RECTIFIER AND ITS

CHARACTERISTICS
 Half Wave Rectifier

• The Half wave rectifier is a circuit, which converts an ac

voltage to dc voltage.

2
The Half-wave Rectifier Circuit (without filter)

switch

230v
230v Ac
50 Hz

3
Transformer secondary voltage

Vin = Vm sin ωt

V out Calculation

 m
V sin t for t 2
v(t) 
T T
 fo  t 
 
0
r 2T


4
Compute the average voltage (dc voltage) Vavg or Vdc
for one complete cycle
Vdc = Vavg

T
1
V dc  0
v(t)dt T
 2
1
 [  V m sin  t dt 
0 

V 0dt] 2
 2
m [ cos  0
V m [ cos(  )  (cos
 2
t]  0)]
Vm V
 2 [(1)  (1)]  m  m

0.318V
 0.318( 2 )Vrms  0.45Vrms
5
Vrms at the Load Resistance
1
T V sin  t T
for t 
 2 
v(t)  
m 2
V rms T 0 v (t)dt 0

fo r
T
2
t  T
T / 2 T
1
 [  t d (t)   0d (t)]1 /
2 2
[ V sin 2

2
m
0 T / 2
T /2

V 2
 s i n 2  t d ( t ) ]1 / 2
 [ 2 m
0

1
s i n 2  t  2 (1  c o s 2  t ) ,  T  2  ,    t


 (1  c o s 2 ) d  ] 1 / 2
m2
 [V
V rms 4 0

V 2 1
 [ 4 (t  2 sin 2
m  ) |  1/ 2
0 ]

V 2 1 1 1/ 2
 [ 4 (   2 s i n ( 2  )  0  2 sin 2 ( 0 ) ]
m

V m2
 [ (   0  0  0 ) ] 1/ 2
4
5
V
 m
2
Ripple Factor = RMS value of the AC component/DC
value of the component

R i p p l e 
V r r m s

V d c
2 2
V  V
 r m s d c

V d c

2
 V 
 
r m s
  1
 V d c 


2
 V / 2 
 
m
/   1
 V m

  2
  2
  1
 1 . 2 1 1 4
7
Efficiency

η = (dc output power/ac input power) x 100%

η= pdc/ pac
2 2
Where pdc = v dc and pac = v rms /
/RL RL
Vd c / R L (V m / )
2
 2 4
V rms (V m /  
L  2
2) 2
or 2 0.406
  40.6%
/R 8
Form Factor

Form Factor = rms value / average value

= (Vm/2)/(Vm/π)= π/2 = 1.11

Peak Factor

Peak factor = Peak value / rms value =

Vm/(Vm/2) = 2

9
1. What is Rectifier ?
Rectifier is a circuit which converts AC to DC

2. What is Half wave Rectifier ?

Half wave Rectifier is a circuit which converts either
positive half cycle or negative half cycle of AC to DC

3. Shall we call this output as perfect DC ?

No, this out put called pulsating
DC

4. What is ripple ?
The presence of AC component in 10
output is called Ripple
5. What is the need for FW rectifier
?

• To get more dc output

• To get continuity output current

• More efficiency

• Low Ripple factor ( low ac ripple)

11
Circuit diagram of centre tapped full wave rectifier
D1

D2

Fig.1

12
Working of centre tapped rectifier

D1

During positive half cycle

B
C
•Diode D1 conducts and D2
is open circuited
Fig.2
•During positive half cycle, current
flows through D1 ,load resistor RL and
half of the Secondary winding:

•The current direction is as shown

in the fig.2
13
 D1
•The voltages at points A and B on
the transformer are changing in B
opposite directions C

•When A is increasing in a positive

direction, B is increasing negatively

• During the first half cycle, A is positive and B is

negative

• D1 has positive on its anode and negative on

its cathode. Hence D1 is forward biased

14
•Current flows around the circuit
formed by D1 diode, the load and the
transformer winding, as shown in the
second diagram

Fig.3

15
Output waveform when D1 is in conduction

Fig.4

•The current flowing down through the load produces a

pulse of voltage across the load as shown in the fig.4

16
During negative half cycle
A

•Diode D2 conducts and D1 C

is open circuited
D2

•During negative half cycle, current Fig.5

flows through D2,load resistor RL and
half of the Secondary winding

•The current direction is as shown

in the fig.5

Fig.6
17
• During the next half cycle, B is
•A
negative and C is positive.

