CHAPTER 2

DIODE RECTIFIER

1
AC to DC CONVERSION
(Rectifier)

• Half-wave, full-wave, three phase

with different loads

• Rectifier performance

• “Commutation” effect.

• Line current issues

2
 Overview

Diode Rectifier (Uncontrolled Rectifier)

Single phase half wave rectifier
R load, R-L load, R-C load and Free
wheeling diode.
Single phase full wave rectifier
R load, R-L load, R-C load and Free
wheeling diode.
Three phase rectifier
R-L load

3
 Learning Outcome
• After completing this chapter,
student will be able to :
1. Recognize the single phase half and
full wave rectifier circuit and three
phase rectifier circuit.
2. Calculate and draw the rectifier
output voltage.
3. Analysis the rectifier with R load, R-
L load, R-C load and free wheeling
diode.
4. Calculate the performance
parameter.

4
 RECTIFIERS
• Converts ac to dc voltage
• To produce an output that is
purely dc
• Classified into half-wave and
full-wave
• Load that can be either purely
resistive or resistive-inductive
• Either controlled or uncontrolled

5
6
 Rectifier

• DEFINITION: Converting AC (from

mains or other AC source) to DC power by
using power diodes or by controlling the
firing angles of thyristors/controllable
switches.

• Basic block diagram

AC input DC output

• Applications: DC welder, DC motor drive,

Battery charger,DC power supply, HVDC

7
8
9
 Diodes

• On and off states controlled by the power circuit

10
Performance
parameter
• Rectifier should give a DC voltage
with minimum amount of harmonic
contents.
• Maintain input current as sinusoidal
as possible and in phase with input
voltage so that power factor is near
unity.
• The performance of a rectifier are
normally evaluated in terms of :-
Pdc , Pac, efficiency, Vo(dc),
Vo(ac), form factor (FF), ripple
factor (RF), transformer utilization
factor (TUF), displacement angle
(DF), harmonic factor (HF), power
factor (PF) and crest factor (CR)

11
 Performance parameter

• Ideal rectifier
Efficiency,  =
100%
Vo(ac) = 0
ripple factor, RF = 0
TUF = 1
HF = THD = 0
PF = DPF = 1

12
 Performance parameter

• Efficiency (or rectification

ration) of a rectifier.

  Pdc / Pac
Where Where
Pdc – output dc power Pac – output ac power
Pdc = Vo(dc) x Io(dc) Pac = Vo(rms) x
Io(rms)
Vo(dc) – average value
of output(load) voltage Vo(rms) – rms value of
output(load) voltage
Io(dc) – average value
of output(load) current. Io(rms) – rms value of
output(load) current. 13
 HALF-WAVE
RECTIFIERS
• To conduct current in one
direction and block current in the
other direction
• Convert ac voltage into dc voltage
• Connected to filter and regulator
in a basic power supply
• Filter – eliminates fluctuations in
the rectified voltage
• Regulator – maintains a constant
dc voltage

14
Single Phase Half
Wave Rectifier – R
load
• Diode rectifier with R load

15
 Ideal Rectifiers:
Single-phase, R-load
vs

+
+ t
vs
vo vo io
_
_

t

" DC" output voltage


1
Vo  Vavg  VDC  
2 0
Vm sin(t )dt

Vm
  0.318Vm

RMS output voltage,

1 Vm
0 Vm sin t  dt  2  0.5Vm
2
Vo ,rms 
2

16
 Example 1

Consider the half-wave rectifier

circuit with a resistive load of 25
and a 60 Hz ac source of 110Vrms.
a) Calculate the Vo(dc) and Io(dc).
Justify the significant value of
Vo(dc) and Io(dc).
b) Calculate the Vo(rms) and Io(rms).
c) Calculate the average power
delivered to the load.

17
 Example 2

• For the half-wave rectifier, the

source is a sinusoid of 120Vrms at a
frequency of 60Hz. The load
resistor is 5 . Determine
(i) the average load current,
(ii) the average power absorbed by
the load, and
(iii) the power factor of the circuit.

18
 Single Phase Half Wave
Rectifier – R-L load
• Diode rectifier with R-L
load
• Vo(dc) is lower than case
no L-load

L
vs  v R  v L 
R
di(t)
Vm sin(t )  i(t)R  L 19
dt
Single Phase Half Wave
Rectifier – R-L load
• Peak reverse blocking voltage, PIV
PIV  Vm
• The average output voltage, Vo(dc).
Vm  Vm
Vo(dc) 
2 0
sint d(t) 
2
[1 - cos(  )]

• The average current voltage, Io(dc).

