Chapter: Electronic Devices : Power Devices and Display Devices

TRIAC

The TRIAC is a three terminal semiconductor device for controlling current. It gains its name from the term TRIode for Alternating Current.

TRIAC

 

The TRIAC is a three terminal semiconductor device for controlling current. It gains its name from the term TRIode for Alternating Current.

 

It is effectively a development of the SCR or thyristor, but unlike the thyristor which is only able to conduct in one direction, the TRIAC is a bidirectional device.

 

TRIAC symbol

 

The circuit symbol recognises the way in which the TRIAC operates. Seen from the outside it may be viewed as two back to back thyristors and this is what the circuit symbol indicates.

 

Figure 5.13 TRIAC symbol for circuit diagrams

 

On the TRIAC symbol there are three terminals. These are the Gate and two other terminals are often referred to as an "Anode" or "Main Terminal". As the TRIAC has two of these they are labelled either Anode 1 and Anode 2 or Main Terminal, MT1 and MT2.

 

 

TRIAC basics

 

The TRIAC is a component that is effectively based on the thyristor. It provides AC switching for electrical systems. Like the thyristor, the TRIACs are used in many electrical switching applications. They find particular use for circuits in light dimmers, etc., where they enable both halves of the AC cycle to be used.

 

This makes them more efficient in terms of the usage of the power available. While it is possible to use two thyristors back to back, this is not always cost effective for low cost and relatively low power applications.

It is possible to view the operation of a TRIAC in terms of two thyristors placed back to back.


Figure 5.14 TRIAC symbol, equivalent as two thyristors

 

One of the drawbacks of the TRIAC is that it does not switch symmetrically. It will often have an offset, switching at different gate voltages for each half of the cycle. This creates additional harmonics which is not good for EMC performance and also provides an imbalance in the system

 

In order to improve the switching of the current waveform and ensure it is more symmetrical is to use a device external to the TRIAC to time the triggering pulse. A DIAC placed in series with the gate is the normal method of achieving this.

 

Figure 5.15 DIAC and TRIAC connected together

 

 

Operation

 

With switch S open, there will be no gate current and the triac is cut off. Even with no current the triac can be turned on provided the supply voltage becomes equal to the breakover voltage.

 

When switch S is closed, the gate current starts flowing in the gate circuit. Breakover voltage of triac can be varied by making proper currnt flow. Triac starts to conduct wheather MT2 is positive or negative w.r.t MT1.


Figure 5.16 TRIAC operation under biasing

 

If terminal MT2 is positive w.r.t MT1 the TRIAC is on and the conventional current will flow from MT2 to MT1. If terminal MT2 is negative w.r.t MT1 the TR IAC is again turned on and the conventional current will flow from MT1 to MT2.

 

 

Characteristics

 

Figure 5. 16 The V-I Characteristics curve for TRI AC

 

The V-I curve for triac in the Ist and IIIrd quadrants are essentially identical to SCR in the Ist quadrant.The triac can be operated with either positive or negative gat e control voltage but in normal operation usually the gate voltage is positive in quadrant I and n egative in quadrant III. The supply voltage at which the triac is ON depends upon gate current. T he greater gate current and smaller supply voltage at which triac is turned on. This permits to u se triac to control a,c. power in a load from zero to full power in a smooth and continuous man ner with no loss in the controlling device.

 

Advantages and disadvantages

 

When requiring to switch both halves of an AC waveform there a re two options that are normally considered. One is to use a TRIAC, and the other is to use two th yristors connected back to back - one thyristor is use d to switch one half of the cycle and the second connected in the reverse direction operates on the other half cycle.As there are two opti ons the advantages and disadvantages of using a TRIAC must be weighed up.

 

Advantages

 

·        Can switch both halves of an AC waveform

 

·        Single component can  be used for full AC switching

 

Disadvantages

 

·        A TRIAC does not fire symmetrically on both sides of the waveform

 

·        Switching gives rise to high level of harmonics due to non-symmetr ical switching

 

·        More susceptible to EM I problems as a result of the non-symmetrica l switching

 

·        Care must be taken to ensure the TRIAC turns off fully when used w ith inductive loads.

 

 

Applications

 

TRIACs are used in a number of applications. However they tend not to be used in high power switching applications - one of the reasons for this is the non-symmetrical switching characteristics. For high power applications this creates a number of difficulties, especially with electromagnetic interference.

 

However TRIACs are still used for many electrical switching applications:

 

·        Domestic light dimmers

 

·        Electric fan speed controls

 

·        Small motor controls

 

·        Control of small AC powered domestic appliances


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