• D2 has positive on its anode and •B

negative on its cathode. D2 •C

C

forward biased
• Current flows around the circuit
Fig.6
as shown in the fig.6

18
Output waveform when D2 is in conduction

Fig.7
19
Input and output wave forms of Centre-tapped
FWR
• It can be observed that
current flows in the same
direction in both the cases
and the output is
unidirectional.

• The output in RL is

additive and appears as

Fig.8
shown in fig.8
20
• In both cases the current flows in the same
direction through the load and produce another
pulse of voltage

• Since the full cycle is used in this circuit the

circuit is called a FULL-WAVE rectifier

• Since there are two pulses for each cycle of input,

there are 100 pulses per second in the output

21
Advantages

• More dc output

• Continuity output current

• More efficiency

• Low Ripple factor ( low AC ripple)

22
Disadvantages

• Centre tapped transformer is required

• PIV is double that of HWR

• Bulky and more cost

23
 Comparison with H.W.R

Centre tapped FWR HWR

• No. ofdiodes are two • One diode only

• PIV is 2Vm • PIV is Vm
• Bigger secondary of • Secondary of transformer
transformer is required requires half windings
for the same voltage
• Ripple frequency is • Ripple frequency is equal
Twice that of line to that of line frequency
frequency

24
What is Bridge Rectifier ?

Bridge Rectifier is

• A full wave rectifier constructed in the

form of a bridge .

25
What is the need for a bridge rectifier ?

• No centre tapped transformer is

required.
• Smaller in size

• Low Cost
• Low PIV
• Transformer is optional.

26
Circuit diagram of Bridge rectifier

D3 D1

D2 D4

Fig 1. Bridge rectifier

27
Working of bridge rectifier
During positive half cycle

Fig.2

28
Working of bridge rectifier (Contd)
• The voltages at points A and B on the transformer
are changing in opposite directions.
• When A is increasing in a positive direction, B is
increasing negatively.
• During the first half cycle, A is positive and B is
negative.
• D1 has positive on its anode, D2 has negative on
its cathode. Both are forward biased. (fig. 2)

29
Working of bridge rectifier (Contd)

• Current flows
around the circuit
formed by
these diodes, the load and
the transformer winding.

• The current flowing up

through the load produces
a pulse of voltage across
the load as shown in the
waveform.
F 30
Output waveform when D1 and D2 are
in conduction

Fig.4
31
During negative half cycle

Fig. 5

32
• During the next half cycle, A is negative
and B is positive.
• D4 has positive on its anode, D3 has negative
on its cathode. Both are forward biased.
• Current flows around the circuit as shown in the
diagram.

33
Output waveform when D3 and D4 are in
conduction

34
Input and output wave forms of Bridge FWR

Fig. 6
35
• In both cases the current flows in the same
direction through the load and produce another

• pSuinsl ceeothfevofultlalgcey.cle is used this circuit

is called a FULL-WAVE rectifier.

• Since there are two pulses for each cycle

of input, there are 100 pulses per second
out.
36
Advantages

• No centre tap is required

• PIV is one half that of centre tap FWR

• OUTPUT is double to that of centre tap FWR

37
Disadvantages

• Four diodes are required

• Rectification efficiency is less due to two diodes

are in conduction at a time at lower voltages

• Output is double to that of centre tap FWR

38
Comparison with centre tapped F.W.R
Centre tapped FWR
• No. of diodes are two
• PIV is 2Vm
• Bigger secondary of
transformer is required
• Preferred for low
voltage and high current
circuits
Bridge FWR
• No. of diodes are
• four PIV is Vm
• Secondary of
transformer
requires half windings
for
the same voltage
• Preferred for low
voltage and high current
circuits
39
Introduction

1. What is the difference between AC and

DC?
In AC amplitude and phase will change with time
In DC amplitude and phase will not change with
time

2. Give the relation between RMS and maximum

value of a sine wave.

