Full Wave Rectifier

A Rectifier circuit that rectifies both the positive and negative half cycles can be termed as a
full wave rectifier as it rectifies the complete cycle. The construction of a full wave rectifier
can be made in two types. They are

• Center-tapped Full wave rectifier

• Bridge full wave rectifier
Both of them have their advantages and disadvantages. Let us now go through both of their
construction and working along with their waveforms to know which one is better and why.

Center-tapped Full-Wave Rectifier

A rectifier circuit whose transformer secondary is tapped to get the desired output voltage,
using two diodes alternatively, to rectify the complete cycle is called as a Center-tapped Full
wave rectifier circuit. The transformer is center tapped here unlike the other cases.
The features of a center-tapping transformer are −
The tapping is done by drawing a lead at the mid-point on the secondary winding. This
winding is split into two equal halves by doing so.
The voltage at the tapped mid-point is zero. This forms a neutral point.
The center tapping provides two separate output voltages which are equal in magnitude but
opposite in polarity to each other.
A number of tapings can be drawn out to obtain different levels of voltages.
The center-tapped transformer with two rectifier diodes is used in the construction of a Center-
tapped full wave rectifier. The circuit diagram of a center tapped full wave rectifier is as shown
below.
Working of a CT- FWR
The working of a center-tapped full wave rectifier can be understood by the above figure.
When the positive half cycle of the input voltage is applied, the point M at the transformer
secondary becomes positive with respect to the point N. This makes the diode D1forward
biased. Hence current i1 flows through the load resistor from A to B. We now have the
positive half cycles in the output

When the negative half cycle of the input voltage is applied, the point M at the transformer
secondary becomes negative with respect to the point N. This makes the diode D2 forward
biased. Hence current i2 flows through the load resistor from A to B. We now have the
positive half cycles in the output, even during the negative half cycles of the input.

Waveforms of CT FWR

The input and output waveforms of the center-tapped full wave rectifier are as follows.
From the above figure it is evident that the output is obtained for both the positive and negative
half cycles. It is also observed that the output across the load resistor is in the same
direction for both the half cycles.
Disadvantages
There are few disadvantages for a center-tapped full wave rectifier such as −

• Location of center-tapping is difficult

• The dc output voltage is small
• PIV of the diodes should be high
The next kind of full wave rectifier circuit is the Bridge Full wave rectifier circuit.

Bridge Full-Wave Rectifier

This is such a full wave rectifier circuit which utilizes four diodes connected in bridge form
so as not only to produce the output during the full cycle of input, but also to eliminate the
disadvantages of the center-tapped full wave rectifier circuit.
There is no need of any center-tapping of the transformer in this circuit. Four diodes
called D1, D2, D3 and D4 are used in constructing a bridge type network so that two of the
diodes conduct for one half cycle and two conduct for the other half cycle of the input supply.
The circuit of a bridge full wave rectifier is as shown in the following figure.
Working of a Bridge Full-Wave Rectifier

The full wave rectifier with four diodes connected in bridge circuit is employed to get a better
full wave output response. When the positive half cycle of the input supply is given, point P
becomes positive with respect to the point Q. This makes the diode D1 and D3 forward biased
while D2 and D4 reverse biased. These two diodes will now be in series with the load resistor.
The following figure indicates this along with the conventional current flow in the circuit.

Hence the diodes D1 and D3 conduct during the positive half cycle of the input supply
to produce the output along the load resistor. As two diodes work in order to produce
the output, the voltage will be twice the output voltage of the center tapped full wave
rectifier.
When the negative half cycle of the input supply is given, point P becomes negative
with respect to the point Q. This makes the diode D1 and D3 reverse biased
while D2 and D4 forward biased. These two diodes will now be in series with the load
resistor.
The following figure indicates this along with the conventional current flow in the
circuit.
Hence the diodes D2 and D4 conduct during the negative half cycle of the input
supply to produce the output along the load resistor. Here also two diodes work to
produce the output voltage. The current flows in the same direction as during the
positive half cycle of the input.

Waveforms of Bridge FWR

The input and output waveforms of the center-tapped full wave rectifier are as follows.

