Behavior of Transistor Switching in AC Chopper Circuit

In this paper, an AC chopper circuit, using a power transistor, is described which chops the AC voltage with a commercial frequency. The circuit is composed of a diode bridge and a power transistor in series with a load and capable of adjusting the switching frequency, fc, and the time ratio, T=ton/(ton+toff). The switching frequency and the time ratio of the AC chopper circuit depend on switching-times, that is, delay time, rise time, carrier storage time and fall time, especially in the high frequency. The upper limit of the switching frequency (about 150kHz) and the output characteristics of the circuit are investigated.