RMS Value  maximumValue

2 40
3. Give the average (dc) value of sine wave. ZERO

4. What is the relation between average value and

maximum value in a half wave rectifier?

maximum value
Average value 


41
5. What is ripple factor?
Ripple factor is a measure of purity of the DC
output of a rectifier

6. Define ripple factor of a rectifier?

RMS value of wave

Ripple factor  
average value

42
7. What is meant by conversion efficiency η
of a rectifier circuit
?
It represents what percentage of ac input
power is converted in to useful dc output
power.

8.Efficiency
Define efficiency dcapower
of delivered to the
rectifier?
 
load ac input power

43
RMS Value of FWR
iL  Im
Sintvalue of the voltage at
RMS
the load resistance is

I rms   i 2 d t  1 I 2 Sin td t
1
 0 L  0 2
m
 
 
 I 2  1COS2t 
  2  d  t

m   
  0 


 2  Sin2t
  Im   t


 

 2
4
  0
I
 I2   m
 2 2
m. 44
Average Value of FWR

Idc  1  iL d t 
 
0

1
  I Sintd  t
 0 m

I m Cost 
  0

Im
   11

2I m


45
Ripple factor of FWR
2
  I  r m s

 
 I dc 
 1
2

 I m 
 2   1

2 
I m
  


  2

 2 2  1


0.482 46
Efficiency of FWR
Efficiency of the
rectifier

dc output
 
pow er ac input
power

The dc output 2
power of FWR   2I  RL
m

 2  
P I R
The ac input power of dc dc L

FWR
Pac
d
 Irms
2
 r L

2
 I  m
 R   
  r d  RL
2 47
 Efficiency of the FWR

dc output

power ac 2
2I m 
 RL
power 8 1
input
 
 
 I m  r  R 2 rd
2 
 d L  1 
 2  RL 
 
0.812

 rd 
1
 R L 
81.2
%  For ideal diode rd 
 r 
d
0
then, efficiency 
 1 
 RL   81.2
48
Introduction

1. Can you name some filters that are used in rectifiers

Capacitor filter,
Inductor filter,
RC,LC,CLC,C
RC

filters

2. What is their
purpose?
49
To remove the
3.Is The output of a rectifier circuit called pure DC or
pulsating DC?

Pulsating DC

4.The variations in the out put of the rectifier are

called
Ripples

50
5. What is a rectifier?

A circuit which converts AC to DC

6. What is the term we use to refer

the output of a rectifier?

Pulsating DC

7. Why is it called pulsating DC?

Its amplitude is varying even though the polarity

is constant

51
8. To remove /reduce the AC component
from the output of a rectifier ------are used

Filters

9. Where do you connect Filters?

Between the rectifier and the load

52
10. What are the useful properties of
Capacitor to act as filter

• Very high impedance for DC

• Very low Impedance for AC

• Capacitors store the
energy in the electrostatic
form
constant. If no voltage is there, it discharges slowly providing
When
•some voltage
voltage decreases
across it
the load.
tries to keep the voltage
• Capacitor filter should be connected always in shunt to the

load.

53
Working of HWR
Input Wave Form

• For positive half cycles

• diode conducts
• current flows in the circuit
Output Wave Form
• For negative half cycles
• diode does not conduct
• No current flows

54
Working of HWR

•Conducts for positive cycle

only

•The conduction takes place

when secondary ac voltage
appears between A&B
Circuit diagram of HWR:
•The diode conducts 180 per
0

cycle

•The output appears as shown

in the figure
55
Working of capacitor filter

• The capacitor filter is connected

in shunt to the load

• During the conduction of the
diode

• The capacitor charges to its maximum

value of the input voltage

• Keeps the voltage at the maximum.

56
Working of capacitor filter

F
E

• When I/P at AB is less than its max or

peak value (after point E)
• The voltage across the capacitor is
more positive

• It keeps the diode in reverse bias, i.e.,

even the i/p voltage during the remaining
positive half cycle input
• The output appears as shown in the
figure 57
 F
E

• The diode state in reverse bias condition, continues till the

anode voltage is more positive than cathode (after point F )

• Capacitor discharges through the load until the diode comes

into conduction depending on its time constant

• If load is not connected, the capacitor holds the charge

for a long time

• In general, a high value of resistance is connected across the

output terminals to providAeE3I a02.p8ath for 57

discharge
Important features of capacitor filter
Fixed value filter capacitance:

• Larger the load resistance, larger will be the

discharge time constant, lower ripple and
more output voltage.

