Rectifier
• Almost all electronic devices run in DC
voltage as power supply
• DC battery voltage is bulky and expensive
in long time basis
• AC mains source is cheap and easy
available and easy to convert in DC
• A diode can be used as major component
for converting AC to DC
• Rectifier diode is that it passes current in
only one direction. This
• makes it useful for changing ac to dc
Rectifier Diodes
Rectification circuit
• Half Wave rectifier
• Center Tapped Rectifier
• Bridge rectifier
• Efficiency
• Ripple factor
Half Wave Rectifier
• In this rectifier a single diode is employed as rectification
• A diode acts as one way switch so it passes normally
when it is forward bias
• When an AC is given to diode in half wave rectifier ,it
passes out the positive half cycle only to the load so it is
called half wave rectifier
• In circuit when the positive half cycle across the
secondary of the transformer ,it acts as forward bias and
the current flows from diode and the positive voltage is
developed across the load resistor.
• In circuit when the negative cycle across the secondary
of the transformer, it acts as reverse bias and the
current flow practically very low in few milli-ampere
which we consider no current flow and the there will be
no voltage across the load.
• If we measure the voltage by oscilloscope we can see
pulsating DC at output
• So the frequency of output is same as in input but
since only the half side of wave so the dc value is
• Vdc=Vs(max)/ π
• Idc=Vs(max)/π*(Ri+Rf)=
The RMS vlue of half wave rectifier is Vrms=Vs(max)/2
Irms=Vs(max)/2
Center tapped rectifier
• In this rectifier two diodes are employed and it can
convert both sides of wave of input voltage.
• Since the center of the secondary of the transformer
is common point for the load so the upper half and lower
half acts as opposite two voltage supply as shown in
picture.
• When the upper diode D1 is forward bias the D1 acts as
forward bias and conducts the current where as for D2
it becomes opposite reverse bias and D2 doesn't
conduct so at B point we get positive half cycle.
• When the next half of wave comes ,the D2 becomes
forward bias and D2 conducts where as the D1 in reverse
bias and does not conduct and again the B point receives
positive half.
• The disadvantage is that it gets power of only half of
input of secondary voltage.
Full-Wave Bridge Recifier
• Here four diodes are used and D1 and D3 works in positive half
cycle where as D2 and D4 works as negative half cycle or vice
versa.
• Here full voltage of secondary goes to output so efficiency is good
comparing to previous two type of rectifiers.
• When point A is positive and B is negative the C point gets
positive which drives the D1 as forward bias and current
flows toward load R and to the point E. Since the potential
difference of the point E and C is very few as the point c too as
positive in instant time of lag so it doesnt flow current toward C.
But E point cause to FB for D3 so current flows from D3 to the
negative of B of secondary.
• For next half cycle the B point becomes positive and D2 and D4
acts as forward bias and B point again remains positive across the
resistor load so we get full half pulsating DC as shown in figure.
Average value
RMS value
Important factors of rectifiers
• Peak Voltage ,Current-The instantaneous voltage applied to rectifier is Vs=Vsmax sinwt when sinwt=1 or sin90=1
• The instantaneous current i=Imax sinwt, Imax=Vsmax/(Rf+RL) sin90 for calculation we use I(max)=Vmax / Rf +𝑅𝐿
• 2.Average or dc output current and voltage
𝑉𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑉𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑉𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑥
• Imax=Vsmax/(Rf+RL),then, Idc=Vsmax/(π)(Rf+RL)= Vsmax/ π RL, when the RL>>R , Vdc=Idc*RL= * RL= Rf =
(π)(Rf+RL π[1+ π
) RL
• For full wave I(max)=2Vmax/ π
• 3. RMS value of current and voltage output
1
• Irms= Imax
2
𝑉𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑉𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑥
• Irms=2(𝑅𝑓+𝑅𝑙) , Same as above, Vrms= 2
• For full wave V(rms)= V(max)/ 2
• 4. Efficiency: It is defined as ratio of the average dc power to the ac I secondary of the input power from the transformer.
𝑃𝑑𝑐 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 square*R
• 𝜂 = 𝑃𝑎𝑐 Where P dc=I2dc.*RL= L And Pac= power dissipated in diode junction and
∗ power dissipated in load
𝜋 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 square R
𝑃𝑑𝑐 𝜋 L 4 𝑅𝐿 0.406
resistance RL.=I2rmsRf+I2rmsRL=( Imax/2)2RF+( Imax/2)2RL=(I2max/4)(RF+RL) So 𝜂 = =(I2 =𝜋𝑠𝑞. (𝑅𝑓+𝑅𝐿 = 𝑅𝑓
𝑃𝑎𝑐 max/4)(RF+RL) 1+
𝑅𝐿
• If RL is neglected the efficiency 𝜂= 0.406 or 40.6 percent. It is maximum efficiency for half wave rectifier.
• For full wave 81.12 %
• 5. Ripple factor-Since the output voltage is not smooth so it contains variable ac component and dc component. The variable ac
component is called ripple which should be minimum as possible.
𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝜋
• Ripple factor ratio 2
= 𝐼𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 =2 = 1.57
𝜋
• Ripple factor 𝛾 = 1.572 − 12 =1.21
• 6. Peak inverse voltage (PIV) - it is factor which indicates the ability within which the diode can work normally with reverse bias
voltage. All diodes experience a reverse voltage at negative Vmax which is from supply transformer. Within the PIV the zener
breakdown should not occur in rectifier diode.
S. No. Particulation Half wave Center-tapped bridge
1. Avg. current , Idc Imax/𝜋 2Imax/𝜋 2Imax/𝜋
2. RMS current, Irms Imax/2 Imax/ 2 Imax/ 2
3 PIV Vs max 2Vs max Vs max
4 Peak load current, Imax 𝑉𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑉𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑉𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐿 + 𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐿 + 2𝑅𝐹
5 DC output voltage, V dc 𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥
RL
2𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥
RL
2𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥
RL
𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
6 Rectification efficiency,𝜂 40.6% 81.2% 81.2%
7 Ripple factor 1.21 0.482 0.482
8 frequency 50 Hz 100Hz 100Hz
