Chapter 3 - Rectifiers

What is a Rectifier?

 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 process is known as rectification, since it "straightens" the direction of current.
What is an Inverter?

 It is a power electronic device or circuitry that changes direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC).
Types of Rectifier

Half Wave Rectifier

Full Wave Rectifier
Bridge Rectifier
Half Wave rectifier

Vm = VMAX is the maximum peak value in one half of the secondary winding.
Vo = Voltage Output
Half Wave Rectifier (IDEAL DIODE)
Half Wave Rectifier (T/2 → T)

 During the period T/2 → T, the polarity of the input signal Vi becomes negative, which
causes the diode to turn OFF, resulting in an open circuit equivalent across the diode
terminals.

 Vo = IR = 0(R) = 0 Volts (using Ohm's Law).

Input (Vi) and the Output (Vo) voltages during
the Diode Half-Wave Rectification process
Using a Silicon Diode
Cont.

 While the diode conducts during the rectification process, it

generates a DC output that carries a fixed voltage level for the
voltage difference.

Vo = Vi – Vt
Thus Vi >> Vt or Vm >>Vt
Average DC output formula with the
threshold voltage of the diode

Vdc ≅ 0.318(Vm - VT)

Example for Half Bridge Rectifier

 Problem # 1: (Consider the diode as an Ideal Diode)

 Evaluate the output Vo and find out the DC magnitude of the output for the circuit design
shown below:
 Solution of Problem #1

For the full period of the input AC cycle, the DC output will be:
Vo = Vm – Vt = (20-0) = 20 Volts
Vdc = -0.318(Vm – VT)= - 0.318(20V – 0V) = - 6.36 Volts
 Example - Problem#2

 Problem#2: Solve the problem #1 considering the diode as a silicon.

 Evaluate the output Vo and find out the DC magnitude of the output for the circuit design
shown below:
Solution of Problem #2

Vo = Vm – Vt = (20-0.7) = 19.3 Volts

Vdc ≅ - 0.318(Vm - VT)
= - 0.318(20 – 0.7)
= - 0.318(19.3 V)
≅ - 6.14 V
Drop in Output DC

First Second
Example Example

6.36V – 6.14V = 0.22V

The drop in the output DC voltage due to the 0.7 V factor
is around 0.22V or approximately 3.5%
Full-Wave Rectification

 When an AC sinusoidal signal is used as the input for rectification, the DC output can be
improved to 100% level using a full-wave rectification process.
 The most well known and easy process for achieving this is by employing a 4-Diode Bridge
Rectifier network as shown below.
4-Diode Bridge Rectifier

 When the positive input cycle progresses through the period t = 0 to T/2, the polarity of the
input AC signal across the diode and the output from the diode are as represented
below:
Cont.

 Here, we can see that due to the special arrangement of the diode network in the bridge,
when D2, D3 conduct, the opposite diodes D1, D4 remain reversed biased and in
switched OFF state.
Net output DC
generated from this
rectification process
through D2 AND D3
ARE IDEAL DIODES

Since we have
imagined the
diodes to be
ideal, the output is
Vo = Vin.
Cont.

 Likewise for the negative half cycle of the input signal diodes D1, D4 conduct, and diodes
D2, D3 go into an OFF state, as illustrated below:
THUS
CONSIDERRING THE VT OF THE DIODE
USING SILICON DIODE IN FULLWAVE RECTIFIER

 As depicted in the above figure, if instead of ideal diode a silicon

diode is used, applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law over the conduction
line would give us the following result:
 Vi - VT - Vo - VT = 0, and
Vo = Vi - 2VT,
 Therefore, the Output Voltage Peak Vo will be:
 Vomax = Vm - 2VT
Vi > 2VT

In a situation where Vi > 2VT, we can use our

earlier equation to get the average value with a
reasonably high degree of precision:
Vdc ≅ - 0.636(Vm - 2VT)
PIV (Peak Inverse Voltage) or
PRV (PEAK REVERSE VOLTAGE)

 It is basically a reverse-bias voltage range of the diode that must not be exceeded,
otherwise the diode may breakdown by transiting into a region called zener avalanche
region.
Cont.

 For a full bridge rectifier also, the PIV rating calculation is the same as half wave rectifier,
that is:
 PIV ≥ Vm, since Vm is the total voltage that's applied to the connected load as depicted
in the following figure.
Example – Problem #3 - Full Bridge Rectifier Network

 Determine the output waveform for the following diode network, and also calculate the
output DC level and the safe PIV for each diode in the network.
Solution: For the Positive Half Cycle

 Solution: For the positive half cycle, the circuit would behave as depicted in the following
diagram:
Redrawing the circuit:

Thus
Here,
1 1
Vo = 2 𝑣𝑖 = 2 𝑣𝑖 (max) =
1/2(10 V) = 5 V
Solution: For the Negative Half Cycle

 For the negative half cycle, the conduction role of the diodes can be interchanged,
which will produce an output Vo as shown below:

The absence of two diodes in the bridge

results in the reduction in the DC output
with a magnitude:
Vdc = 0.636(5 V) = 3.18 V
Or
Vdc = 0.318(10 V) = 3.18 V
Center Tapped Full Wave Rectifier

 The wire is adjusted in such a way that it falls in the exact middle point of the
secondary winding. So, the wire is exactly at zero volts of the AC signal. This
wire is known as the center tap.
 The center tapped transformer works almost similar to a normal transformer.
Like a normal transformer, the center tapped transformer also increases or
reduces the AC voltage. However, a center tapped transformer has another
important feature. That is the secondary winding of the center tapped
transformer divides the input AC current or AC signal (VP) into two parts.
Cont.

