AQ: Single Phase Input DC Drive
Armature voltage-controlled DC drives are constant torque drives, capable of rated motor torque at any speed up to rated motor base speed. Fully controlled rectifier circuits are built with SCRs. The SCRs rectify the supply voltage (changing the voltage from AC to DC) as well as controlling the output DC voltage level. In this circuit, silicon controlled rectifiers S1 & S3 are triggered into conduction on the positive half of the input waveform & S2 & S4 on the negative half. Freewheeling diode D (also called a suppressor diode) is connected across the armature to provide a path for release of energy stored in the armature when the applied voltage drops to zero. A separate diode bridge rectifier is used to convert the alternating current to a constant direct current required for the field circuit.
Single-phase controlled bridge rectifiers are commonly used in the smaller-horsepower DC drives. The terminal diagram shows the input & output power & control terminations available for use with the drive. Features include:
- Speed or torque control
- Tachometer input
- Fused input
- Speed or current monitoring (0-10 V DC or 4-20 mA)