Vo(dc)
I o(dc) 
R
• The rms output  sin(
Vmvoltage, 2 ) .
Vo(rms)
Vo(rms)  
2  2

• The rms current voltage,

Vo(rms)Io(rms).
Io(rms) 
R
20
 Single Phase Half
Wave Rectifier – R-
L load
Diode rectifier with R-L load
 Until certain time (<), Vs>VR (hence VL= Vs-VR
is positive), the current builds up and inductor stored
energy increases.
 At maximum of VR, Vs=VR hence, VL =0V.
 Beyond this point, VL becomes negative (means
releasing stored energy), and current begins to
decrease.
 After T= , the input, Vs becomes negative but
current still positive and diode is still conducts due to
inductor stored energy. The load current is present at
certain period, but never for the entire period,
regardless of the inductor size.
 This will results on reducing the average output
voltage due to the negative segment. The larger the
Inductance, the larger negative segment

21
 Half wave, R-L load
i

+
vR +
+ _
vTNB vo
_ +
vL _
_

vs  v R  v L
di(t )
Vm sin(t )  i (t ) R  L
dt
This is a first order differential equation.
Solution is in the form of :
i (t )  i f (t )  in (t )

where : i f , in are known as " forced" and

" natural" response, respectively.
From diagram, forced response is :

V 
i f (t )   m   sin(t   )
 Z 
where :
 L 
Z R 2  (L) 2 and   tan 1  
 R 
22
 R-L load
Natural response is when source  0,
di (t )
i (t ) R  L 0
dt
which results in :
in (t )  Ae t  ;   L R

Hence
 Vm 
i (t )  i f (t )  in (t )     sin(t   )  Ae t 
Z 
A can be solved by realising inductor current
is zero before the diode starts conducting, i.e :
 Vm 
i (0)     sin(0   )  Ae 0 
Z 
V  V 
 A   m   sin( )   m   sin( )
Z  Z 
Therefore the current can be written as,
V 

i (t )   m   sin(t   )  sin( )e t  
Z 
23
 R-L Load waveforms

Note : vL is negative as current rate is decreasing, i.e :

di
vL  L
dt

24
 Extinction angle
Note that the diode remains in forward biased longer
than  radian (although the source is negative)
The point when current reaches zero is when diode
turns OFF. This point is known as the extinction angle,  .

 Vm 
i(  )  
 Z

  sin(    )  sin( )e

  
0
which reduces to :

sin(    )  sin( )e     0
 can only be solved numerically.
Therefore, the diode conducts between 0 and 
To summarise the rectfier with R - L load,

 Vm 

 Z 

  
sin(t   )  sin( ) e t 

i (t )  for 0  t  
0
otherwise

25
 Waveforms

vs,
io


vo

vR

vL

 t
   

26
 UNCONTROLLED
HALF-WAVE
RECTIFIER
• The KVL equation that
describes the current in the Vm 0 Vm
current for the forward- i f (t )    
biased ideal diode is: Z0 Z
Vm
dit  i f t   sin t   
Vm sin t  Rit   L Z
dt di t 
where Ri t   L 0
dt
i t   i f t   in t 
R di t 
if(t) = force response is the L i t   0
dt
steady- state sinusoidal
di t  R
current that would exist in the   i t 
circuit if the diodes are not dt L
present Vm
in t   sin  e
t


Z
in(t) = natural response is the
transient that occurs when the i t  
V
sin t     io e
m  t

load is energized. It is the Z

solution to the differential
27
equation for the circuit
without the source or diode
UNCONTROLLED
HALF-WAVE
RECTIFIER R
ln i t    t  k
L
dit   t  0, i t   0
Rit   L 0
dt R
ln i 0   0  k
R L di t  L
i t   0
L L dt k  ln i0
di t  R
  i t  R
dt L  ln i t    t  ln i 0 
di t  R L
  dt
i t  L  it   R
ln    t
di t  R  io  L
 it   Lt  k
 
i t   RL t
e
io
i t   io e
 RL t

28
 UNCONTROLLED HALF-WAVE
RECTIFIER
L
 
R
 i t   io e
 t

i t   i f t   in t 
Vm
i t   sin t     io e 
t

Z
t  0, i 0   0
Vm
sin 0     io e
 0
0
Z
V
0  m sin     io
Z
V V
io   m sin     m sin 
Z Z
Vm
it   sin t     io e
 t

