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3-Phase Rectifiers and Their Applications

1. Three-phase rectifiers are more suitable than single-phase rectifiers for medium and high power applications due to their higher quality output voltage. 2. The document discusses the three-pulse and six-pulse three-phase rectifier configurations. The six-pulse rectifier produces a higher DC output voltage than the three-pulse rectifier. 3. Rectifiers have applications in electronic ballasts, induction heating for welding, battery chargers, and uninterruptible power supplies.

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YT Zhou
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66 views7 pages

3-Phase Rectifiers and Their Applications

1. Three-phase rectifiers are more suitable than single-phase rectifiers for medium and high power applications due to their higher quality output voltage. 2. The document discusses the three-pulse and six-pulse three-phase rectifier configurations. The six-pulse rectifier produces a higher DC output voltage than the three-pulse rectifier. 3. Rectifiers have applications in electronic ballasts, induction heating for welding, battery chargers, and uninterruptible power supplies.

Uploaded by

YT Zhou
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Topic 

3 X Three‐Phase 
Rectifier  
(AC‐DC 
Converter) 
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
1. Understand the differences between three-phase rectifiers and single-
phase rectifiers
2. Appreciate the need of using rectifiers in many applications

X INTRODUCTION
Single phase rectifiers have already been presented in Topic 2. Although widely
used in power electronic circuits, single-phase rectifier are not practical for ac-dc
conversion at medium and high power levels due to the low quality of the output
voltage of single phase rectifiers.

As a result, three-phase rectifiers are more suitable for medium and high power
applications. Now, two common configurations for a three-phase rectifier will be
discussed. They are 3-pulse 3-phase rectifier and 6-pulse 3-phase rectifier.

Figure 3.1: Two common configurations for a 3-phase rectifier


TOPIC 3 THREE-PHASE RECTIFIER (AC-DC CONVERTER) W 25

3.1 THREE-PULSE THREE-PHASE RECTIFIER


The circuit diagram of a three-pulse three-phase rectifier is shown in Figure 3.2,
assuming lossless diodes. The rectifier consists of three power diodes (DA, DB
and DC) supplied from a three-phase supply.

Figure 3.2: Three-Pulse Rectifier Circuit Diagram

3.1.1 Principle of Operation


For the three-pulse three-phase rectifier, the diode that sees the highest voltage
conducts the output current, iO. For example, when the highest voltage is that of
phase B, whereby VBN>VAN and VBN>VCN, diode DB is the only diode that is
conducting, while diodes DA and DC are off as shown in Figure 3.3.

Figure 3.3: Output Voltage and Current Waveform for Three-Pulse Rectifier
26 X TOPIC 3 THREE-PHASE RECTIFIER (AC-DC CONVERTER)

Hence, each diode will conduct the current for 120Ĉ interval.

The average or dc output voltage is determined by


 
VO ,dc = 0.827 Vm

Note: The dc or average output voltage (0.827Vm) is higher than the dc output
voltage ⎛⎜ m ⎞⎟ for single-phase full-wave rectifier in the previous section.
2V
⎝ π ⎠

3.2 SIX-PULSE THREE-PHASE RECTIFIER

Figure 3.4: Six-pulse Three-Phase Rectifier

The six-pulse three-phase rectifier shown in Figure 3.4 is the most commonly
used ac-to-dc power converter to produce a fixed dc voltage.

The average or dc output voltage is

VO ,dc = 1.654Vm

Note: The dc or average output voltage (1.654Vm) is higher than the dc output
voltage (0.827Vm) for three-phase three-pulse rectifier in the previous section.
TOPIC 3 THREE-PHASE RECTIFIER (AC-DC CONVERTER) W 27

3.3 APPLICATIONS OF RECTIFIERS

3.3.1 Electronic Lamp Ballast


Lighting consumes about 15% of energy in residential buildings and 30% in
commercial buildings. Fluorescent lamps are three to four times more energy
efficient than incandescent lamps. The energy efficiency of fluorescent lamps can
be further boosted by 30% by operating at frequencies higher than 25 kHz.

Conventional fluorescent lamps use inductive ballast (choke) for normal


operation as shown in Figure 3.5. A modern high frequency fluorescent lamp
uses electronic ballast as shown in Figure 3.6 whereby a rectifier performs a very
important role.

Figure 3.5: Conventional fluorescent lamp with choke

Figure 3.6: Electronic Ballast

3.3.2 Induction Heating for Welding


Induction heating consists of a high power transformer whose secondary
winding is the metal work-piece. The metal work-piece acts as a shorted
secondary winding. The induced current in a shorted secondary winding
generates intense heat. By increasing the transformer operating frequency, a
smaller transformer can be utilised. Induction heating allows the precision
heating of an applicable item, for applications from surface hardening to melting.
28 X TOPIC 3 THREE-PHASE RECTIFIER (AC-DC CONVERTER)

A welding supply operation using this principle is shown in Figure 3.7. The
incoming AC supply is first rectified and then used as a supply to the high-
frequency inverter, the output of which is connected via a transformer and
rectifier to supply the arc.

Figure 3.7: Arc welder using a rectifier

3.3.3 Battery Charger


The battery charger converts the ac voltage to a required dc voltage to charge the
battery. A simple battery charger circuit diagram is shown in Figure 3.8.
TOPIC 3 THREE-PHASE RECTIFIER (AC-DC CONVERTER) W 29

Figure 3.8: Circuit diagram of a battery charger

3.3.4 Uninterruptible Power Supply


In applications such as hospital intensive care units, chemical plant process
control, or major computer installations, even a temporary loss of supply could
have serious consequences and therefore is a requirement to maintain supply
under all conditions. A device which is capable of maintaining quality supply is
called the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and shown in Figure 3.9.

Figure 3.9: Uninterruptible Power Supply


 
The UPS makes use of power electronic switching devices and operate by
rectifying the supply from the mains and using the resulting DC output to
supply an inverter which then supplied the load.
30 X TOPIC 3 THREE-PHASE RECTIFIER (AC-DC CONVERTER)

• Three-pulse three-phase rectifier consists of three power diodes supplied


from a three-phase supply.
• For the three-pulse three-phase rectifier, the diode that sees the highest
voltage conducts the output current.
• The six-pulse three-phase rectifier is the most commonly used AC to DC
power converter to produce a fixed DC voltage.

Three-pulse three-phase rectifier DC output voltage


Six-pulse three-phase rectifier

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