EXPERIMENT NO: 04

TITLE: FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER(BRIDGE) WITH AND WITHOUT FILTER.

Course : EEE 212.

Course Name : Electronic Devices and Circuits Lab.

Experiment Date : 10 – 08 – 2022.

Submission Date : 17 – 08 – 2022.

Submitted To
Name: Shahadet Hosen Polash
Lecturer,
Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering

Submitted By
Name: Umair Hossain
ID: 21225103103 INATKE: 49 SECTION: 03
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 EXPERIMENT: 04
TITLE: Full-Wave rectifier (Bridge) with and without filter.

OBJECTIVE: To construct a full-wave rectifier (bridge) circuit and analyze its input/output
also analyze the rectifier output using a capacitor in shunt as a filter.

EQUIPMENTS
S.NO NAME OF EQUIPMENT RANGE TYPE QUANTITY

01 Diode - 1N4148 4

02 Regulated Power Supply(0-30V) - Digital 1

03 Resistor 550Ω Analog 1

04 Multimeter - Digital 1

05 Capacitor 47µf - 1

05 Trainer Board - - 1

06 Connecting Wire - - -

07 CRO and CRO probes 50 Hz - -

THEORY:
Another type of circuit that produces the same output as a full-
wave rectifier is that of the Bridge Rectifier (Fig. 1). This type
of single-phase rectifier uses 4 individual rectifying diodes
connected in a "bridged" configuration to produce the desired
output but does not require a special center tapped transformer,
thereby reducing its size and cost. The single secondary
winding is connected to one side of the diode bridge network
and the load to the other side as shown in figure.
The 4 diodes labeled D1 to D4 are arranged in "series pairs" with only two diodes conducting
current during each half cycle. During the positive half cycle of the supply, diodes D1 and
D2 conduct in series while diodes D3 and D4 are reverse biased and the current flows through
the load as shown below (Fig. 2). During the negative half cycle of the supply, diodes D3 and
D4 conduct in series, but diodes D1 and D2 switch of as they are now reverse biased. The
current flowing through the load is the same direction as before.

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As the current flowing through the load is unidirectional, so the voltage developed across the
load is also unidirectional during both the half cycles. Thus, the average dc output voltage
across the load resistor is double that of a half-wave rectifier circuit, assuming no losses.

Vdc = 2Vm/π

RIPPLE FACTOR: As the voltage across the load resistor is only present during the positive
half of the cycle, the resultant voltage is "ON" and "OFF" during every cycle resulting in a low
average DC value. This variation on the rectified waveform is called "Ripple" and is an
undesirable feature.

THEORITICAL CALCULATION FOR RIPPLE FACTOR:

Vrms = Vm/√2
Vm = √2Vrms
Vdc = 2Vm/π
A) WITHOUT FILTER
Ripple factor, r = √(Vrms/Vdc)2 – 1
B) WITH FILTER:
Ripple factor, r = 1/(4√3fCR)

FILTERS: The output of a rectifier gives a pulsating DC signal (Fig.1) because of presence
of some AC components whose frequency is equal to that of the AC supply frequency. Very
often when rectifying an alternating voltage, we wish to produce a "steady" direct voltage free
from any voltage variations or ripple. Filter circuits are used to smoothen the output. Various
filter circuits are available such as shunt capacitor, series inductor, choke input LC filter and
π-filter etc. Here we will use a simple shunt capacitor filter circuit (Fig. 2). Since a capacitor is
open to DC. and offers low impedance path to AC current, putting a capacitor across the output
will make the DC component to pass through the load resulting in small ripple voltage.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

A) FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER WITHOUT FILTER

Fig 03: Full-Wave Rectifier without filter.

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B) FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER WITH FILTER

Fig 04: Full-Wave Rectifier with filter.

PROCEDURE:

1. Connections are made as per the circuit diagram.

2. Connect the primary side of the transformer to AC mains and the secondary side to the
rectifier input.
3. Using a CRO, measure the maximum voltage Vm of the AC input voltage (at the anode) of
the rectifier and AC voltage (at the cathode) at the output of the rectifier.
4. Using a DC voltmeter, measure the DC voltage at the load resistance.
5. Observe the Waveforms at the secondary windings of transformer and across load resistance
for a load of 550Ω.
6. Calculate the ripple factor, percentage of regulation and efficiency with the below given
formula.

OBSERVATION:

1. Peak Voltage, Vm = (From CRO for HWR with and without filter)
2. DC Voltage, VDC(full load) = (From Voltmeter/ Multimeter for HWR with and
without filter)
3. No Load DC Voltage, VDC(No load) = (From Voltmeter/ Multimeter for HWR with
and without filter)
4. Ripple Voltage, Vr = (From CRO for HWR with filter)

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CALCULATION:

A) WITHOUT FILTER
Vrms = Vm/√2 = 2.72V/√2 = 1.92V
VDC = 2Vm/π = (2 x 2.75)/3.1416 = 1.73V
Ripple factor = √((2.72/1.73)2 – 1) = 1.21

B) WITH FILTER
Here, f = 50Hz
R = 550ohm
C = 47uF
Hence,
Ripple factor = 1/(4√3fCR) = 0.11
Hence, it is unidirectional output.

VNL = VPP/2 = 7.23/2 = 3.6V

VFL = VPP/2 = 2.75/2 = 1.4V
Voltage regulation = ((VNL – VFL)/VFL)*100%
= ((3.6 – 1.4)/1.4)*100%
= 1.57*100%
= 15.7%

RESULT: The operation of Full Wave rectifier is studied and the following are calculated.

