RECTIFICATION

Rectifier: -
A rectifier is an electronic circuit that converts the alternating current (AC) into direct current
(DC). The process of conversion of alternating current into direct current is known
as rectification. The rectifier consists of semiconductor diodes to perform the rectification.
Depending upon the type of conversion of AC into DC, i.e. half cycle of AC into DC or full cycle
of AC into DC, the rectifiers are classified into two categories viz. −

• Half Wave Rectifier

• Full Wave Rectifier
In this article, we will discuss about the differences between half-wave rectifier and full-wave
rectifier. Also, we will briefly discuss about the half-wave rectifier and full wave rectifier so that
the understanding of differences between them becomes easier.

Energy Bands in Solids

Band theory of solids describes the quantum state that an electron takes inside a metal solid.
Every molecule comprises various discrete energy levels. The way electrons behave inside a
molecule is well explained through band theory. Band Theory was developed from the
knowledge gained during the quantum revolution in science. In 1928, Felix Bloch applied
quantum theory to solids.

In the band theory of solids, there are many energy bands but the following are the three most
important energy bands in solids:

• Valence Band
• Conduction Band
• Forbidden Band
Valence band
The energy band that consists of valence electrons energy levels, is known as the valence band.
The valence band is present below the conduction band and the electrons of this band are loosely
bound to the nucleus of the atom.
Conduction band
The energy band that consists of free electrons energy levels, is known as the conduction band.
For electrons to be free, external energy must be applied such that the valence electrons get
pushed to the conduction band and become free.
Forbidden band
The energy gap between the valence band and the conduction band is known as the forbidden
band which is also known as the forbidden gap. The electrical conductivity of a solid is
determined by the forbidden gap and also the classification of the materials as conductors,
semiconductors, and insulators.

Semiconductors
A semiconductor is a material which has an electrical conductivity value falling between that of
a conductor, such as copper, and an insulator, such as glass. Its resistivity falls as its temperature
rises; metals behave in the opposite way.

P type & N type Semiconductors

An extrinsic semiconductor is one that is doped with a specific impurity in order to improve the
conducting properties. This makes the semiconductor suitable for electronic applications like
diodes, transistors etc. Depending on the kind of impurities added to the semiconductor it
becomes either p-type or n-type.
P-type Semiconductor: - In a p-type semiconductor, trivalent impurity from the III group
elements is added as the impurity. Trivalent impurities like Aluminium, Indium and Gallium are
added to the intrinsic semiconductor. The trivalent impurities added provides extra holes known
as the acceptor atom. The majority carriers in a p-type semiconductor are holes.

N-type Semiconductor: - In an n-type semiconductor, pentavalent impurity from the V group is

added to the pure semiconductor. Examples of pentavalent impurities are Arsenic, Antimony,
Bismuth etc. The pentavalent impurities provide extra electrons and are termed as donor atoms.
Electrons are the majority charge carriers in n-type semiconductors.

P-N Junction: - A P-N junction is an interface or a boundary between two semiconductor

material types, namely the p-type and the n-type, inside a semiconductor.
The PN junction diode consists of a p-region and n-region separated by a depletion region where
charge is stored. A PN Junction Diode is one of the simplest semiconductor devices around, and
which has the electrical characteristic of passing current through itself in one direction only.
However, unlike a resistor, a diode does not behave linearly with respect to the applied voltage.
It works as forward bias and Reverse bias.

Forward Biased: - When the p-type is connected to the battery’s positive terminal and the n-
type to the negative terminal, then the P-N junction is said to be forward-biased. When the P-N
junction is forward biased, the built-in electric field at the P-N junction and the applied electric
field are in opposite directions. When both the electric fields add up, the resultant electric field
has a magnitude lesser than the built-in electric field. This results in a less resistive and thinner
depletion region. The depletion region’s resistance becomes negligible when the applied voltage
is large.
Reverse Biased: - When the p-type is connected to the battery’s negative terminal and the n-type
is connected to the positive side, the P-N junction is reverse biased. In this case, the built-in
electric field and the applied electric field are in the same direction. When the two fields are
added, the resultant electric field is in the same direction as the built-in electric field, creating a
more resistive, thicker depletion region. The depletion region becomes more resistive and thicker
if the applied voltage becomes larger.
Half Wave Rectifier
In a half-wave rectifier, one half of each a.c input cycle is rectified. When the p-n junction diode
is forward biased, it gives little resistance and when it is reversed biased it provides high
resistance. During one-half cycles, the diode is forward biased when the input voltage is applied
and in the opposite half cycle, it is reverse biased. During alternate half-cycles, the optimum
result can be obtained.

Working of Half Wave Rectifier

The half-wave rectifier has both positive and negative cycles. During the positive half of the
input, the current will flow from positive to negative which will generate only a positive half
cycle of the a.c supply. When a.c supply is applied to the transformer, the voltage will be
decreasing at the secondary winding of the diode. All the variations in the a.c supply will reduce,
and we will get the pulsating d.c voltage to the load resistor.

