STUDY OF CONSTRUCTION AND

WORKING OF DC POWER SUPPLY

A project report
Submitted to the Department of Physics, St. Xavier’s College,
Maitighar, in the partial fulfillment for the requirement of NEB +2
science in physics

By

Nisha Bhandari
Class: 12
Section: C
Roll No: 343
Date: January 10 2025
 RECOMMENDATION

It is to certify that Mrs.Nisha Bhandari has successfully carried out the project entitled
“STUDY OF CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF DC POWER SUPPLY”
under my guidance and supervision.

I recommend this project for the +2 degree of NEB.

………………………….

Advisor

Mr. Ajay Kumar Karn

Department of physics

St. Xavier’s College

Maitighar, Kathmandu, Nepal

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my advisor, Mr. Ajay Kumar Karn,
whose invaluable guidance, expertise, and patience greatly contributed to the
completion of this project. His mentorship helped me overcome various difficulties
throughout the journey and enabled me to explore the subject in depth.

I am also indebted to the Department of Physics, St. Xavier's College, for all facilities
and requirements provided regarding the project. My hearty gratitude goes to my
classmates and family who were always a source of emotional and practical support
during this time.

This project was really an enriching learning experience since it allowed me to merge
theoretical understanding with its practical execution, and for which I am indeed
grateful.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

RECOMMENDATION i.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii

INTRODUCTION Page no.1

OBJECTIVES Page no.3

METHODOLOGY Page no.3

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Page no.4

CONCLUSION Page no.8

FUTURE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT Page no.9

REFERENCES Page no.10

 INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL BACKGROUND AND HISTORY

The DC i.e. Direct Current power supply is an invention that has revolutionized
electronics and electrical engineering field.The concept of DC power supply dates
back to 19th century where pioneers such as Alessandro Volta, who invented the
voltaic pile, and Michael Faraday’s experiments of electromagnetic induction laid the
foundation for generation of electrical energy.

Thomas Edison’s development of the DC-based electrical distribution system

transformed the usage of direct current as its first practical application in the late
1800s . However, due to its limitations in long distances, it was gradually replaced by
AC (Alternating Current) which was developed by Nikola Tesla and George
Weshtinghouse. Despite this, its demand in the market continued to grow and persist
with the advent of electronic devices that require stable and reliable power sources.

In the mid 20th century, the development of devices like diodes, transistors, and
integrated circuits completely changed DC power supply application and evolved it
into compact, efficient, and versatile tools. Today, direct current power supply has
become indispensable with its application ranging into research, industry, and
consumer electronics.

1.2. INTRODUCTION TO DC POWER SUPPLY

A DC power supply is an electrical device designed to convert alternating current

(AC) from a power outlet into direct current (DC). Unlike AC, which oscillates back

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and forth, DC flows consistently in one direction, making it suitable for powering
sensitive electronic components.

A typical DC power supply consists of the following components:

1. Transformer: Steps down the high AC voltage to a lower value.

2. Rectifier: Converts AC into pulsating DC using diodes.

3. Filter: Smoothens the pulsating DC by reducing voltage ripples.

4. Voltage Regulator: Maintains a stable output voltage regardless of load variations.

1.3. APPLICATIONS OF DC POWER SUPPLY

DC power supply has a wide range of applications in various fields;

1. Electronics

To power devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets.

It is also used in household gadgets such as remote controls, LED lighting, and
clocks.

2. Medical Equipment:

It is essential for life-support systems like pacemakers and ventilators.

It is also used in powering diagnostic tools such as X-ray machines and MRI
scanners.

3. Industrial and Manufacturing:

It is used in automation systems, robotics, and CNC machines.

It is also essential fPowering testing equipment for quality control.

4. Scientific Research:

It provides reliable power for experiments requiring stable and precise voltages.

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 OBJECTIVES

❖ To deepen the understanding of the working mechanism behind DC power

supply.
❖ To explore the various components used in the construction of DC power
supply.
❖ To analyze future scope of the DC power supply.

METHODOLOGY

For the study of construction and working of DC power supply;

A secondary research approach is taken, drawing explanations and references

from textbooks, journals, articles, and other online resources.

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 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

1. Components of a DC Power Supply

Research shows that typically a generic DC power supply has four main components
that are all important to functionality:

1. TRANSFORMER

The transformer is intended to step down the input AC voltage to its appropriate level
for rectification. This means that the transformer also provides isolation from the
mains in high power applications.

Example: A 220V AC input is reduced to, say, a 12V AC for use in various circuit
designs.

Efficiency: Transformer efficiencies vary from 85 to 95% depending on type and load
conditions.