Z
Vm Vm
it   sin t     sin  e
 t

Z Z
 0  t  
   2 29
 UNCONTROLLED HALF-WAVE
RECTIFIER

• A circuit shown in figure

is connected to a 240V
50Hz supply neglecting
the diode voltage drop,
determine the mean load
current for a load of an
inductance of 0.1H in Z  R  jL
series with a 10Ω
resistor Z  10  j 2 50 0.1
Z  10  j 31.42
D Z  32.9772.35
1 Vm
If 
Z
Vm  240 2  339.410
R 339.410
If 
V 32.9772.35
s I f  10.29  72.35
L
i f t   10.29 sin t  72.35
30
 UNCONTROLLED HALF-
WAVE RECTIFIER
in t   io e
 t

L 0.1
t  0,    0.01s
R 10
i t   i f t   in t 
i t   10.29 sin t  72.35  io e
 t

i 0  10.29 sin 0  72.35  io e

 0

0  10.29 sin  72.35  io

io  10.29 sin  72.35
io  9.81
 i t   i f t   in t 
i t   10.29 sin t  72.35  9.81
31
 Freewheeling diode (FWD)
• Note that for single-phase, half wave rectifier with
R-L load, the load (output) current is NOT
continuos.

• A FWD (sometimes known as commutation diode)

can be placed as shown below to make it continuos
io
D1
+
vR
+ +
_
vs D2 vo
_ +
vL _
_

io

vo = 0
+ io + +
vs vo vo
io
_
vo= vs _ _

D1 is on, D2 is off D2 is on, D1 is off

32
 FWD- Continuous load current
• The inclusion of FWD results in continuos load
current, as shown below.

• Note also the output voltage has no negative part.

output vo

io
iD1 t
Diode
current
iD2

    

33
 Half-wave, R-C load

+ iD +
vs vo
_ _

vs
Vm

     

Vmax vo
Vmin Vo
iD

 

Vm sin(t ) when diode is ON

vo   t  / RC
V e when diode is OFF
V  Vm sin 

34
 Ripple
Max output voltage is Vmax .Min output voltage occurs
at t  2   .Reffering to diagram, the ripple is :
Vo  Vmax  Vmin  Vm  Vm sin( 2   )  Vm  Vm sin 

If V  Vm and    2, and C is large such that then

   2. The output voltage evaluated at t  2   is :
 2  2  2   2 
   
vo (2   )  Vm e   RC   Vm e   RC 

The ripple voltage is approximated as :

 2    2  
     
Vo  Vm  Vm e   RC   Vm 1  e   RC 

 
 
Note that :
 2 
  2
1 e   RC   1
RC
 2  Vm
 Vo  Vm  
  RC  fRC
The average load voltage is given as :
Vo Vm
Vo  Vm   Vm 
2 2 fRC

35
 Worked example
A half-wave rectifier has a 120V rms source at 60Hz. The load is =500 Ohm,
C=100uF. Assume  and  are calculated as 48 and 93 degrees respectively.
Determine (a) Expression for output voltage (b) peak-to peak ripple

vs
Vm

     

Vmax vo
Vmin Vo
iD

 
Vm  120 2  169.7V ;  93o  1.62rad ;   48o  0.843rad
Vm sin   169.7 sin(1.62rad )  169.5V ;
(a) Output voltage :
Vm sin(t )  169.7 sin(t ) (ON)
vo (t )   t  / RC
Vm sin   e (OFF)
169.7 sin(t ) (ON)
  t 1.62 /(18.85 )
169.5e (OFF)
(b)Ripple :
Using : Vo  Vmax  Vmin
Vo  Vm  Vm sin(2   )  Vm  Vm sin   43V
Using Approximation :
 2  Vm 169.7
Vo  Vm     56.7V
 RC  fRC 60  500  100u

36
 Half Wave Rectifier
Disadvantages
1. High ripple factor,
2. Low rectification
efficiency,
3. Low transformer
utilization factor, and,
4. DC saturation of
transformer secondary
winding.

37
 FULL-WAVE
RECTIFIERS
• Allows unidirectional (one-
way) current through the
load during the entire 360º
input cycle
• Two types of full-wave
rectifier:

(i) center-tapped
(transformer)
rectifier, and

(ii) bridge rectifier
• Vave = 2Vp/π 38
 Single Phase Full
Wave Rectifier
The objective of full wave rectifier is to
produce a voltage or current which is
purely dc or has some specified ac
component.
While the purpose of full wave rectifier is
basically the same as that of half-wave
rectifier, full wave rectifier have some
fundamental advantages.
The output of the full wave rectifier has
inherently less ripple than half wave
rectifier. (Advantage)
Can be as
– Bridge rectifier
– Center-tapped transformer