• Lower the load resistance, lower be the

time constant, more ripple and lower output
voltage.

Larger the capacitance value

Holds more charge

Discharges less
• Average value
increases 59
Smaller the capacitance

• Less charge it can hold

• Ripple is more

• DC level decreases

• Larger capacitance value requires larger current and

this current is limited by max. forward current of diode

60
In HWR

• Without Capacitor filter, current flows only for half cycle

through the load

• Using capacitor filter, current flows through the load

continuously, when proper time constant is chosen for
discharging

For HWR using capacito1r filter :

• Ripple factor 2 3
fCRL
• PIV = 2Vm

61
Full wave rectifier
• FWR, using two diodes and
a centre tapped transformer or
Bridge rectifier, output waveforms
are same
• FWR using two diodes requires
a centre tapped transformer
where
as Bridge rectifier requires four
• The input and output waveforms
diodes
are shown in the
figures
• Though diodes are conducting
alternatively current flows in a
unidirectional way through the
load
62
Full wave rectifier(contd)
FWR

• When capacitor is connected across

the load the output waveform is different
• The output waveform appears as shown
• The amount of variation is reduced and
the

average value is increased

• Compared to HWR with filter circuit

63
Full wave rectifier (contd)
FWR

• Capacitor discharges twice during one

• cycle and Ripple frequency is twice

• Non conducting period has reduced

• Ripple voltage has been reduced to

half

• V dc has been increased 63

Full wave rectifier(contd)

• Ripple factor using capacitor filter for

1
full wave rectifier is 4 3 f
L
CR

• The expressions for ripple factor of HWR and FWR

using capacitor filter reveals that capacitor filter is

more useful at smaller load currents

64
Filters

1.Is The output of a rectifier circuit called pure DC or

pulsating DC?

Pulsating DC

2. The variations in the out put of the rectifier are called

Ripples

66
3. What is a rectifier?

A circuit which converts AC to DC

4.What is the term we use to refer the output of a

rectifier?

Pulsating DC

5. Why is it called pulsating DC?

Its amplitude is varying even though the

polarity is constant
67
 6. To remove /reduce the ac component
from the output of a rectifier ------are used.

Filters

7. Where do you connect Filters?

Between the rectifier and the load

68
8. Can you name some filters that are used in rectifiers.
• Capacitor filter,
• Inductor filter,
• RC,LC,CLC,C
RC

filterspurpose?
9. What is their
• To remove the ripple
• To improve regulation

69
10. What are the useful properties of
Capacitor to act as filter

• Very high impedance for DC

• Very low Impedance for AC
• Capacitors store the energy in the electrostatic form
• When voltage decreases it tries to keep the voltage
constant. If no voltage is there, it discharges slowly providing
some voltage across the load.
• Capacitor filter should be connected always in shunt to the
• load.

70
11. What are the main features of Capacitor Filters ?

•Capacitor charges to the peak value of the applied

voltage
• Acts as good filter for smaller load currents

• Continuous output voltage

• reduced ripple
• Improved regulation

71
12 . What are the main features of Inductors
? Inductors offers
• Zero resistance for DC
• Very high impedance to AC
• Inductor charges to the
average value and
• Stores the energy in the form of the magnetic field,
• Opposes any change in current due to induced voltage
or back emf
• Acts as good filter for larger load currents
• Connected always in series to the Load
72
 • reduced ripple
• Improved regulation
• It requires certain
minimum current

13. ALWAYS.
Inductor filters are not preferred in HWR. Why?

As the minimum current is not

flowing through the inductor
in HWR, output falls as
shown in figure

73
Inductor Filter

• The rectified output of the FWR appears as

input to the Inductor filter.

