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Rectifiers

The document explains rectification, the process of converting alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), primarily through half-wave rectification using semiconductor diodes. A semiconductor diode, characterized by its p-n junction, allows current to flow in one direction (forward biased) while blocking it in the opposite direction (reverse biased). The document also describes the use of an oscilloscope to visualize the voltage changes during the rectification process.

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22 views6 pages

Rectifiers

The document explains rectification, the process of converting alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), primarily through half-wave rectification using semiconductor diodes. A semiconductor diode, characterized by its p-n junction, allows current to flow in one direction (forward biased) while blocking it in the opposite direction (reverse biased). The document also describes the use of an oscilloscope to visualize the voltage changes during the rectification process.

Uploaded by

sahengrizzelle
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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RECTIFIERS

SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
AS A RECTIFIER
RECTIFICATION

Rectification is the process of converting alternating current


(ac) to direct current (dc).

Half-wave rectification is the process of connecting ac to dc


by preventing one half of each cycle from being applied to the
load.
WHAT IS A SEMICONDUCTOR
DIODE?
Semiconductor diode – this is a type of diode, which
contains “p-n junction” made from differently doped
semiconductor materials. It is double-ended, nonlinear
electronic component, where terminal attached to the
“p” layer (+) is called anode and “n” layer (–) cathode.
◦ Semiconductor diode is mainly used because of its ability of making electric current flow only in
one direction (from anode to cathode). When current is able to flow the diode is said to be in
forward biased.
HOLE
S
Forward
biased
ELECTRO
NS

◦ However, in the opposite direction electric current will not flow. In this mode, the diode is
described as reverse biased. HOLE
S
Reversed
biased
ELECTRO
NS
◦ This is why semiconductor diode is often described as the “electric valve”, which can pass or block
the flow of the electric current.

Symbolic representation
of a semiconductor
diode.

Semiconductor diode
(real life
representation).
DIODES AS A RECTIFIER
Diodes convert AC to DC using the process known as rectification.
Using a single diode for the conversion will give you half-wave
rectification.
Half-wave rectification only allows one half-cycle of an AC
voltage waveform to pass, blocking the other half-cycle.

The diagram illustrates the basic principle of half-wave rectification. When a standard
AC waveform is passed through a half-wave rectifier (a single diode), only half of the
AC waveform remains. Half-wave rectifiers only allow one half-cycle (positive or
negative half-cycle) of the AC voltage through and will block the other half-cycle on
the DC side, as seen above.
OSCILLOSCOPE
An oscilloscope is an instrument that produces graphs of
voltage against time, allowing the observation and
measurement of varying electrical signals.

Displaying voltages using an oscilloscope


 In (a ) an alternating voltage is applied to a load.
 In (b) a diode is placed in the circuit. The diode allows current to flow through it in only one
direction. In the half of the cycle when there is no current in the load resistor, there can be no
potential difference across it (V = IR).
 Note how ac rectified to dc by a diode differs from the dc of a battery

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