DATA TABLE
INPUT(V) OUTPUT (WITHOUT FILTER) (V) OUTPUT (WITH FILTER) (V)
Vpp 7.23 2.75 600 mV
Vavg 59.9mV 1.52 2.12
Vmax 3.68 2.72 2.44

INPUT VOLTAGE CHARACTERISTICS (OBSERVED)

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OUTPUT VOLTAGE CHARACTERISTICS WITHOUT FILTER

OUTPUT VOLTAGE CHARACTERISTICS WITH FILTER

CONCLUSION:

From the above experiment we have successfully able to,

1. Analyze the operation of Full Wave rectifier with and without filter.
2. Calculate its performance parameters-ripple factor, percentage regulation, efficiency with
and without filter.

Signature of Teacher

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VIVA QUESTIONS

1) Define regulation of full wave rectifier.

It is a measure of the variation of DC output voltage as a function of DC output current (i.e.,

variation in load).
Percentage of regulation = ((VNL – VFL)/VFL)*100%
VNL = Voltage across load resistance, when minimum current flows through it.
VFL = Voltage across load resistance, when maximum current flows through.

For an ideal Full-wave rectifier, the percentage regulation is 0 percent. The percentage of
regulation is very small for a practical full wave rectifier.

2) Define peak inverse voltage (PIV) and write its value for full wave rectifier.

It is the maximum voltage that the diode has to withstand when it is reverse biased.
PIV = 2Vm

3) If one of the diode is changed in its polarities what wave form would you get?

In bridge rectifier, the output would be nothing (zero volts) on one half of the cycle, and would
present effectively to forward biased diodes on the other half cycle, which would cause a large
current to flow from the transformer (if over 1.4V). It would be clamped at 1.4 Volts, on one
half cycle, if the current is limited, and the output would still be nothing.

4) Does the process of rectification alter the frequency of the waveform?

Yes, the fundamental frequency is doubled, and infinite harmonics are added to the original
waveform.

Since rectification turns the negative half-cycle into another positive half-cycle, the original
waveform is splitted into two cycles that are equal and fit in the same period, so the fundamental
frequency is doubled.

5) What is ripple factor of full wave rectifier?

The ratio of r.m.s. value of AC component to the DC component in the rectifier output is
known as the ripple factor.

R.F = I (AC) / I (DC).

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6) What is the necessity of transformer in rectifier circuit?

The transformer in a rectifier power supply circuit serves several purposes.

1- It is used to change the voltage level from the 220VAC to another level, either higher or
lower, to accommodate the needs of the rest of the circuit.

2- provides isolation between the power mains and the circuit power for safety reasons. If we
touch a hot part of the circuit on the secondary side of the transformer while being grounded,
you most likely will not get a shock. Other than very small leakage currents, no current flow's
from the primary side of the transformer to the secondary.

3- Some rectifier circuits require a center reference point. This is easy to do with a center tapped
transformer winding.

4- Many devices require multiple voltage sources. A transformer can have multiple secondary
windings, each wound to produce a different voltage.

7) What are the applications of a rectifier?

Some common applications of rectifiers are:

• Rectifiers are used in electric welding to provide polarized voltage
• Half-wave rectifiers are used as a mosquito repellent
• Half-wave rectifiers are used as a signal peak detector in FM radio
• Rectifiers are used in modulation, demodulation and voltage multipliers

8) What is meant by ripple define ripple factor.

As the voltage across the load resistor is only present during the positive half of the cycle, the
resultant voltage is "ON" and "OFF" during every cycle resulting in a low average DC value.
This variation on the rectified waveform is called "Ripple" and is an undesirable feature.

9) Explain how capacitors help to improve the ripple factor?

As the rectifier voltage rises above the capacitors’ charge, the capacitors charge up, and then
as the rectifier voltage falls, the capacitors provide the required current from their stored charge.

Smooth capacitors can be used to reduce the ripple voltage in power supplies, which results in
a smoother DC voltage. This is done with aluminum electrolytic capacitors, which have a high
level of capacitance. A repeated DC pulse charges the capacitors to their peak voltage.

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10) Can a rectifier made in India (V=230V, f=50Hz) be used in USA (V=110V, f=60Hz).

Yes.
Let’s see how this rectifier circuit responds to an AC signal with changing polarities at every
cycle:
In the first positive half cycle of the AC signal, the diodes D2 and D3 become forward biased
and start conducting. At the same time, the diodes D1 and D4 will be reverse biased and will
not conduct. The current will flow through the load resistor via the two forward-biased diodes.
Now, during the negative half cycle of the AC signal, the diodes D1 and D4 will be forward
biased and diodes D2 and D3 will become reverse biased. The positive voltage will appear on
the anode of D4, and negative voltage will be applied to the cathode of D1. It is worth noting
at this point that the current that will be flowing through the load resistor will have the same
direction as it has with the positive half cycle. Therefore, no matter the polarity of the input
signal, the output polarity will always be the same. We can also say that the negative half cycle
of the AC signal has been inverted and is appearing as a positive voltage at the output.
Nonetheless, this output voltage of single polarity is not pure DC voltage, as it is pulsating and
not a straight line in nature. This problem is quickly solved by connecting a capacitor in parallel
with the load resistor as shown in Figure 3. In this new design, the positive half cycle will
charge the capacitor via the diodes D2 and D3. And, during the negative half cycle, the
capacitor will stop charging and will begin to discharge itself through the load resistor.
So, the working principle of rectifier circuit is universal.

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