Rectifiers

Introduction
The application of rectifier circuits is in the conversion
of AC to DC power. A circuit that accomplishes this
conversion is usually called a DC power supply.

 Many familiar electrical and electronic appliances

(e.g., radios, personal computers, TVs) require DC
power to operate. For most applications, it is desirable
that the DC supply to be as steady and ripple-free as
possible.

2
DC power supply

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of a DC power supply

3
Classification of Rectifiers
Half – Wave Rectifier
Full Wave Rectifier
Center-Tapped Full Wave Rectifier
Bridge Rectifier

4
Half Wave Rectifier
A half wave rectifier  allows one half-cycle of an
AC voltage waveform to pass, blocking the other half-cycle.
Half-wave rectifiers are used to convert AC voltage to
pulsating voltage, and require a single diode to construct

5
Half-wave rectifier

Fig.3 Conduction region ( T/2 to T)

Fig.4 Half wave rectified signal 6

Center tapped Full Wave Rectifier
A full-wave rectifier converts an ac voltage into a pulsating dc
voltage using both half cycles of the applied ac voltage.
A full-wave rectifier appears in Fig. 5 with two diodes but
requiring a center-tapped (CT) transformer to establish the
input signal across each section of the secondary of the
transformer. The diodes feed a common load R with the help of
a center-tap transformer.

Fig.5 Center-tapped transformer full-wave rectifier. 7

Center tapped Full Wave Rectifier
During the positive portion of Vi applied to the primary of the
transformer, the network will appear as shown in Fig. 6
D1 - Forward biased- short-circuit
D2 – Reverse biased- open-circuit
The output voltage appears as shown in Fig.6

Fig 6 Network conditions for the positive region of vi.

8
Center tapped Full Wave Rectifier
During the negative portion of the input the network appears as
shown in Fig.7
D1 – Reverse biased- open-circuit
D2 - Forward biased- short-circuit

Fig 7 Network conditions for the negative region of vi.

9
Center tapped Full Wave Rectifier

Fig. 8 Input and output wave forms

10
 Bridge Rectifier
This type of full wave rectifier uses four diodes connected in a
bridge configuration to produce the desired output.
The main advantage of this bridge circuit is that it does not require
a special centre tapped transformer, thereby reducing its size and
cost. Four diodes labeled D1 to D4 are arranged as shown in Fig 9
with only two diodes conducting current during each half cycle

Fig 9. Full Wave Bridge Rectifier 11

Bridge Rectifier
During the positive half cycle of the supply, diodes D2 and
D3 conduct in series while diodes D1 and D4 are reverse
biased and the current flows through the load as shown
below

Fig.10 Conduction path for the positive region of vi

12
Bridge Rectifier
During the negative half cycle of the supply, diodes D1 and
D4 conduct in series but diodes D2 and D 3 switch “OFF” as
they are reverse biased.
The current flowing through the load is the same direction as
before.

Fig. 11 Conduction path for the negative region of vi

13
Bridge Rectifier
Over one full cycle the input and output voltages will appear
as shown in Fig.12

Fig.12 Input and output waveforms for a full-wave rectifier

14
Analysis of Full-Wave Rectifier
Peak Current
The value of peak current (Imax) can be derived with the help of
instantaneous value of applied voltage and the resistance of the
diodes. The value of instantaneous voltage applied to the rectifier
circuit can be given as:-

Let’s assume the forward resistance - Rf , load resistor RL then the

current flowing through the load resistor can be given as:-

The total current i can be obtained by the sum of i1 and i2 for the
whole cycle.

15
Analysis of Full-Wave Rectifier
Output Current
The current through the load is the same for both the cycles of
the ac signal thus, the dc output current can be given as

DC output voltage
The average dc voltage is given as

16
Analysis of Full-Wave Rectifier
RMS Current
The rms current through the load RL is given as

17
Analysis of Full-Wave Rectifier
RMS Voltage
The rms value of a voltage across the load is given as

Form factor
The form factor is the ratio of rms value to the dc output value
of current. It is given as

18
Analysis of Full-Wave Rectifier
Peak factor
It is the ratio of the peak value of current to the rms value of
current

Ripple factor

Leture 30 19
Analysis of Full-Wave Rectifier
The peak inverse voltage (PIV) of the diode is the peak value
of the voltage that a diode can withstand when it is reversed
biased .The peak inverse voltage of diode in center tapped full
wave rectifier is 2 Vsmax and Bridge rectifier is Vsmax.

Rectification Efficiency: The rectification efficiency of full

wave rectifier can be obtained by the ratio of dc power delivered
to load and ac power present in the output

For bridge rectifier,

20
Advantages of Full Wave Rectifiers
Advantages of Full Wave Rectifiers
The rectification efficiency of full wave rectifier is much
higher than that of half wave rectifier. It is approximately
double to that of half wave rectifier i.e. it is about 81%.
The filtering circuit required in full wave rectifier is simple
because ripple factor in the case of full wave rectifier is very
low as compared to that of half wave rectifier. The value of
ripple factor in full wave rectifier is 0.482 while in half wave
rectifier it is about 1.21.
The output voltage and output power obtained in full wave
rectifiers are much more than that of full wave rectifiers.
Disadvantages of Full Wave Rectifiers
The full wave rectifiers need more circuit elements than half
wave rectifier which makes it costlier
21
Thank you

22