Multipulse Converters (1)

Defined as diode/thyristor converters where the pulse number is > 6 (remember, the ones we have looked at so far have been 6-pulse) Generally the pulse number is a multiple of 6 (assuming 3-phase system), so 12, 18, 24-pulse circuits etc are possible A 12-pulse converter, for example, consists of two 6-pulse converters fed from a 6-phase supply and connected in series or parallel on the DC side (18pulse has three 6-pulse circuits and so on) Since a 6-phase supply is not normally available, it is generated from the 3-phase supply using a phase shifting transformer (6-phase source is equivalent to two 3-phase sources with 30O phase shift between them) The advantage of using the two 6-pulse circuits like this, rather than just connecting them in parallel (or series) is that harmonic cancellation takes place and the power quality at the input and output is improved

Multipulse Converters (2)

Pulse Number Harmonics in input current (K=1,2,3,4...) 6 12 18 24 6K1 12K1 18K1 24K1

Ripple frequency on DC side 6*supply 12*supply 18*supply 24*supply

Higher pulse number means fewer input harmonics (better power factor), and smoother output (smaller smoothing components) Used at high power levels (>500kW) for this reason - sometimes also at lower power levels where power quality is critical Cross channel (UK-France), electricity link (2000MW, 270kV) uses 48-pulse converters at each end, for example

12-Pulse Converter (1)

Transformer with two secondaries (Star and Delta), provides two 3-phase outputs with 30O phase shift between them RMS line voltages are the same so delta winding has more (3) turns per phase Output voltages look like (assuming diode circuit):

12-Pulse Converter (2)

Input currents iABCDEF all have the same shape as in the normal 6-pulse circuit iDEF are mutually displaced from each other by 120O iABC are mutually displaced from each other by 120O iD lags IA by 30O (/6) and so on It can be shown (not done here) that the effect of the currents combine in the transformer so that:

1 iR = i A + (iD iE ) and so on 3 consider just the 5th harmonic and choose t = 0 so that :
5 i A = I sin(5t )

hence :
5 iE = I sin (5(t 5 / 6) ) = I sin(5t / 6) 5 iD = I sin (5(t / 6) ) = I sin(5t 5 / 6)

i5 = 0 R
Similar result for 7th, 17th, 19th etc harmonics Only 12K1 harmonics are left

12-Pulse Converter (3)

Line Current waveform

Parallel connection is also possible (same advantages) - but needs inter-phase reactor (IPR) for correct operation