Basic circuit diagram of transformer.[1]

2. RECTIFIER

The function of the rectifier is to convert AC voltage to pulsating DC. The two
commonly used types of rectifiers are:

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Half-Wave Rectifiers: These are rather simple in design and are not very effective;
they are suitable for low-power applications.

Full-Wave Rectifiers: They are more effective and widely selected for their general-
purpose DC power supplies.

The findings show that among the bridge rectifiers are the best that can afford
continuous pulsating DC, since the entire input waveform can be used.

Bridge rectifier circuit.[2]

3. FITER

The filter smoothens the pulsating rectified DC and reduces the ripple voltage.

Capacitive filters are widely used as very straightforward and efficient for low-power
circuits.

Inductive filters are more widely used for high current applications.

There was also research pointing out the compromise between the cost of components
and ripple reduction, thus stressing upon requiring selection of filters based on load
needs.

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 capacitive filtering [3]

4. VOLTAGE REGULATOR

The voltage regulator provides a stable DC output.

For constant low-power applications, linear regulators, like the LM7805 series, are
widely used.

There is a notable trend toward the use of switching regulators (buck/boost

converters) for their relatively superior efficiency and adaptability.

Linear vs switching regulator circuit [4]

2. Working principle

Secondary data supports a series of activities related to the DC power supply:

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1. Stepping Down: The transformer lowers the input AC voltage to higher levels.
2. Conversion: The AC converted to DC pulsates in the rectifier.
3. Smoothing: Filtering smoothens the ripples remaining from the DC current.
4. Regulation: Voltage regulators are used to keep the output voltage stable.

The research suggests that efficiency of the DC power supply is determined by the
quality of each stage, particularly rectification and filtering.

3. Comparison of Linear and SMPS DC Power Supplies

Types of DC Power Supplies:

1. Linear Power Supply 2.Switch-Mode Power Supply (SMPS)

Feature Linear power supply Switch-Mode power

supply

Efficiency ~60% - 70% ~ 85% - 95%

Size and weight Larger due to Compact due to high

transformers frequency design

Noise Performance Minimal noise Higher noise, requires

additional filtering

Cost Relatively low Higher due to advanced

components

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 CONCLUSION

The study of the construction and working of DC power supply reveals its critical role
in powering modern electronic devices and systems. Secondary research reflects that
the right choice and integration of components; for example, transformers, rectifiers,
filters, and regulators, provide the most reliable and stable DC output. Although linear
power supplies are simple and low-noised, the higher efficiency and compact design
of switch-mode power supplies (SMPS) gradually phase out their use.

From electronics testing to industrial automation, DC power supplies can do

everything and are vital and versatile. Like any other electrical device, DC power
supplies suffer from limitations such as energy losses in linear supplies, as well as
electromagnetic interference in SMPS devices.

This report is based on secondary data, it has given a theoretical understanding of

power supplies for direct current, which is the basis for further research and field
practice in this area of power electronics.

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 FUTURE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

There is a long list of things that can be improved upon as a DC power supply for
further advancements. Research can be directed towards efficiency enhancement
among advanced materials, such as GaN, which can provide performance
improvements at low energy losses. Another significant area would be interfacing it
with renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, to make it a part of achievable
energy solutions because everyone is talking about sustainable energy.

There is greater promise in developing smart and adaptive power supplies with IoT
functionalities for real-time monitoring and fault detection. Further, there is
consideration for some advanced filtering techniques for enhancing performance in
sensitive applications by noise reduction in SMPS.

With emergent miniaturization and portable devices,with energy storage like batteries
or supercapacitors, making DC power supplies more flexible and robust.
Developments will not only open up new application fronts for emerging fields like
electric vehicles, robots, and advanced communication systems but also push
advances in power electronics.

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 REFERENCE

Books:
[1] Floyd, T. L. Electronic Devices (10th Edition). Pearson (2017)
[2] Rashid, M. H. Power Electronics: Circuits, Devices, and Applications. Pearson
(2016)
Journals:
[3] IEEE Xplore: Articles on DC power supply design principles.
Reports/Guides:
[4] Texas Instrument switching Power Supply Design Guide (2020).
Websites:
[5] All About Circuits: Comprehensive database for power electronics.
[6] IEEE Xplore
[7]Technical guides from manufacturers like Texas Instruments and
STMicroelectronics.

Images:
[1]Basic Transformer Diagram:
“Research gate”
[2]Bridge Rectifier Circuit:
“https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws”
[3]Capacitive Filter Diagram:
“https://www.learningaboutelectronics.com/Articles/Filter-capacitor.php”
[4]Linear vs. Switching Regulator:
“LinkedIn”

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