Prepared by Eng.

Ala’a Nabil Rectifier circuit

Analog Electronics

Rectifier circuit

Prepared by Ala’a Nabil

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Prepared by Eng. Ala’a Nabil Rectifier circuit

Introduction

The pn junction diode conducts current only in one direction when it is forward biased while it does
not conduct when it is reverse biased. Thus when the alternating voltage is applied to the pn junction
diode, during only one half cycle the diode will conduct current and no current can pass during the
other half cycle. If a resistance is connected in series to the diode, the voltage across the resistance will
be unidirectional. Thus a pn junction diode subjected to alternating voltage acts as rectifier converting
a.c. voltage into pulsating d.c voltage.

Important Terms to Remember

Peak Voltage (Vm)

The maximum instantaneous value of a function as measured from the zero-volt level.

Peak-to-Peak Voltage (Vpp)

The full voltage between positive and negative peaks of the waveform; that is, the sum of the
magnitude of the positive and negative peaks.

RMS Voltage (Vrms)

The root-mean-square or effective value of a waveform.

The term RMS stands for “Root-Mean-Squared, defined as the “amount of AC power that produces the
same heating effect as an equivalent DC power

Voltage waveform equation

ν = Vm sin t
Where is the angular frequency in radian/s ⟹ = 2πf and f = 1/T

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Prepared by Eng. Ala’a Nabil Rectifier circuit

Definitions

• Bias: The application of a dc voltage to a diode to make it either conduct or block current.
• Forward bias: The condition in which a diode conducts current.
• Reverse bias The condition in which a diode prevents current.
• Peak inverse voltage (PIV): The maximum value of reverse voltage across a diode that occurs
at the peak of the input cycle when the diode is reverse-biased.
• Rectifier: An electronic circuit that converts ac into pulsating dc; one part of a power supply.
• Ripple voltage The amount of the a.c. content in the output d.c. voltage. The ripple is expressed
by a factor called ripple factor. Less is the ripple factor, better is the performance of the circuit.

Rectifier

A rectifier is a device which converts a.c. voltage into pulsating d.c. voltage using one or more diodes

According to the period of conduction, rectifiers are classified into two categories:
a. Half Wave Rectifier
b. Full Wave Rectifier:

a. Half-Wave Rectifier

In half-wave rectification, the rectifier conducts current only during one half-cycles of input A.C.
supply. The other half-cycles of A.C. supply are suppressed i.e. during and hence no voltage appears
across the load.

• The output frequency of a half-wave rectifier is equal to the input frequency: f out = f in

Half wave rectifier relations

2π π Im
Im sin = Im sin ⟹ IDC =
0 0
• IDC =
Im
• Im = and

• VDC = IDC × RL

1 1 1 1
Irms = " ⟹" = Im "
Im
[Im sin ωt]2 [I sin ωt]2 ( 1 − cos 2 )
2π ' 2π ' m 2π ' 2
=

Im
Irms =

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Prepared by Eng. Ala’a Nabil Rectifier circuit

Example 1

voltage ν = 50 sin ωt and load resistance RL = 800 Ω, find

A crystal diode having internal resistance rf = 20 Ω is used for half wave rectification. If the applied

i) Im, Idc, Irms

ii) a.c. power input and d.c. power output
iii) d.c. output voltage
iv) Efficiency
Solution

.'
 Vm = 10 V, RL = 800 Ω , rf = 20 Ω

/'' '
i) Im = = = 0.061 A

0 '.'2
IDC = = = 0.0194 A
0 '.'2
Irms = = = 0.0305 A

ii) Pac = Irms2× ( RL + rf ) = 0.03052× ( 800 + 20 ) = 0.763 W

Pdc = Idc2× RL = 0.01942 × 800 = 0.301 W

iii) VDC = IDC × RL = 0.0194 × 800 = 15.52 V

η=
'.4'2 '.4'2 '.4'2
5 20 .' .
800
iv) = = = 0.395 = 39.5%
6

Example 2

An A.C. supply of 230 V is applied to a half-wave rectifier circuit through a transformer of turn ratio
10:1. Find

i) Output d.c. voltage

ii) The peak inverse voltage
Solution
89 '
, Vmp = Vrms × √2 = 230 × √2 = 325.3 V
8:
Vrms = 230 V, =

8: 8:
⟹
<
= 89 89 '
= Vm s = Vm P × = 325.3 × = 32.53 V

 Vm = 32.53 V
> ..>
i) VDC = = = 10.36 V

ii) PIV = Vm = 32.53 V

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Prepared by Eng. Ala’a Nabil Rectifier circuit

Full-Wave Rectifier

In full-wave rectification, current flows through the load in the same direction for both half-cycles of
input A.C. voltage. This can be achieved with two diodes working alternately. The following two
circuits are commonly used for full-wave rectification: (1) Centre-tap full-wave rectifier (2) Bridge
full-wave rectifier.

The output frequency of a half-wave rectifier is twice the input frequency ( f out = 2f in )

(1) Center-tap full-wave:

Disadvantages of Centre-tap full-wave:

• It is difficult to locate the center tap on the secondary winding.

• The D.C. output is small as each diode utilizes only one-half of the transformer secondary
voltage.
• The diodes used must have high peak inverse voltage.

