Rectifier

A rectifier diode (silicon controlled rectifier) and associated mounting hardware. The heavy threaded
stud attaches the device to a heatsink to remove heat.
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. Physically, rectifiers take a numer of forms, including vacuum tue diodes, mercury!arc
valves, copper and selenium o"ide rectifiers, semiconductor diodes, silicon!controlled rectifiers and
other silicon!ased semiconductor switches. #istorically, even synchronous electromechanical switches
and motors have een used. $arly radio receivers, called crystal radios, used a %cat&s whisker% of fine
wire pressing on a crystal of galena (lead sulfide) to serve as a point!contact rectifier or %crystal
detector%.
'ectifiers have many uses, ut are often found serving as components of DC power supplies and high!
voltage direct current power transmission systems. 'ectification may serve in roles other than to
generate direct current for use as a source of power. As noted, detectors of radio signals serve as
rectifiers. (n gas heating systems flame rectification is used to detect presence of flame.
)ecause of the alternating nature of the input AC sine wave, the process of rectification alone produces
a DC current that, though unidirectional, consists of pulses of current. *any applications of rectifiers,
such as power supplies for radio, television and computer e+uipment, re+uire a steady constant DC
current (as would e produced y a attery). (n these applications the output of the rectifier is smoothed
y an electronic filter to produce a steady current.
A more comple" circuitry device that performs the opposite function, converting DC to AC, is called an
inverter.
Rectifier devices
)efore the development of silicon semiconductor rectifiers, vacuum tue thermionic diodes and copper
o"ide! or selenium!ased metal rectifier stacks were used.,-. /ith the introduction of semiconductor
electronics, vacuum tue rectifiers ecame osolete, e"cept for some enthusiasts of vacuum tue audio
e+uipment. 0or power rectification from very low to very high current, semiconductor diodes of
various types (1unction diodes, 2chottky diodes, etc.) are widely used.
3ther devices that have control electrodes as well as acting as unidirectional current valves are used
where more than simple rectification is re+uired4e.g., where variale output voltage is needed. #igh!
power rectifiers, such as those used in high!voltage direct current power transmission, employ silicon
semiconductor devices of various types. These are thyristors or other controlled switching solid!state
switches, which effectively function as diodes to pass current in only one direction.
'ectifier circuits
'ectifier circuits may e single!phase or multi!phase (three eing the most common numer of phases).
*ost low power rectifiers for domestic e+uipment are single!phase, ut three!phase rectification is very
important for industrial applications and for the transmission of energy as DC (#5DC).