39
UNCONTROLLED FULL-WAVE
RECTIFIERS – CENTER TAPPED

• Center-tapped
rectifier – uses two
diodes connected to
the secondary of a
center-tapped
transformer
• When the input
voltage is positive, R
D1 is forward-biased
and current is
conducted through L
load
Vsec = nVpri
• When input voltage
Vp(out) = (Vp(sec) - 1.4
is negative, D2 is
V) / 2
forward-biased and PIV = 2Vp(out) + 0.7
current is conducted
V
through load
40
 UNCONTROLLED FULL-WAVE
RECTIFIERS – CENTER TAPPED
VS
is

Vo io

iD1
VD1

iD2
VD2

41
 UNCONTROLLED FULL-WAVE
RECTIFIERS - BRIDGE
• Bridge
rectifier –
uses four D3 D1
diodes
• When the
input voltage
is positive, D1 D2
D4 R
and D2 is
forward- L
biased
Vp(out) = Vp(sec) - 1.4
• When the V
input voltage PIV = Vp(out) + 0.7
is negative, D3 V

and D4 is
forward- 42

biased
 UNCONTROLLED FULL-WAVE
RECTIFIERS - BRIDGE
VS
is

Vo io

VD1, iD1,
VD2 iD2

iD3,
VD3, iD4
VD4

43
 UNCONTROLLED
FULL-WAVE
RECTIFIERS
•R-L
•RESISTIVE LOAD
LOAD 

For Vo t   Vo  Vn cosnt   


Vm sin t
Vo t   
n  2, 4 ,..
0≤ωt≤π
 Vm sin t For 2Vm
1
 π≤ωt≤2π V0  
Vo   Vm sin tdt
0 Vm  1 1 
2Vm
Vn  2   
Vo    n  1 n  1

Vo
1

Vm Io 
V o,rms  Vm sin t  dt 
2
R
0 2
Vn
In 
Zn
44
 UNCONTROLLED
FULL-WAVE
RECTIFIERS
Example:
Referring to the circuit
D D1
shown, a 240V 50Hz supply
is fed to the primary 3
winding of a step-down
transformer which has a
20:1 turn ratio. The output
voltage from the secondary D2 D R
winding is connected to a
full bridge rectifier circuit. 4
a) Calculate the peak and L
average values of the output
voltage if the diode is silicon
b) What is the PIV rating for
each diode?
c) If a capacitor filter was Vp(out) = Vp(sec) - 1.4
added to the circuit, V
calculate the value of
capacitor to be installed to
PIV = Vp(out) + 0.7
produce a load current of V
10mA and a ripple of less
than 2%. 45
 Full wave: Bridge, R-L load
io

iD1
D1 D3
is +
+ vR +
vs _
_ + vo
vL _
D4 D2 _

iD1 , iD2

   
iD3 ,iD4

vo
output io

vs is
supply

46
Single Phase Full
Wave Rectifier – R-
L load
Bridge circuit with R-L load
• Load current is identical in shape to the
output voltage.
• In practice, most loads are inductive to a
certain extent and the load current depends
on the values of load resistance R and load
inductance L.
• Voltage (E) is added to develop generalized
equations
• If input voltage Vs is
diL
L  RiL  E  2 Vs sint
dt
• The load current iL is

2 Vs ( R / L ) t E
iL  sin(t -  )  A1e 
Z R47
 Performance Parameters
Average output voltage : Vdc
Average output current : I dc
Output dc power : Pdc  Vdc  I dc

RMS value of output voltage : Vrms

RMS value of output current : I rms
Output ac power : Vrms  I rms

Pdc
Efficiency (rectification ratio) :  
Pac

The output voltage can be considered as being

composed of two components : 1) Dc value 2) ac value
The effective component of the output voltage :
2 2
Vac  Vrms  Vdc

The form factor, i.e the measure of the shape

of the output voltage :
2
Vrms
FF 
Vdc

Ripple factor, which is the measure of the ripple content :

V
RF  ac
Vdc

Transformer utilisation ratio :

Pdc Pdc
TUF  
VA rating Vs  I s

48
 Ideal Rectifier
Ideal Rectifier should have :

  100% : All AC power from input is converted

to DC power at output.
Vac  0 : No presence of ac component at output

RF  0 : Ripple free output DC voltage

TUF  1 : Transforme r is fully utilised.

HF  THD  0 : No distortion in the waveform
(no harmonics).

PF  DF  1 : At input, voltage and current are

in phase (no phase lag/lead)
in phase.