• The reactance of the inductor (X ) reduces the

L

•amAnpdu
til gdiveesofthaeppdlcei odurtipuptel vovlotatlgaegewitho
ut reducing by an appreciable amount.
•The output voltage approximates the average
value of the rectified input to the filter R
• Ripple factor using Inductor filter: L

3 73
LC OR L-Section Filter

Working of LC filter:

• Practical filter circuits are derived by combining the

voltage stabilizing action of shunt capacitor with the current
smoothing action of series choke coil

LC Choke-Input Filter

The LC choke-input filter is used primarily in power supplies

where the voltage regulation is important the output
current is relatively high

75
 This filter consists of an input inductor (L), or filter
choke, and an output filter capacitor (C).

Inductor L is placed at the input to the filter

and is in series with the output of the
rectifier circuit.

Since the action of an inductor is to oppose

any change in current flow, the inductor
tends to keep a constant current flowing
to the load throughout the complete cycle
of the applied voltage.

As a result, the output voltage never

reaches the peak value of the applied
voltage.
76
•Instead, the output voltage
approximates the average value of
the rectified input to the filter,
as shown in the figure.
•The reactance of the inductor (X )
L

reduces the amplitude of ripple

voltage without reducing the dc
output voltage by an appreciable
amount.
•The shunt capacitor (C) charges an d
discharges at the ripple frequency
rate, but the amplitude of the ripple
voltage (Er) is relatively small
because the inductor (L) tends to
keep a constant current flowing from 76
the rectifier circuit to the load
• In addition, the reactance of the
shunt capacitor (XC) presents

• A low impedance to the ripple

component

existing at the output of the filter, and shunts

the ripple component around the load

•The capacitor attempts to hold the output

voltage relatively constant at the average
value of the voltage.

•The value of the filter capacitor C must be

relatively large to present a low opposition (X)
to the pulsating current and to store a
substantial charge. 78
The rate of the charge for the capacitor is limited by

• The low impedance of the ac source (the

• transformer), The small resistance of the diode, and
• The counter electromotive force (CEMF) developed by
the coil.

•Therefore, the RC charge time constant is short compared to

its discharge time.

• Consequently, when the pulsating voltage is first applied to

the LC choke –input filter

• The inductor (L) produces a EMF which

opposes the constantly increasing input voltage

79
•The net result is to effectively
prevent the rapid charging of the filter
capacitor (C)
•After the input voltage reaches its
peak and decreases sufficiently,
the capacitor C1 attempts to
discharge through the load
resistance RL.

•C1 will only partially discharge

relatively long discharge time
constant. The larger the value of
the filter capacitor, the better
the filtering action.
1
• Ripple factor using LC filter
6 2 2
= 80
LC
Characteristics of LC filter
• Ripple factor becomes independent of Load

• Less value of inductor can be used

• Better voltage regulation

• Needs bleeder resistance

Disadvantages
• Larger RMS current
• Larger cost, more weight, larger size

81
 Working OF CLC OR ∏ Filter
•C1 reduces the ripple to a
relatively low level

• L and C2 form the LC filter,

which reduces the ripple even
further.

• L has a high value of inductance

therefore, a high value of XL which
offers a high reactance to the ripple
frequency.

• At the same time, C2 offers a

82
very low reactance to ac ripple
•L and C2 for an ac voltage divider
and, because the reactance of L
much higher than that of C2, most of
the ripple voltage is dropped across L.
• Only a slight trace of ripple
appears across C2 and the load

•While the L -C2 network greatly

reduces ac ripple it has little effect
on DC
2
• Ripple factor using CLC filter =
8  3 LC1 C2 RL

83
Summary
• Filters are used to remove ripple.
• Capacitors and inductors are used individually or
in combination as filter elements.
• Capacitor filters are connected in shunt with the
load .
Capacitor filter
• Improve
s
average
current
• Reduces
ripple
84
• PIV in
• Bleeder resistor provides discharging path
when load is not connected.

• Ripple factor using

RL
• Inductor filter:
3
1 2 L
• LC filter:
6 2 2
LC
• CLC filter: 8 3 LC2C R
1 2
L
• The LC filter provides good filtering action
over a wide range of current.

• The capacitor filters best when the load is

drawing little current

85