Kurdistan Regional Government

Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

College of Education
Physics Department – High Diploma

Rectifier
Prepared By: Supervised By:
Hemn Sadradin Qader Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abdulla
Table of Contents
Chapter one: Introduction
Chapter Two: 2.1. What is Rectifier?
2.2. What is Rectification?
2.3. Working Principle of Rectifiers
Chapter three:
3.1. Types of Rectifiers
3.1.1 Uncontrolled Rectifier:
3.1.1.1 Half Wave Rectifier:
3.1.1.2 Full Wave Rectifier:
3.1.1.2. a- Bridge Rectifier
3.1.1.2. b- Center-Tap Rectifier
3.2. Controlled Rectifier:
3.2.1. Half Wave Controlled Rectifier
3.2.2. Full Wave Controlled Rectifier
3.2.2.a. Controlled Bridge Rectifier
3.2.2.b Controlled Center-Tap Rectifier:
3.3. Single Phase and Three Phase Rectifiers
Chapter four:
4.1. Comparison of Rectifiers
4.2. Applications Of Rectifiers
4.3. Difference between Half Wave and Full Wave Rectifier
Introduction
A rectifier is an electrical device that converts
alternating current (AC), which periodically reverses direction,
to direct current (DC), which flows in only one direction. The
reverse operation (converting DC to AC) is performed by an
inverter.[3]
Rectifiers have many uses, but are often found serving as
components of 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. As noted, rectifiers can
serve as detectors of radio signals. In gas heating systems
flame rectification is used to detect presence of a flame.[3]
* Many applications of rectifiers, such as power supplies for
radio, television and computer equipment, require
a steady constant DC voltage (as would be produced by a
battery).
What is Rectifier?
A Rectifier is an electrical device that is made of one or more
than one diodes that converts the alternating current (AC)
into direct current (DC).
What is Rectification?
Rectification is the process of conversion of the alternating
current (which periodically changes direction) into direct current
(flow in a single direction).
Working Principle of Rectifiers
In rectification circuits, P-N junction diodes are used. In power
supply, this circuit can be used to represent the translation of ac
supply to dc supply. The P-N junction diode is a semiconductor
device that converts AC voltage and current into DC voltage and
current fast. Current electricity can flow through a P-N junction
diode when it is forward biased, but it is blocked when it is
reverse biased.
P-N junction diode acts as a one-way gate, allowing only one
direction of current to flow.
A P-N junction diode’s resistance is extremely low in forward bias,
whereas it is highly high in reverse bias. A P-N junction diode can only
allow current to flow in one direction due to this condition.
Current flows through a diode whenever an alternating voltage is
supplied across it during the forward-biased phase of the cycle. A
rectifier is an electric circuit that makes use of the ability of the P-N
junction diode to rectify alternating voltages.
Types of Rectifiers
There are mainly two types of rectifiers:
Uncontrolled Rectifier
Controlled Rectifier
Bridge rectifiers can be broadly classified into
single and three phase rectifiers based on the
type of input they work on.
the rectifiers are classified into two
categories.
Half wave rectifier
Full wave rectifier
Uncontrolled Rectifier:
The type of rectifier whose output voltage cannot be
controlled is called an uncontrolled rectifier.
A rectifier uses switches to work. The switches can be of
various types, broadly, controllable switches and
uncontrollable switches. A diode is unidirectional device
that allows the current flow in only one direction. The
working of a diode is not controlled as it will conduct as
long as it is forward biased.[15]
With a configuration of diodes in any given rectifier, the
rectifier is not fully in the operator’s control, so these
types of rectifiers are called uncontrolled rectifiers.
Uncontrolled rectifier uses only diodes and they give a
fixed output voltage depending only on the AC input.
Types Of Uncontrolled Rectifier:
Uncontrolled Rectifiers are further divided into two types:
Half Wave Rectifier
Full Wave Rectifier
Half Wave Rectifier:
A Type of rectifier that converts only the half cycle of the alternating
current (AC) into direct current (DC) is known as halfwave rectifier.
[12]
Positive Half Wave Rectifier:
A half wave rectifier that converts only the positive half cycle and
blocks the negative half cycle.[10]
Negative Half Wave Rectifier:
A negative half wave rectifier converts only the negative half cycle of
the AC into DC.
In all types of rectifiers, a half-wave rectifier is the simplest of them
all as it is composed of only a single diode.

