Rectifiers

The rectifier is a device that is capable of converting an Alternating Current (AC)

into a unidirectional (or) pulsating form of Direct Current (DC). The process of

conversion of alternating currents into direct currents is known as rectification.

Symbol
 Introduction
➢ The application of rectifier circuits is to convert AC power to DC power. A circuit

that accomplishes this conversion is usually called a DC power supply.

➢ Many familiar electrical and electronic appliances (e.g., Laptops, radios, personal

computers, TVs) require DC power to operate.

➢ For most applications, it is desirable that the DC supply to be as steady and

ripple-free as possible.

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 DC Power Supply

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of a DC power supply

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 Classification of Rectifiers

1) Half – Wave Rectifier

2) Full Wave Rectifier

➢ Center-Tapped Full Wave Rectifier

➢ Bridge Rectifier

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 Half - Wave Rectifier
➢ A half-wave rectifier allows one half-cycle of an AC voltage waveform to pass,
and blocks the other half-cycle.
➢ Half-wave rectifiers are used to convert AC voltage to pulsating voltage, and
require a single diode to construct.

Fig.1 Half-wave rectifier.

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Fig.2 Conduction region (0 to T/2).
 Half-wave rectifier

Half-wave rectifier Fig.3 N o n - Conduction region ( T/2 to T)

Fig.4 Half wave rectified signal. 6

 Full Wave Rectifier

➢ Center-Tapped Full Wave Rectifier

➢ Bridge Rectifier
 Center tapped Full Wave Rectifier
➢ A Full-wave rectifier converts an AC voltage into a pulsating DC voltage using both half

cycles of the applied AC voltage.

➢ A Full-wave rectifier appears in Fig. 5 with two diodes but requiring a Center-Tapped (CT)

transformer to establish the input signal across each section of the secondary of the

transformer. The diodes feed a common load R with the help of a center-tap transformer.

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Fig.5 Center-tapped transformer full-wave rectifier.
 Center tapped Full Wave Rectifier
➢ During the positive portion of vi applied to the primary of the
transformer, the network will appear as shown in Fig. 6.
D1 Forward biased-short-circuit
D2 Reverse biased-open-circuit
The output voltage appears as shown in Fig.6

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Fig 6 Network conditions for the positive region of vi
 Center tapped Full Wave Rectifier
➢ During the negative portion of the input the network appears as
shown in Fig.7
D1 – Reverse biased - open-circuit
D2 - Forward biased- short-circuit

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Fig 7 Network conditions for the negative region of vi.
Center tapped Full Wave Rectifier

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Center tapped Full Wave Rectifier

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Fig. 8 Input and output waveforms
 Bridge Rectifier
➢ This type of full wave rectifier uses four diodes connected in a bridge
configuration to produce the desired output.
➢ The main advantage of this bridge circuit is that it does not require a
special centre tapped transformer, thereby reducing its size and cost.
➢ Four diodes labeled D1 to D4 are arranged as shown in Fig 9 with only two
diodes conducting current during each half cycle

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Fig 9. Full Wave Bridge Rectifier
 Bridge Rectifier
During the positive half cycle of the supply, diodes D2 and D3 conduct in series while
diodes D1 and D4 are reverse biased and the current flows through the load as shown
below

Fig.10 Conduction path for the positive region of vi.

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 Bridge Rectifier
➢ During the negative half cycle of the supply, diodes D1 and D4 conduct in series
but diodes D2 and D 3 switch “OFF” as they are reverse biased.
➢ The current flowing through the load is the same direction as before.

Fig. 11 Conduction path for the negative region of vi

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 Bridge Rectifier
Over one full cycle the input and output voltages will appear as shown in Fig.12

Fig.12 Input and output waveforms for a full-wave rectifier

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 Analysis of Full-Wave Rectifier
Peak Current (Imax)
The value of peak current (Imax) can be derived with the help of instantaneous value of
applied voltage and the resistance of the diodes. The value of instantaneous voltage applied to
the rectifier circuit can be given as:-

Let’s assume the forward resistance (Rf), load resistor RL then the current flowing through the
load resistor can be given as:-

the total current i can be obtained by the sum of i1 and i2 for the whole cycle
`

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 Analysis of Full-Wave Rectifier
Output Current
The current through the load is the same for both the cycles of the ac signal thus, the dc output
current can be given as

DC output voltage across the Load Resistor

The average dc voltage is given as

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 Analysis of Full-Wave Rectifier
RMS Current
RMS is equal to the value of the constant direct current that would produce the
same power dissipation in a resistive load.
The rms current through the load RL is given as

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 Analysis of Full-Wave Rectifier
RMS Voltage
The rms value of a voltage across the load is given as

Form factor
The form factor is the ratio of rms value to the dc output value of current.
It is given as

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 Analysis of Full-Wave Rectifier
Peak factor
It is the ratio of the peak value of current to the rms value of current.

Ripple factor

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 Analysis of Full-Wave Rectifier
➢ The Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV) of the diode is the peak value of the voltage that
a diode can withstand when it is reversed biased.
➢ The Peak Inverse Voltage of diode in center tapped full wave rectifier is 2 Vmax
and Bridge rectifier is Vmax.
➢ Rectification Efficiency: The rectification efficiency of full wave rectifier can be
obtained by the ratio of DC power delivered to load (output) to AC input power.

For bridge rectifier,

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 Advantages of Full Wave Rectifiers
Advantages of Full Wave Rectifiers
➢ The rectification efficiency of full wave rectifier is much higher than that of half
wave rectifier. It is approximately double to that of half wave rectifier.
i.e. it is about 81%.
➢ The filtering circuit required in full wave rectifier is simple because ripple factor
in the case of full wave rectifier is very low as compared to that of half wave
rectifier. The value of ripple factor in full wave rectifier is 0.482 while in half
wave rectifier it is about 1.21.
➢ The output voltage and output power obtained in full wave rectifiers are
much more than that of full wave rectifiers.
Disadvantages of Full Wave Rectifiers
➢ The full wave rectifiers need more circuit elements than half wave rectifier
which makes it costlier
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