does anybody know why we cannot apply a gate pulse when a thyristor is reverse biased?

Question

anonymous · Answer

It will cause heating losses. And if you continously apply gate pulses, it will be like diode.

anonymous · Answer

The main reason to use SCR instead of a diode is that you can trigger SCR at required angle 
 . If you keep on giving pulses to SCR, then the SCR will be turned on when forward biased and off when reverse biased.

anonymous · Answer

can you explain how this happens? I mean what really happens inside when it is reverse biased?

anonymous · Answer

@radar @ganeshie8

ganeshie8 · Answer

Sorry I don't remember these, @Vincent-Lyon.Fr @vishweshshrimali5  may be able to help you

vishweshshrimali5 · Answer

Just a minute, I too would have to recheck it...

vishweshshrimali5 · Answer

Okay the answer to "why" has already been given by vaibhav. As for what happens in reverse biasing: Please have a look at this page. I cannot explain it in short and I am feeling very lazy today. http://www.electrical4u.com/characteristics-of-thyristor/#Reverse-Blocking-Mode-of-Thyristor If you don't get some part, feel free to ask

vishweshshrimali5 · Answer

Actually, if I am correct, reverse biased thyristor cannot conduct even if a gate signal is present.

anonymous · Answer

the explanation ends abruptly in that page... see the second point in here.. http://www.electrical4u.com/thyristor-triggering/