49
 Worked example
The half-wave rectifier has a purely R-load. It is fed by a 1:1
transformer. Determine (a) efficiency (b)from factor, (c)
ripple factor, (d) transformer utilisation factor, (e) the CF of
the input current. Repeat fro full-wave with R-load.
For half - wave,
Vm Vm 0.318Vm
Vdc   0.318Vm ; I dc  
 R R
V V 0.5Vm
Vrms  m  0.5Vm ; I rms  m 
2 2 R
Pdc  Vdc  I dc  0.318Vm  R
2

Pac  Vrms  I rms  0.5Vm 

2
R
P
Efficiency :   dc 
0.318Vm  R  40.5%2

Pac 0.5Vm 2 R
Vrms 0.5Vm
Form Factor : FF    157%
Vdc 0.318Vm
Ripple Factor : RF  FF 2  1  1.57 2  1  121%

On the secondary of the transformer,

I s  I rms  0.5Vm  R ; Vs  Vm 2  0.707Vm
Pac 0.3182
TUF    0.286
Vs  I s 0.707  0.5
Note :
1 / TUF i.e. 1 / 0.286  3.496 signifies that the transfromer must
be 3.496 times larger than when it is being used to deliver
power from a pure DC voltage. 50
 Three Phase Rectifiers
• Three phase rectifier are
commonly used in industries to
produce dc voltage and current
for large loads.
• Single-phase supply circuits are
adequate below a few kilowatts.
• Three phase rectifier circuit
1. Half wave or three pulse
rectifier
2. Full wave or six pulse rectifier
3. Twelve pulse circuits

51
 Three-phase rectifiers
+ van - D1 io

+ vbn - D3
n vpn
+
D5
+ vcn - vo
_
D2
vnn
D6 vo =vp vn

D4

van vbn vcn

Vm

vp
Vm

vn

vo =vp - vn

    
52
 Three-phase output voltage
vo
vo


Vm, L-L


 

Considers only one of the six segments. Obtain

its average over 60 degrees or  3 radians.
Average voltage :
2 3
1
Vo 
 3 3 Vm, L  L sin(t )dt

3Vm, L  L
 cos(t )233

3Vm, L  L
  0.955Vm, L  L

Note that the output DC voltage component of
a three - phase rectifier is much higher than of a
single - phase.

53
Three Phase
Rectifier

D1&D6 D1&D2 D2&D3 D3&D4 D4&D5 D5&D6

54
 Three Phase Half Wave
Rectifier – R load
• Peak reverse blocking voltage, PIV
PIV  3Vm
• The average output voltage, Vo(dc).
1 5 / 6
Vo(dc) 
2 / 3  / 6
Vmsin d  0.827Vm

• The average current voltage, Io(dc). Vo(dc)

I o(dc) 
R
• The rms output voltage, Vo(rms).
Vo(rms)  0.8407 Vm

Vo(rms)Io(rms).
• The rms current voltage,
Io(rms) 
R

**note: Vm is maximum per phase 55

(line to neutral) voltage
 Three Phase Half Wave
Rectifier – R load
• DC power output Po(dc)  Vo(dc) I o(dc)
• Total power output.
2
POT  I o(rms) R
• Apparent input
power (per phase)
Sinput  Vs(rms) I s(rms)
• The rms source
current, Is(rms). Io(rms)
Is(rms) 
3

**note: Vs(rms) is rms value of the

per phase source voltage 56
Three Phase Half Wave
Rectifier – R load
• The three pulse or half wave
rectifier for R load

57
 Three Phase Half Wave
Rectifier
- R load
• Waveform

58
 Three Phase Full Wave
Rectifier – R load
• Peak reverse blocking voltage, PIV
PIV  3Vm
• The average output voltage, Vo(dc).
2  /6
Vo(dc) 
2 / 6 0
3Vm cost d(t)  1.654Vm

• The average current voltage, Io(dc). Vo(dc)

I o(dc) 
R
• The rms output voltage, Vo(rms).
Vo(rms)  1.6554 Vm

• The rms current voltage, Io(rms). Vo(rms)

I o(rms) 
R

**note: Vm is maximum per phase 59

(line to neutral) voltage
 Three Phase Full Wave
Rectifier – R load
• DC power output
Po(dc)  Vo(dc) I o(dc)
• Total power output.
2
POT  I o(rms) R
• Apparent input
power (per phase)
Sinput  Vs(rms) Is(rms)
• The rms source
current, Is(rms). 2
Is(rms)  Io(rms)
3

**note: Vs(rms) is rms value of the

per phase source voltage 60
 Three-Phase, Full-Bridge Rectifier

• Commonly used

61
 Three-Phase, Full-Bridge Rectifier:
Redrawn

• Two groups with three diodes each

62
 Three-Phase, Full-Bridge Rectifier
Waveforms

• Output
current is
assumed to
be dc

63