Feasibility Study of High Current Transistor D.C. Choppers

This dissertation describes an investigation into the feasibility of high current transistor d.c. choppers.<br/><br/>Present d.c. choppers employ thyristors and are expensive due to the turn-off circuits required. The use of low cost power transistors in electric vehicle chopper controllers is investigated, and a brief survey of power transistors has been carried out to establish which transistors are most economical<br/>for use in choppers.<br/><br/>A transistor d.c. chopper employing Germanium transistors and capable of controlling 400 A at 72 V was designed and constructed: special design consideration was given to suppression of voltage transients and minimisation of power losses in the chopper during switching. Results of laboratory tests have shown the transistor chopper to be reliable and highly efficient. The replacement of the Germanium output transistors, used in the initial design, by Silicon power transistors resulted in the elimination of current sharing problems and a negligible effect on chopper efficiency.<br/><br/>The experimental chopper was costed and found to be cheap relative to a comparable thyristor chopper, thus offering the possibility of rapid industrial acceptance.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Master's Thesis

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Student thesis

Year dc:date.issued

1975

Author dc:creator

• Marogy, B. Y. M.

• Transistors

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/70ce6e23-8e22-416c-b25a-d73d306dc33e

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:pure.atira.dk:studenttheses/70ce6e23-8e22-416c-b25a-d73d306dc33e