Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: both the average and rms thyristor currents will be less than 20 A
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:AC voltage controllers (AC regulators) use antiparallel thyristors to control the RMS voltage applied to a resistive load. Each thyristor conducts on alternate half-cycles. This question probes understanding of how device-level current (per SCR) compares with the total RMS load current reported at the terminals.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Because each SCR conducts for only half of the time (its own polarity half-cycles), the current through each device is time-shared. For a sinusoidal resistive current, distributing conduction across two devices reduces both the per-device average current (over a full cycle) and the per-device RMS current relative to the total load RMS current.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Let i(t) be the instantaneous load current. For a resistive load, i(t) follows the applied voltage shape within the conduction interval.Over a full cycle, SCR1 conducts during positive half-cycles only; SCR2 conducts during negative half-cycles only.Per-device average current over one full cycle is the average of its half-cycle conduction and zero during the other half → average per device < average of the rectified load current, hence < 20 A.Per-device RMS over one full cycle is RMS of half-cycle conduction combined with zero in the other half. For symmetric conduction, I_rms,device = IL,rms / √2 for sinusoidal halves, which is less than 20 A.Verification / Alternative check:
For an ideal full-conduction case on a resistive load: if IL,rms = 20 A, each SCR carries the same waveform but only half the time. Time-sharing lowers both RMS and average when computed over the full period per device.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Confusing per-device RMS (over full cycle with zero current for half the cycle) with the instantaneous half-cycle RMS; forgetting that averaging window matters.
Final Answer:
both the average and rms thyristor currents will be less than 20 A
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