POWER ENGINEERING LABORATORY I

(BEV30401)

EXPERIMENT 1

UNCONTROLLED RECTIFIER
 UNCONTROLLED RECTIFIER
LEARNING OUTCOME
By the end of this exercise the student will be able to:
1. To show the effect of inductor to the output parameters of rectifier. (C3-LO2)
2. To discuss the effect freewheeling diode in an inductive circuit. (C3-LO2)
3. To construct the single diode rectifier and bridge rectifier (layout, power
capability and efficiency). (P5-LO5)

CONTENT
1.1 THEORY
A diode is an electrical device that allows current to flow through in one direction only.
The most common type of diode in modern circuit design is the semiconductor diode,
although other diode technologies also remain in existance. The schematic symbol for
a semiconductor diode is a triangle pointing in the direction of current flow. The triangle
represents the p-type material, and the line represents the n-type material. The anode
is the terminal on the side of the triangle, and the cathode is the terminal on the other
side. The term “diode” is typically used to refer to small signal devices, which have a
current rating of up to 1 ampere (I ≤ 1 A). Power diodes, which have a current rating
of more than 1 ampere (I > 1 A), are typically referred to as rectifiers.

A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC), characterised

by its periodic reversal direction, into direct current (DC), which flows in only one
direction. This conversion process is referred to as rectification. Physically, rectifiers
exist in various forms, including vacuum tube diodes, mercury-arc valves, copper and
selenium oxide rectifiers, solid-state diodes, silicon-controlled rectifiers and other
semiconductor switches based on silicon technology. Even synchronous
electromechanical switches and motors have had historical usage. In the early days
of radio receivers, particularly crystal radios, a "cat's whisker" made of fine wire was
utilized to exert pressure on a galena (lead sulfide) crystal, to serve as a point-contact
rectifier known as a "crystal detector".

Rectifiers are used in a wide variety of applications, but are often found serving as
essential components within DC power supplies and high-voltage direct current power
transmission systems. Rectification may serve in roles other than to generate direct
current for use as a source of power. Notably, rectifiers also find application as radio
signal detectors. In gas heating systems, flame rectification is used for flame presence
detection.

The simple process of rectification produces a type of DC characterized by pulsating

voltages and currents (although still unidirectional). Based on its intended application,
this type of DC current may then be further modified into the type of relatively constant
voltage DC characteristically produced by such sources as batteries and solar cells.
On the other hand, a more complex circuitry device which performs the opposite
function, converting DC to AC, is referred to as an inverter.

1.2 EQUIPMENT LIST

1.2.1 Rectifier trainer kits

1.2.2 Oscilloscope
1.2.3 Multimeter
1.2.4 Resistors : 100Ω, 200Ω, 300Ω and 1Ω
1.2.5 Inductors : 2 units of 40 mH

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1
Half Wave Rectifier with a Resistive Load
1. Construct the circuits as in Figure 4.1 with the main AC supply is in OFF position.

A
Ch 1 (Vout)

Rload = 100W
AC

Common
1W Ground

Ch 2 (inv); for
current wavefform

Figure 1.1: Half wave rectifier with a Rload.

2. After completing the circuit, turn on the AC supply (90V).

3. Measure VAC of the source, Vout and output current Iout using multimeter and
record the data in Table 1.1.
4. Measure Vmax from oscilloscope and record the data in Table 1.1.
5. Observe Vout and Iout(invert) using oscilloscope and draw the waveform over two
cycles.
 Table 1.1: V AC, V out, V max and I out for half wave rectifier
Parameters V AC (volt) V out (volt) V max (volt) I out (ampere)
Rload = 100 W
Rload = 200 W
Rload = 300 W

Activity 2
Half Wave Rectifier with a Resistive-Inductive Load
1. Construct the circuits as in Figure 1.2 with the main AC supply is in OFF position.

A Ch 1 (Vout)

L1 = 50 mH
Connect L2
for step 7
AC Rload = 100 Ω
DFr

Common
1W Ground

Ch 2 (inv); for
current wavefform

Figure 1.2: Half wave rectifier with RL load.

2. After completing the circuit, turn on the AC supply(90V)

3. Measure VAC of the source, Vout and output current Iout using multimeter and
record the data in Table 1.2.
4. Measure Vmax from oscilloscope and record the data in Table 1.2.
5. Observe Vout and Iout(invert) using oscilloscope and draw the waveform over two
cycles.
6. Turn off the main supply.
7. Connect another inductor (L2) in series to the existing load (L1) and repeat step
2 to 5.
8. Connect a diode in parallel to the inductive load (as shown by dotted line in Figure
1.2) and repeat step 2 to 5.
 Table 1.2: V AC, V out, V max and I out for half wave rectifier
Parameters V AC (volt) V out (volt) V max (volt) I out (ampere)
RloadL1
RloadL1 & L2
RloadL1&L2&DFr

Activity 3
Bridge Rectifier
1. Construct the circuits as in Figure 1.3 with the main AC supply is in OFF position.

= 100 Ω

Figure 1.3: Bridge rectifier.

2. After completing the circuit, turn on the AC supply (90V).

3. Measure VAC of the source, Vout and output current Iout using multimeter and
record the data in Table 1.3.
4. Measure Vmax from oscilloscope and record the data in Table 1.3.
5. Observe Vout and Iout(invert) using oscilloscope and draw the waveform over two
cycles.

Table 1.3: V AC, V out, V max and I out for bridge rectifier.
Parameters V AC (volt) V out (volt) V max (volt) I out (ampere)
Rload = 100 W
Rload = 200 W
Rload = 300 W
Activity 4

1. For the Activity 1 and Activity 3, discuss the effect of resistance variation on the
measured parameters.
2. Compare and discuss the result of Activity 1 and Activity 3.
3. Explain the function of diode freewheeling in Activity 2.

REFERENCE

Lab Sheet BEF 34701, Power Electronic Laboratory.

Muhammad H. Rashid, Power Electronic Circuit, Devices and Applications, 3rd

Edition; Prentice Hall, 2004