From the above figure, it is evident that the output is obtained for both the positive
and negative half cycles. It is also observed that the output across the load resistor
is in the same direction for both the half cycles.
Advantages
There are many advantages for a bridge full wave rectifier, such as −

• No need of center-tapping.
• The dc output voltage is twice that of the center-tapper FWR.
• PIV of the diodes is of the half value that of the center-tapper FWR.
• The design of the circuit is easier with better output.

Output DC Voltage
The average output voltage (VDC) across the load resistor is denoted by:

2𝑉𝑀
𝑉𝑑𝑐 =
𝜋
The single phase full-wave rectifier does this by using four diodes arranged in a bridge
arrangement passing the positive half of the waveform as before but inverting the negative half
of the sine wave to create a pulsating DC output. Even though the the voltage and current output
from the rectifier is pulsating, it does not reverse direction using the full 100% of the input
waveform and thus providing full-wave rectification.

Single Phase Full-Controlled Full-wave Bridge Rectifier

In the fully-controlled rectifier configuration, the average DC load voltage is

controlled using two thyristors per half-cycle. Thyristors SCR1 and SCR4 are fired
together as a pair during the positive half-cycle, while thyristors SCR3 and SCR4 are
also fired together as a pair during the negative half-cycle. That is
180o after SCR1 and SCR4.
Then during continuous conduction mode of operation the four thyristors are
constantly being switched as alternate pairs to maintain the average or equivalent DC
output voltage. As with the half-controlled rectifier, the output voltage can be fully
controlled by varying the thyristors firing delay angle (α).
Output DC Voltage
The average output voltage (VDC) across the load resistor is denoted by:

𝑉𝑀
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = (1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝)
𝜋
Full-wave Half-controlled Bridge Rectifier
Full-wave rectification has many advantages over the simpler half-wave rectifier, such as the
output voltage is more consistent, has a higher average output voltage, the input frequency is
doubled by the process of rectification, and requires a smaller capacitance value smoothing
capacitor if one is required. But we can improve on the design of the bridge rectifier by using
thyristors instead of diodes in its design.
By replacing the diodes within a single phase bridge rectifier with thyristors, we can create a
phase-controlled AC-to-DC rectifier for converting the constant AC supply voltage into a
controlled DC output voltage. Phase controlled rectifiers either half-controlled or fully
controlled, have many applications in variable voltage power supplies and motor control.
The single phase bridge rectifier is what is termed an “uncontrolled rectifier” in that the applied
input voltage is passed directly to the output terminals providing a fixed average DC equivalent
value. To convert an uncontrolled bridge rectifier into a single phase half-controlled rectifier
circuit we just need to replace two of the diodes with thyristors (SCR’s) as shown.

Half-controlled Bridge Rectifier

In the half-controlled rectifier configuration, the average DC load voltage is controlled using
two thyristors and two diodes. As we learnt in our tutorial about Thyristors, a thyristor will
only conduct (“ON” state) when its Anode, (A) is more positive than its Cathode, (K) and a
firing pulse is applied to its Gate, (G) terminal. Otherwise it remains inactive.
We also learnt that once “ON”, a thyristor is only turned “OFF” again when its gate signal is
removed and the anode current has fallen below the thyristors holding current, IH as the AC
supply voltage reverse biases it. So by delaying the firing pulse applied to the thyristors gate
terminal for a controlled period of time, or angle (α), after the AC supply voltage has passed
the zero-voltage crossing of the anode-to-cathode voltage, we can control when the thyristor
starts to conduct current and hence control the average output voltage.

Half-controlled Bridge Rectifier

During the positive half cycle of the input waveform, current flows along the path of: SCR1 and
D2, and back to the supply. During the negative half cycle of VIN, conduction is
through SCR2 and D1 and back to the supply.
It is clear then that one thyristor from the top group (SCR1 or SCR2) and its corresponding
diode from the bottom group (D2 or D1) must conduct together for for any load current to flow.
Thus the average output voltage, VAVE is dependent on the firing angle α for the two thyristors
included in the half-controlled rectifier as the two diodes are uncontrolled and pass current
whenever forward biased. So for any gate firing angle, α, the average output voltage is given
by.