Power Electronics

EE 368 Lecture-3

Rectifiers

These slides are compiled by using material collected from the text book and web resources:
Topics
Diode Rectifiers

Diode Rectifiers with R and RL Loads.

Rectifier Performance Parameters

Controlled Rectifiers
Three-phase rectifiers
All quadrant operation of single-phase controlled rectifiers

Application: single-phase Battery Charger

Classification of Rectifiers
Rectifiers
AC to DC Convertors

Uncontrolled Rectifiers
Rectifiers based upon Diodes, stop conducting due to natural Commutation

Controlled Rectifiers
Rectifiers based upon Thrystor, stop conducting due to natural/ forced Commutation
Rectifiers
AC to DC conversion

A rectifier convert AC supply into unidirectional DC supply.

Alternating Sinusoidal Waveform

Line voltages measured

𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 0.707 𝑉𝑝𝑘 from Wall socket:
220 VRMS = 311V Vp-p
𝑉𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 0.636 𝑉𝑝𝑘
Rectifiers
Single Phase Half Wave Rectifier

(with Resistive Load)

Rectifiers
Single phase diode rectifiers

Voltage

Resistive load

Load Current
V = IR IL
Rectifiers
Single Phase Full Wave Rectifier
(with Resistive Load)

During the positive half cycle of the full wave rectifier.

The diode D1 is forward biased and diode D2 is reverse biased.

Note: The direction of the current through the load.

 Polarity changed in Primary
Rectifiers and secondary of TR
Single Phase Full Wave Rectifier
(with Resistive Load)

During the negative half cycle, the polarity reverses. Diode D2

is forward biased and diode D1 is reverse biased.

Note: that the direction of current through the load has not changed
even though the secondary voltage has changed polarity.

Thus another positive half cycle is produced across the load.

Rectifiers
Single Phase Full Wave Rectifier
(with Resistive Load)
 The output voltage varies between the peak voltage Vm and zero
in each cycle.
Rectifiers This variation is called “ripple”, and the corresponding voltage
is called the peak-to-peak ripple voltage, Vp-p.
Single Phase Full Wave Rectifier Percentage Ripple = (Vp-p/Vavg) x 100
(with Resistive Load)

Full Wave Center-tapped Rectifier

Example:
A 50Ω load resistance is connected across a half wave rectifier. The input supply voltage is 230V (rms) at
50Hz. Determine the DC output (average) voltage, peak-to-peak ripple in the output voltage (Vp-p), and
the output ripple frequency (fr).

Vp-p = Vm = 1.414 x 230 = 325.3v

Example:

In the full-wave rectifier circuit, the transformer has a turns ratio of 1:2. The transformer primary
winding is connected across an AC source of 230V (rms), 50 Hz. The load resistor is 50Ω. For this circuit,
determine the DC output voltage, peak-to-peak ripple in the output voltage, and output ripple frequency.

Solution:
Percentage Ripple = (Vp-p/Vavg) x 100
= (325.3/207) x 100 =157
Percentage Ripple

Though the ripple is still very large, the percentage ripple has come
down from 314% (for the half-wave rectifier in example 1) to 157%.
This ripple can be reduced by adding a capacitor in the circuit, as we will
see in the
next section.

Increase in input frequency causes decrease in ripple % at output

Rectifiers
Full Wave Bridge Rectifier

Performance :
Performance is same as two diode
rectifiers because only two diode
operate at any given time.
 Rectifiers
1/∏

Half Wave Rectification

Full Wave Rectification

The Bridge Rectifie Using Cantered tap Tr.

