Thyristors are also suitable for BART trains and particle accelerators
The power switch equipment known as "Thyristor" has been used in BART trains and particle accelerators for decades at the Berkeley Laboratory.
(Thyristor)
When a voltage surge on March 16th paralyzed dozens of trains and cars on the busiest rail transit system in Francisco, San Francisco, the damaged train components - known as "rectifiers" - jumped into the area and appeared in media reports and social media posts.
Engineers and external Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) experts have worked hard for weeks to resolve electrical issues and restore normal service along the railway system. The metro has ordered a new batch of palm-sized BART train rectifiers, resembling ice hockey-shaped spark plugs with a circular ceramic casing and flat metal contacts at both ends.
However, thyristors (pronounced THIGH racist ors) are not only suitable for trains. They have existed for decades and are the mainstay of many power conversion and switching applications. They are sturdy electrical switchgear that can handle large amounts of voltage and current relative to their size, with applications ranging from dimmers to particle accelerators.
What is a thyristor?
Thyristors are semiconductors or "solid-state" switches developed in the 1950s to replace vacuum and gas-filled tubes. They are ideal choices for power conversion applications that typically require high-power switching. Thyristors can be used as simple electrical switches between Transformers, charging capacitors, and power-consuming loads. Thyristors contain a silicon chip that lets them turn on an electronic trigger switch.
What are the common causes of thyristor failures?
Overvoltage conditions and switching current too fast.
What other devices can be coupled with thyristors to improve efficiency and extend lifespan?
Various combinations of resistors, capacitors, diodes, and metal oxide varistors are used to suppress voltage transients and protect devices from overvoltage effects. Series fuses and inductors can be used to protect devices from overcurrent effects and limit current rise.
In certain pulse power applications, we typically rely on a series of thyristor arrays that can withstand a much higher voltage than the rated voltage of a single device together. Protecting each device from the impact of overvoltage is crucial for these applications.
Application of thyristors
1. Power control: used to regulate the voltage and current of AC power, achieve speed control of motors, and dimming of lighting systems.
2. Rectification and inverter: The power supply circuit realizes the conversion from AC to DC or is used to convert DC to AC in the inverter power supply.
3. Reactive power compensation: In the power system, it is used to improve power factor, reduce reactive power loss, and improve grid efficiency.
4. Motor drive: Control the starting, braking, and speed of the motor, especially in situations where frequent start-stop or speed regulation is required.
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5. Overcurrent and overvoltage protection: As a protective element in the circuit, it prevents equipment damage caused by overcurrent or overvoltage.
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