A diode allows the current flow in only one direction

known as forward bias. A load resistor RL is connected in
series with the diode.
Positive Half Cycle:
During the positive half cycle, the diode
terminal anode will become positive
and the cathode will become negative
known as forward bias. And it will allow
the positive cycle to flow through.

Negative Half Cycle:

During the negative half cycle, the
anode will become negative and
the cathode will become positive,
which is known as reverse bias.
So the diode will block the negative cycle.
So when an AC source is connected to the
half-wave rectifier, only half cycle will flow
through it as shown in the figure .
The output of this rectifier is taken across
the load resistor RL. if we look at the input-
to-output graph, it shows
a pulsating positive half cycle of the input.
Full Wave Rectifier:
A full wave rectifier converts both positive and
negative half cycles of the AC (alternating current) into DC
(direct current). It provides double output voltage
compared to the halfwave rectifier[8]
A full wave rectifier is made up of more than one diode.
There are two types of full wave rectifier.
Bridge Rectifier
Center-Tap Rectifier
Bridge Rectifier
A bridge rectifier uses four diodes
to convert both half cycle of the
input AC into DC output.
Positive Half Cycle:
During input positive half cycle,
the diode D1 & D2 becomes
forward bias while D3 & D4
becomes reverse bias. The diode
D1 & D2 form a closed loop that
provides a positive output voltage across the load
resistor RL.
Negative Half Cycle:
During the negative half cycle,
the diode D3 & D4 becomes
forward bias while D1 & D2
becomes reverse bias. But the
polarity across the load resistor RL
remains the same and provides a
Advantages of a Bridge Rectifier:
1- Low ripples in the output DC signal
2- High rectifier efficiency
3- Low power loss[6]

Disadvantages of Bridge Rectifier:

1- Bridge rectifier is more complex than a half-
wave rectifier
2- More power loss compared to canter-tapped
full wave rectifier
Center-Tap Rectifier
This type of full-wave rectifier uses a center-tap transformer & two
diodes.
A center-tap transformer is a dual-voltage transformer that has two
inputs (I1 & I2) and three output terminals (T1, T2, T3).
The T2 terminal is connected to the center of the output coil which
acts as a reference ground (o volt reference). The T1 terminal
produces positive voltage and the T3 terminal produces negative
voltage with respect to the T2.
The design of the center-tap rectifier is given below:
Positive Half Cycle: During the input positive
half cycle, the T1 will produce positive and
T2 will produce a negative voltage. The diode
D1 will become forward bias & diode D2 will
become reverse bias. This makes a close path
from T1 to T2 through the load resistor RL .

Negative Half Cycle: Now during the input

negative half cycle, T1 will generate negative
cycle & T2 will generate a positive cycle.
This will put the diode D1 into reverse bias &
diode D2 in forward bias. But the polarity
across the load resistor RL is still the same as
the current takes the path from T3 to T1 .
Controlled Rectifier:
A type of rectifier whose output voltage can
be varied or changed is called controlled rectifier.
The need for a controlled rectifier is apparent when we look into
the shortcomings of an uncontrolled bridge rectifier. To make an
uncontrolled rectifier into a controlled one we use current-
controlled solid-state devices such as SCRs, MOSFETs, and IGBTs.
We have the full control when SCRs are switched ON or OFF
based on the gate pulses we apply to it. These are generally
more preferred than their uncontrolled counterparts.
It is composed of one or more than one SCR (Silicon Controlled
Rectifier).
An SCR, also known as thyristor is a three-terminal diode. These
terminals are Anode, Cathode & a control input known as Gate.
Types of Controlled Rectifiers
There are two types of controlled rectifier.
1- Half Wave Controlled Rectifier
2- Full Wave Controlled Rectifier
The half wave controlled rectifier is made up of a single SCR (Silicon Controlled
Rectifier).
Half wave controlled rectifier:
Half wave controlled rectifier has the same design
as the half wave uncontrolled rectifier except we
replace the diode with an SCR as shown in figure.