Current Flow on the positive Half Cycle Current Flow on the Negative Half Cycle
Rectifiers
Performance parameters
These parameters are needed to compare the performances
among the different rectifiers architectures.
Assume:

Ideal switches (diodes or

thyristors) with zero commutation
time Generic scheme of a rectifier

Vp: Input of the AC voltages feed into the

Zero on-resistance (i.e., when transformer
conducting they present neither Vs: Secondary of the transformer feed into
voltage drop nor losses). rectifier/rectifiers.
VL: Voltage output of the rectifier supplied to
load.
The load itself is an ideal
resistance.
Commutation is the process by which we can turn OFF a thyristor.
So the process of switching OFF a thyristor or SCR is known as
Commutation.
Rectifiers
Performance parameters =VL
The DC voltage or Vavg
The DC voltage on the load is Generic Rectifiers
the average over the period T
of the output voltage of the
rectifier: 1. Form Factor (FF):
Vavg = The ratio of the two voltages is the Form
Factor (FF):
r.m.s. voltage on the load This parameter is quite important
since it is an index of the efficiency of
Similarly, it is possible to the rectification process.
define the r.m.s. voltage on
the load:

Vrms = Assumed the load is purely resistive

Performance parameters 2. Efficiency:

By assuming the load to be purely The rectification ratio (η), also known
resistive: as rectification efficiency:
Where:
η = Pdc / Pac Pdc = Idc2 RL
OR
V = IR Pac =Irms2 (rf +
R L)

3. Ripple Factor (RF)

The Ripple Factor (RF) is another important OR
parameter used to describe the quality of the
rectification.
It represents the smoothness of the voltage
waveform at the output of the rectifier
FOR ideal switches, with no losses: RD = 0
Performance parameters
Transformer Utilization Factor (TUF):

This parameter characterized the ratio between the average power and
transformer secondary ( source) volt-ampere rating ( VA) rating.
This characterized the ratio between average output power
and the appearance power energized the system (transformer,
rectifier, and load):

Where: VAP and VAS are the

power ratings at the primary and
secondary of the transformer

Where (VA)rating= Vs.Is,

Vs= the secondary ( source) rms voltage,
Is=IRMS : the secondary rms current .
Displacement factor

φ : angle between the fundamental components of

voltage and current. It’s called displacement angle

Input Power Factor:

Is1 is the rms value of fundamental component of the
input current. Is rms value of input current.

The Crest factor:

This parameter defines the measure of the peak
input current (IS)peak as compared with its rms
value IS:
Single phase Half Wave Rectifier with Resistive Load
From physics point of view:
The ideal power converter is the one that supplies the best direct current to the load
Should have very low ripple factor
Should very high stability,

Half-wave rectifier

Simplest structure. Only one diode is

placed at the secondary of the
transformer.

the rectification process occurs

only during half-periods.

Load current iL(t) always circulates in

the secondary winding in the same
direction.
The rectification process occurs only during the half-periods.

And, similarly,

Waveforms of the single-phase, single-way, half-wave rectifier

Using equation from last slide:

Vavg = = 0.318 Vs

Vrms = 0.5 Vs
Example:
Single phase rectifier has a purely resistive load of 10Ω, energized by voltage source of 220V
throughout two windings transformer with ratio 2:1.
Determine:
1- the average and
rms voltage and
current

2- the efficiency,
TUF,

3- FF, RF, and the

peak voltage
across the diode
(PIV).

4- the CF, and the

input PF.

Cont..
Example:

Find the performance of the half wave rectifier shown below that is designed to be
used at home to drive 200 ohms resistive load.(use ideal diode)

Form Factor
Efficiency
Ripple Factor
10:1
The End
Single Phase rectifier with Resistance
and Inductance Combined Load

Low frequency High frequency

Short Circuit Open Circuit

Voltage and Current relationship in
an Inductor
The phase difference is = 90 degrees., with voltage leads the current. This leads to a
positive phase for inductive circuits since current lags the voltage in
Voltages and current in Inductive Load
AC circuit with a load consisting of
both inductance and resistance

If it was only R no L

I =E/R = 120v/60 Ω

I = 2 Amp
Single phase diode rectifiers (p = 1) -Ve due to L

With RL Load
Voltage
R+L load

Current

R+L+D0 load Voltage

Current

I due to Diode
Rectifiers

Waveforms of the single-phase, full-wave rectifier

Performance Half wave Full Wave

FF 1.571 1.11
η 0.405 0.81
RF 1.21 0.483
Example:

Find the performance of the Full wave rectifier shown below that is designed to be
used at home to drive 200 Ω resistive load.(use ideal diodes)

Form Factor
Efficiency
Ripple Factor

5:1
Multi-phase Rectifiers
Three-phase electric power
transmission lines
Three Phases

Each Phase is 120 degree apart

120* 120* 120*

Rectifiers
Rectifiers
Three-phase half-wave rectification
Rectifiers
3-phase bridge rectifier
Rectifiers
6- pulse double star rectifier.

6- pulse double star rectifier. Output waveform : 6- pulse double star rectifier.
Rectifiers
Star-Delta 12-pulse bridge rectifier

360/12 Each phase is 30* apart

Performance parameters for some
multi-phase topologies
Increasing the number of phases in a multi-phase, single-way rectifier, the
result of the rectification is improved

Topologie:
The study of geometrical properties and spatial relations unaffected by
the continuous change of shape or size of figures
Six-pulse diode bridge rectifier
For an uncontrolled three-phase bridge rectifier, six diodes
are used, and the circuit again has a pulse number of six.
For this reason, it is also commonly referred to as a six-
pulse bridge.
Application
Automobile Power Generator/Alternator
Controlled Rectifiers
Single phase controlled
rectifier with resistive load

dc
12 Phase Rectifier
Rectifiers
Single Phase Half Controlled
Rectifiers

positive half cycle of the input

• During the positive half cycle of the input, T1 and D2 are forward biased.

• When T1 is fired, then the load current flows through T1 and D2.

• Now the voltage passes through negative going zero crossing of the input
voltage, D4 comes into conduction by commutating D2 and then the load
voltage becomes zero
Rectifiers
Single Phase Half Controlled
Rectifiers
negative half cycle

• During the negative half

cycle, T3 and D4 are forward
biased and when T3 is
triggered load current start
flowing through T3 and D4.

• At the zero crossing D2 comes into the conduction by

commutating D4. As we can observe it in the figure that the load
current always remains above zero is termed as the continuous
conduction mode of rectifying DC. Also discontinuous mode of
operation is shown in figure.
Single phase half wave Single phase full wave
Rectifiers
Single Phase Fully Controlled Rectifier

Complete control on negative and

positive half cycle of the input
Working of fully controlled full wave rectifier

During the positive half cycle of the input signal T1 and T2 are
forward biased and when these are triggered or fired these are
starts conducting so that load current flow through them. During
the negative half cycle of the input AC, T3 and T4 are in the forward
blocking state and when a gate pulse is applied to them, they will
turn ON and load current starts flowing through them. At the same
time, across T1 and T2 a negative voltage causes to the
commutation of these thyristors immediately. This process repeats
for every cycle as shown in below figure.
Rectifiers
Circuit Diagram: RC Triggering Circuit:

Single phase full wave controlled rectifier

RC Triggering
Circuit:

Voltages
Wave shapes
at different
points
In the previous example the operation is performed in four quadrantes:

I- half cycle 0<α<∏

II- half cycle ∏< α <2∏
III- half cycle 2∏< α <3∏
IV- Half cycle 3∏< α < 4∏
The End
Power Devices Switching Requirements

Requirement-1
In Power Switching devices : excessive power rating are required to conduct several
kilo amps of current in the forward direction with very little power loss while blocking
several kilo volts in the reverse direction.
Requirement-2
Large blocking voltage requires wide depletion layer in order to restrict the
maximum electric field strength.
Solution-1
These two requirements will be satisfied in a lightly doped p-n junction diode of
sufficient width to accommodate the required depletion layer.
This will result in a device with high resistively in the forward direction with
heavy power loss
Cont
Power Devices Switching Requirements

Solution-2
If forward resistance (and hence power loss) is reduced by increasing the doping
level, reverse break down voltage will reduce (need High).
This apparent contra-diction in the requirements of a power diode is resolved by
introducing a lightly doped “drift layer” of required thickness between two
heavily doped p and n layers as shown in Fig below

This drift layer

technique is used
in all normal
devices to make to
them handle more
power.
power devices
Non-Linear Resistance:
Nonlinear resistors are those resistors, where the current flowing through it
does not change according to Ohm’s Law but, changes with change in
temperature or applied voltage.