(2) Full-wave bridge rectifier

Advantages:
• The need for center-tapped transformer is eliminated.
• The output is twice that of the center-tap circuit for the same secondary voltage.
• The PIV is one-half that of the center-tap circuit (for same D.C. output).

Disadvantages:
• It requires four diodes.
• As during each half-cycle of A.C. input, the two diodes that conduct are in series, therefore,
voltage drop in the internal resistance of the rectifying unit will be twice as great as in the center
tap circuit. This is objectionable when secondary voltage is small.

Full wave rectifier relations

2π π 2 Im
Im sin = Im sin ⟹ IDC =
0 0
• IDC =

Im
• Im = and

• VDC = IDC × RL

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Prepared by Eng. Ala’a Nabil Rectifier circuit

" = Im "
2π π Im
[Im sin ωt]2 ( 1 − cos 2 ) ⟹ Irms =
0 0 √
Irms =

0
 Im = , IDC = and VDC = IDC × RL

Efficiency

η=
?@A
The efficiency of the rectifier is the ratio of the dc output power to the ac input power

?BA
Irms2 ×( RL + rf
Idc2 × ( RL )
• Pac = )
• Pdc =
C
( )2 ( )2 '.4'2
Half Wave: η =
?@A
= D
= = 0.406 = 5
?BA (
C
)2 ( ) ( )2 ( ) ( ) ( )
: 6

• Maximum efficiency for an ideal didoe (rf = 0) = 0.406 or 40.6 %

:C
( )2 ( √2 ) 2 './
Full Wave: η =
?@A
= 0.821
D
= C = = 5
?BA ( )2 ( ) ( )2 ( ) ( ) ( )
√2 6

• Maximum efficiency for an ideal didoe (rf = 0) = 0.821 or 81.2 %

Ripple factor
The output of the rectifier is not pure d.c. but a pulsating d.c.. The output containing pulsating
components called ripple. The measure of the ripple presents in the output is called ripple factor it tells
how smooth the output.

The ratio of r.m.s. value of a.c. component in the output rectifier to the d.c. component
0BA
0@A
Ripple Factor =

= I[ IIrms ]
2
Irms = "Idc + Iac ⟹ Iac = " Irms − Idc −1
2 2 2 2
dc

0 0
• Half Wave: Idc = and Irms =

2
Im
= J[ ] − 1 = "[ ]
0BA π
2 − 1
0@A Im 2
π
Ripple Factor = = 1.21

0 0
√
• Full Wave : Idc = and Irms =

2
Im
= J[ ]
0BA
− 1 = "[ K ] − 1
KL π
0@A Im 2
π
• Ripple Factor = = 0.48

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Prepared by Eng. Ala’a Nabil Rectifier circuit

Example 3

In the center-tap circuit shown in Fig., the diodes are assumed to be ideal
i.e. having zero internal resistance. Find:
(i) D.C. output voltage (ii) peak inverse voltage (iii) rectification efficiency.

Solution
M9 .
M:
Vrms = 230 V, = , RL = 100 Ω , rf = 0 ( ideal diode)

Vmp = Vrms × √2 = 230 × √2 = 325.3 V

NO P 8: 8:
= ⟹ Vm s = Vm P × = 325.3 × = 65V
NO Q 89 89 .

< 2.
For centre-tap: Vm = = = 32.5 V.

! > ..
(i) D.C. output voltage: VDC = = = 20.7 V

(ii) PIV = Vms = 65 V Or PIV = 2Vm = 2 × 32.5 = 65 V

'./ './ './

(iii) Efficiency = 5 = 0 = = 0. 812 = 81.2%
6 100

Example 4

In the bridge type circuit shown in Fig., the diodes are assumed to be ideal. Find
(i) D.C. output voltage (ii) peak inverse voltage (iii) output frequency.

Solution
89 4
Vrms = 230 V, f = 50 Hz , = , RL = 200 Ω , rf = 0 ( ideal diode)
8:

Vmp = Vrms ×√2 = 230 × √2 = 325.3 V

< 8: 8:
= ⟹ Vm s = Vm P × = 325.3 × = 81.3V
= 89 89 4

For Bridge type: Vm = 81.3 V.

! / .>
(i) D.C. output voltage: VDC = = = 51.8 V
(ii) PIV = Vm = 81.3 V
(iii) Output Frequency: f out = 2 f in = 2 × 50 = 100 Hz

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Prepared by Eng. Ala’a Nabil Rectifier circuit

Exercise

1. What is meant by ripple voltage? How can the ripple be minimized?

2. Show that, the ratio of VDC of a rectifier uses ideal diode to VDC of a rectifier uses practical diode is
always greater than 1
3. A bridge rectifier is suitable for high voltage applications. Explain why.

Q1

A half wave rectifier with RL = 1 kΩ with an input of 10 V peak from step down transformer
Calculate the output DC voltage and current when the diode is : i) Ideal diode ii) Silicon diode

Q2
An ideal diode having is used for half-wave rectification. If the applied voltage
ν = 50 sin 200Rt (volt) and load resistance RL = 800 Ω. Find
i) D.C. output voltage.
ii) Output frequency.
Q3

diodes through a transformer of turn ratio 8:2. Find the output d.c. voltage across 500 Ω
An A.C. supply of 460 V peak to peck is applied to a full wave rectifier bridge circuit uses silicon