In the second half cycle, the current will flow from negative to positive and the diode will be
reverse biased. Thus, at the output side, there will be no current generated, and we cannot get
power at the load resistance. A small amount of reverse current will flow during reverse bias due
to minority carriers.

Advantages of Half Wave Rectifier

• Affordable
• Simple connections
• Easy to use as the connections are simple
• Number of components used are less

Disadvantages of Half Wave Rectifier

• Ripple production is more

• Harmonics are generated
• Utilization of the transformer is very low
• The efficiency of rectification is low
Applications of Half Wave Rectifier
Following are the uses of half-wave rectification:

• Power rectification: Half wave rectifier is used along with a transformer for power
rectification as powering equipment.
• Signal demodulation: Half wave rectifiers are used for demodulating the AM signals.
• Signal peak detector: Half wave rectifier is used for detecting the peak of the incoming
waveform.

Full Wave Rectifier

Full-wave rectifier circuits are used for producing an output voltage or output current which is
purely DC. The main advantage of a full-wave rectifier over half-wave rectifier is that such as
the average output voltage is higher in full-wave rectifier, there is less ripple produced in full-
wave rectifier when compared to the half-wave rectifier.

Working of Full Wave Rectifier

The full-wave rectifier utilizes both halves of each a.c input. When the p-n junction is forward
biased, the diode offers low resistance and when it is reverse biased it gives high resistance. The
circuit is designed in such a manner that in the first half cycle if the diode is forward biased then
in the second half cycle it is reverse biased and so on.

Advantages of Full Wave Rectifier

• The rectifier efficiency of a full-wave rectifier is high

• The power loss is very low
• Number of ripples generated are less

Disadvantages of Full Wave Rectifier

• Very expensive
Applications of Full Wave Rectifier
Following are the uses of full-wave rectifier:

• Full-wave rectifiers are used for supplying polarized voltage in welding and for this
bridge rectifiers are used.
• Full-wave rectifiers are used for detecting the amplitude of modulated radio signals.

Difference between Half Wave Rectifier and Full Wave Rectifier

The major differences between half-wave rectifier and full-wave rectifier are given in the
following table −

Parameter Half Wave Rectifier (HWR) Full Wave Rectifier (FWR)

An electronic circuit which An electronic circuit that converts the

converts half cycle of alternating complete cycle of alternating current
Definition
current into direct current is into direct current is known as full-
known as half-wave rectifier. wave rectifier.

No further classification. The full-wave rectifier is of two types:

Types
center-tapped FWR and bridge FWR.

Half wave rectifier requires only The number of diodes required in a

one diode. full-wave rectifier are as −
Number of diodes • Center-tapped FWR
required requires two diodes.
• Bridge FWR requires 4
diodes.

In half wave rectifier, only half Full wave rectifier rectifies the both
Rectified cycles of
cycle of AC (either positive or positive and negative cycles of AC.
AC
negative) being rectified.

Electric current The electric current through the A continuous electric current flows
through load load is not continuous. through the load.

The peak inverse voltage for the For the full wave rectifier, the peak
Peak inverse half wave rectifier is equal to the inverse voltage is equal to the double
voltage (PIV) maximum value of the input of the maximum value of input
voltage, i.e., Vm. voltage, i.e., 2Vm.
 Parameter Half Wave Rectifier (HWR) Full Wave Rectifier (FWR)

For half wave rectifier, the The output frequency for the full-wave
frequency of ripple output is rectifier is double of the supply
Output frequency
equal to the input supply frequency, i.e., "2f".
frequency, i.e., "f".

Maximum For half wave rectifier, the The maximum efficiency of

efficiency of maximum efficiency of rectification for a full-wave rectifier is
rectification (for rectification is 40.6%. equal to 81.2%.
sinusoidal AC)

Ripple factor (for The ripple factor for half-wave The ripple factor for full-wave rectifier
sinusoidal AC) rectifier is 1.21. is 0.482.

Form factor (for The form factor of half-wave The form factor of a full-wave rectifier
sinusoidal AC) rectifier is 1.57. is 1.11

Peak factor (for For half-wave rectifier, the peak The peak factor of a full-wave rectifier
sinusoidal AC) factor is equal to 2. is 1.414.

The transformer utilization factor The transformer utilization factor of a

Transformer of a half-wave rectifier is 0.2865. full-wave rectifier is 0.692 (centre-
utilization factor tapped rectifier) and 0.8106 (bridge
rectifier).

The average output DC of a half- The average output DC of a full-wave

Average output wave rectifier is, rectifier is,
current lav=lmπlav=lmπ lav=2lmπlav=2lmπ

The half-wave rectifier has good The voltage regulation of a full-wave

Voltage regulation voltage regulation. rectifier is better than that of half-wave
rectifier.

In case of half-wave rectifier A full-wave rectifier does not have DC

Saturation of circuit, the DC saturation of the saturation of the transformer core.
transformer core transformer core is a common
problem.

Half wave rectifier is less costly Full wave rectifier is costlier than half-
Cost as it requires only one diode. wave rectifier as it requires more
number of diodes.