 The upper part of the secondary winding produces a positive voltage V1 and the lower part of the
secondary winding produces a negative voltage V2. When we combine these two voltages at output
load, we get a complete AC signal.
 I.e. VTotal = V1 + V2
 The voltages V1 and V2 are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction. That is the voltages
(V1 and V2 ) produced by the upper part and lower part of the secondary winding are 180 degrees
out of phase with each other. However, by using a full wave rectifier with center tapped transformer,
we can produce the voltages that are in phase with each other. In simple words, by using a full
wave rectifier with center tapped transformer, we can produce a current that flows only in single
direction.
What is center tapped full wave rectifier?

 A center tapped full wave rectifier is a type of rectifier which uses a center tapped transformer and
two diodes to convert the complete AC signal into DC signal.
 The center tapped full wave rectifier is made up of an AC source, a center tapped transformer, two
diodes, and a load resistor.
Cont.

 The AC source is connected to the primary winding of the center tapped transformer. A center tap
(additional wire) connected at the exact middle of the the secondary winding divides the input
voltage into two parts.
 The upper part of the secondary winding is connected to the diode D1 and the lower part of the
secondary winding is connected to the diode D2. Both diode D1 and diode D2 are connected to a
common load RL with the help of a center tap transformer. The center tap is generally considered
as the ground point or the zero voltage reference point.
 How center tapped full wave rectifier
works?

 The center tapped full wave rectifier uses a center tapped transformer to
convert the input AC voltage into output DC voltage.
 When input AC voltage is applied, the secondary winding of the center
tapped transformer divides this input AC voltage into two parts: positive and
negative.
 During the positive half cycle of the input AC signal, terminal A become
positive, terminal B become negative and center tap is grounded (zero
volts). The positive terminal A is connected to the p-side of the diode D1 and
the negative terminal B is connected to the n-side of the diode D1. So the
diode D1 is forward biased during the positive half cycle and allows electric
current through it.
 On the other hand, the negative terminal B is connected to the p-side of the
diode D2 and the positive terminal A is connected to the n-side of the diode
D2. So the diode D2 is reverse biased during the positive half cycle and does
not allow electric current through it.
 Cont.

 The diode D1 supplies DC current to the load RL. The DC current

produced at the load RL will return to the secondary winding through a
center tap.
 During the positive half cycle, current flows only in the upper part of the
circuit while the lower part of the circuit carry no current to the load
because the diode D2 is reverse biased. Thus, during the positive half
cycle of the input AC signal, only diode D1 allows electric current while
diode D2 does not allow electric current.
Cont.

 During the negative half cycle of the input AC signal, terminal A

become negative, terminal B become positive and center tap is
grounded (zero volts). The negative terminal A is connected to the
p-side of the diode D1 and the positive terminal B is connected to
the n-side of the diode D1. So the diode D1 is reverse biased
during the negative half cycle and does not allow electric current
through it.
 Cont.

 Thus, the diode D1 allows electric current during

the positive half cycle and diode D2 allows
electric current during the negative half cycle of
the input AC signal. As a result, both half cycles
(positive and negative) of the input AC signal are
allowed. So the output DC voltage is almost
equal to the input AC voltage.
Thus

 A small voltage is wasted at the diode D1 and diode D2 to make them conduct. However, this voltage is
very small as compared to the voltage appeared at the output. So this voltage is neglected.
 The diodes D1 and D2 are commonly connected to the load RL. So the load current is the sum of
individual diode currents.
 We know that a diode allows electric current in only one direction. From the above diagram, we can see
that both the diodes D1 and D2 are allowing current in the same direction.
 We know that a current that flows in only single direction is called a direct current. So the resultant
current at the output (load) is a direct current (DC). However, the direct current appeared at the output is
not a pure direct current but a pulsating direct current.
 The value of the pulsating direct current changes with respect to time. This is due to the ripples in the
output signal. These ripples can be reduced by using filters such as capacitor and inductor.
 The average output DC voltage across the load resistor is double that of the single half wave rectifier
circuit.
Example of Center Tapped Full Wave Rectifier

Solve for PIV

Solution:
N2 2
V2 = V1 = 1 10 = 20 volts
𝑁1

PIV = 2Vm = 2(V2 - VT) = 2 (20

- 0.7) = 2(19.3) = 38.6 volts
 Reference: https://www.physics-and-radio-electronics.com/electronic-devices-and-
circuits/rectifier/fullwaverectifier.html
End of Presentation