Full Wave Controlled Rectifier

A type of rectifier that converts both positive and negative half cycle of the AC into DC
as well as controls the output amplitude is known as a full wave controlled
rectifier.Just like uncontrolled rectifier, controlled full wave rectifier has two types.
Controlled Bridge Rectifier
In this rectifier, the diode bridge is replaced by an SCR
(Thyristor) bridge with the same configuration
as shown in the figure below
Positive Half Cycle: During the positive
cycle, the SCR (thyristor) T1 & T2 will
conduct when the gate pulse is applied.
T3 & T4 will be reversed bias, so they will
block the current. The output voltage will
be established across the load resistor RL
as shown in figure.

Negative Half Cycle: During the negative

half cycle, the thyristor T3 & T4 will
become forward bias considering the gate
input pulse & the T1 & T2 will become
reverse bias. The output voltage will appear
across the load resistor RL.
At the end of the output, a capacitor
is used to remove the ripples and
makes the output steady & smooth.

Controlled Center-Tap Rectifier:

Just like center-tap uncontrolled
rectifier, this design uses two SCR
replacing the two diodes. Both of
these SCR switching will be timed
differently according to the input AC
frequency.
Its operation is the same as the uncontrolled rectifier &
its schematic design is given below
Single Phase and Three Phase Rectifiers
This classification is based on the type of input a rectifier
works on. The naming is pretty straightforward. When the
input is single phase, the rectifier is called a single phase
rectifier and when the input is three phase, it is called a
three phase rectifier.
The single phase bridge rectifier consists of four diodes,
whereas a three phase rectifier uses six diodes arranged
in a particular fashion to get the desired output. These
can be controlled or uncontrolled rectifiers depending on
the switching components used in each rectifier such as
diodes, Thyristors, and so on.
Comparison of Rectifiers
The following table shows the compassion between
different types of rectifiers such as half wave rectifier, full
wave rectifier and center tapped rectifier.[15]
the list of common applications and uses of different
Rectifiers.
1- Rectification i.e. converting DC Voltages to AC Voltages.
2- Rectifiers are used in electric welding to provide the
polarized voltage.
3- It is also used in traction, rolling stock and three phase
traction motors used for running trains.
4- Half wave rectifiers are used in mosquito repellent and
soldering iron.
5- Half wave rectifier also used in AM Radio as a detector
and signal peak detector.
6- Rectifiers also used in modulation, demodulation and
voltage multipliers.
Difference between Half Wave and Full Wave Rectifier
The differences between a half-wave and a full-wave rectifier are as follows:

Parameters Half-Wave Rectifier Full-Wave Rectifier

Number of diodes 1 2 or 4

Efficiency 40.6% 81.2%

Ripple frequency f 2f

Ripple factor High Low

Voltage regulation Good Better than Half wave

Summery
Rectifiers transform an AC input voltage into a DC voltage
supply to power electronic circuits.
Rectification is the process of converting alternating current
(AC) to direct current (DC) by only allowing current to flow in
one direction.
When forward biased, a junction diode has a low resistance to
current in one direction and high resistance when reverse
biased.
The ripple factor is a measurement of a rectifier's efficiency.
A half-wave rectifier can be defined as a type of rectifier that
converts only the half-cycle of alternating current into a direct
current.
A full-wave rectifier converts both the positive and negative
half cycles of the AC.
References
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Paris.
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[12] R.S. Ramshaw, Power Electronics Semiconductor Switches (Chapman & Hall, London, 1993).
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