. In this article, let us learn about the circuit diagram and working of a single-phase half-bridge inverter for different types of load.

Single Phase Half Bridge Inverter with R Load :

The circuit diagram of a single-phase half-bridge inverter with resistive load is shown in the below figure. The input to the inverter is given from a split dc power supply i.e., from a three-wire dc power supply. The components T₁ and T₂ are gate-triggered thyristors that produce positive and negative half cycles of the ac power at the output side.

Working of Single Phase Half Bridge Inverter with R Load :

The working of the half-bridge inverter is divided into two periods,

• In period I, thyristor T₁ will conduct for a time interval between 0 and T/2 (i.e., for 0 ≤ t ≤ T/2).
• In period II, thyristor T₂ will conduct for a time interval between T/2 and T (i.e., for T/2 ≤ t ≤ T).

Where T = (1/frequency of the output wave). The circuit operation should be in such a way that both the thyristors should not conduct at the same time. The below shows the waveforms of output voltage and thyristors gate currents. Since load is assumed to be resistive the output current waveform will be equal to the output voltage waveform.

During the interval between 0 and T/2 (i.e., for 0 ≤ t ≤ T/2), thyristor T₁ is triggered, and the instantaneous voltage across the load will be V_dc/2. At the instant t = T/2, the triggering pulses are removed for thyristor T₁ due to which it is turned OFF (for simplicity commutation circuit of thyristors is not shown and is assumed to be turned OFF when triggering pulse is removed).

Also at the same instant i.e., at t = T/2, pulses are given to thyristor T₂ and thus it is turned ON at t = T/2. During the interval between T/2 and T (i.e., for T/2 ≤ t ≤ T), thyristor T₂ which is turned ON conducts, and the voltage across the load will be -V_dc/2.

Again thyristor T₁ is triggered at t = T and thyristor T₂ is turned OFF. Hence, in this way the cycle repeats. Therefore, thyristor T₁ conducts for 0 to T/2 and produces the positive half cycle, whereas thyristor T₂ conducts for T/2 to T and produces the negative half cycle. In this way, an alternating output is produced from a dc input.

The triggering pulses applied for both the thyristors differ in phase by 180°. The frequency of the output wave is given by 1/T. By changing the value of T, the frequency, as well as the magnitude of output voltage, can be controlled.

Single Phase Half Bridge Inverter with RL Load :

Just now we have seen the operation of a half-bridge inverter when a resistive load is connected to it. Let us check out the behavior of the half-bridge inverter when an inductive load is connected to it. The below shows the circuit diagram with RL load which is similar to the circuit seen above except two diodes D₁ and D₂ are connected across two thyristors.

Mode I :

Thyristor T₁ is tuned ON at instant t₁, at this instant, the voltage at the load will be equal to +V_dc/2, and the positive load current increases. This load current increases till the thyristor T₁ is turned OFF. At the instant t₂, thyristor T₁ is turned OFF and the load current reaches the maximum value. As the load voltage and load current both are having the same polarity, the load stores the energy in it.

Mode II :

The load current will maintain its direction even after turning OFF the thyristor T₁. This is due to the inductive load and this inductive load will develop a negative induced voltage which in turn makes the diode D₂ to forward biases. Thus, the energy stored by the load is now fed back to the source through the lower half of the supply and diode D₂ as shown below.

Mode III :

In this mode, thyristor T₂ is turned ON at an instant t₃. At this instant, the inductive load stored energy will be transferred to the lower half of the supply and become zero. Now, the load voltage will be equal to -V_dc/2, and also the load current will be negative. The negative load current reaches maximum value till thyristor T₂ is turned OFF. At the instant t₄, thyristor T₂ is turned OFF.

Mode IV :

The negative load current maintains its direction even after turning OFF the thyristor T₂. This is due to the inductive load and this inductive load will now develop a positive induced voltage which in turn makes the load current flows through the upper half of the supply and diode D₁. Thus, the energy stored by the load is now fed back to the source and the load voltage changes its polarity.

In this way, positive and negative half-cycles are produced at the load side, and the whole operation repeats again and again. The below shows the waveforms of load voltage, load current, thyristors currents I_T1 and T_T2, and diode currents I_D1 and I_D2.

Therefore, when an inductive load is connected to the inverter. The load current lags behind the load voltage. In order to provide a path for load current when thyristors are turned OFF, diodes are connected in anti-parallel with the thyristor. Thus stored energy due to inductive load is fed back to the dc source through diodes and hence they are called Fed back Diodes. However, if the inverter is connected to a purely resistive load, the reactive power will be zero and hence there is no need for diodes.

Disadvantages of Half Bridge Inverter :

• This type of inverter circuit requires a three-wire dc power supply.
• The magnitude of the output voltage is V_dc/2 only.

These limitations can be overcome by using a full-bridge inverter.