Classification of Choppers

 

Choppers are of five types i.e. Class-A, Class-B, Class-C, Class-D, and Class-E. These choppers can be classified in three ways i.e. based on load voltage and current, based on quadrant operation, and based on the circuit diagram.

Classification of Chopper based on Load Voltage and Current

The classification of the chopper based on load voltage and current is given in Fig. 1.

1. In the class-A chopper, the load voltage and current both are positive.
2. In the class-B chopper, the load voltage is positive, and the current is negative.
3. In the class-C chopper, the load voltage is positive, and the current may be either positive or negative.
4. In the class-D chopper, the load voltage is either positive or negative, and the current is positive.
5. In the class-E chopper, the load voltage is either positive or negative, and the current is also either positive or negative.

Fig. 1 Classification of chopper based on load voltage and current

Classification of Chopper based on Quadrant Operation

The classification of the chopper based on quadrant operation is given in Fig. 2.

1. Class-A chopper is a single quadrant chopper and lies in the first quadrant.
2. Class-B chopper is a single quadrant chopper and lies in the second quadrant.
3. Class-C chopper is a two-quadrant chopper and lies in the first and second quadrants.
4. Class-D chopper is a two-quadrant chopper and lies in the first and fourth quadrants.
5. Class-E chopper is a four-quadrant chopper and lies in all four quadrants.

Fig. 2 Classification of chopper based on quadrant operation

Classification of Chopper based on Circuit Diagram

The classification of the chopper based on the circuit diagram is given in Fig. 3.

1. Class-A and Class-B chopper consists of one IGBT switch and one diode.
2. Class-C and Class-D chopper consists of two IGBT switches and two diodes.
3. Class-E chopper consists of four IGBT switches and four diodes.

Fig. 3 Classification of Chopper based on Circuit Diagram

Reference

M. H. Rashid, “Power Electronics: Circuits, Devices, and Applications,” Prentice Hall India, Second Edition, pp. 312-316, 2006.

Author

Paramjeet Singh Jamwal

authored 94+ articles on the Basics of MATLAB Programming, Power Electronics, Basics of MATLAB Simulink, Basic Electrical Engineering, Power Station, Electromagnetic Field Theory, and many more for the INFO4EEE Website.