In addition, if the flowing current through a resistor changes with change in

body temperature, then these kinds of resistors are called Thermisters. If the
flowing current through a resistor change with the applied voltages, then it is
called a Varistors or VDR (Voltage Dependent Resistors)
 Harmonic Distortion
Harmonic distortion is caused by nonlinear devices in the power system. A nonlinear device
is one in which the current is not proportional to the applied voltage.

Figure 5.1 illustrates this concept by the case of a sinusoidal voltage applied to a simple
nonlinear resistor in which the voltage and current vary according to the curve shown.
While the applied voltage is perfectly sinusoidal, the resulting current is distorted.
Increasing the voltage by a few percent may cause the current to double and take on a
different waveshape. This is the source of most harmonic distortion in a power system.

Current distortion caused by

nonlinear resistance.
Figure illustrates that any periodic, distorted waveform can be expressed as a sum of
sinusoids.
When a waveform is identical from one cycle to the next, it can be represented as a sum
of pure sine waves in which the frequency of each sinusoid is an integer multiple of the
fundamental frequency of the distorted wave.

This multiple is called a harmonic of the fundamental,

Phase Difference Equation
Where:
Am - Amplitude of the waveform.
ωt - Angular frequency of the waveform in radian/sec.
Φ (phi) - Phase angle in degrees or radians that the
waveform has shifted either left or right from the
reference point.

Phase Relationship of a Sinusoidal Waveform

Phase Difference of a Sinusoidal Waveform Two Sinusoidal Waveforms – “in-phase”

Lagging Phase Difference

Current is “lagging” behind the voltage

Leading Phase Difference

The effective or RMS value of an alternating current is measured in terms of
the direct current value that produces the same heating effect in the same
value resistance.

The RMS value for any AC waveform can be found from the following
modified average value formula.

For a pure sinusoidal waveform this effective or R.M.S. value will always
be equal to 1/√2 x Vmax which is equal to 0.707 x Vmax
 Real power

Real power P, also known as true or active power, performs the “real work” within an
electrical circuit with resistive load.

Real power is measured in watts.

Real power, P in an AC circuit is the same as power, P in a DC circuit.

AC or DC circuit power is calculated as I2R, where R is the total resistive component of

the circuit

Then real power, P in an AC circuit is the same Real Power in an AC Circuit

as power, P in a DC circuit

Real Power P = I2R = V*I*cos(θ) Watts, (W)

Cos 0 = 1
Reactive Power in AC Circuits

Reactive power Q, is the power consumed in an AC circuit that does not perform any
useful work but has a big effect on the phase shift between the voltage and current
waveforms

Real power (P) does all the work.

Reactive power (Q) takes power away from a circuit due to the creation and reduction
of both inductive magnetic fields and capacitive electrostatic fields, thereby making it
harder for the true power to supply power directly to a circuit or load.

The power stored by an inductor in its magnetic field tries to control the current, while
the power stored by a capacitors electrostatic field tries to control the voltage.

The result is that capacitors “generate” reactive power and inductors “consume”
reactive power. This means that they both consume and return power to the source so
none of the real power is consumed.

To find reactive power, the rms voltage and current values are multiplied by the sine of
the phase angle, θ as shown.
Reactive Power Q = I2X = V*I*sin(θ) volt-
amperes reactive

Sin 90 =1

Power Triangle of an AC Circuit

Volt x Amp rms