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Ae Lab Assignment - 2

The document discusses the working principle and functions of a Zener diode, including how it can be used as a voltage regulator. It maintains a constant voltage for a wide range of currents when reverse biased. The document provides theory on line and load regulation using a Zener diode and includes example calculations and applications of Zener diodes.

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Gayathri
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25 views

Ae Lab Assignment - 2

The document discusses the working principle and functions of a Zener diode, including how it can be used as a voltage regulator. It maintains a constant voltage for a wide range of currents when reverse biased. The document provides theory on line and load regulation using a Zener diode and includes example calculations and applications of Zener diodes.

Uploaded by

Gayathri
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY WARANGAL

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING


ANALOG ELECTRONICS LAB

NAME: GAYATHRI TANGIRALA


ROLL NO.: 202161
SECTION A
ZENER DIODE – VOLTAGE REGULATOR
THEORY:

Working Principle behind the experiment:

Zener diode is a silicon semiconductor with a p-n junction designed to work in


the reverse biased condition. When forward biased, it behaves like a normal
signal diode, but when the reverse voltage is applied to it, the voltage remains
constant for a wide range of currents. Due to this feature, it is used as a voltage
regulator in DC circuit. A voltage regulator is a device that regulates the voltage
level. The primary objective of the Zener diode as a voltage regulator is to
maintain a constant voltage. It will suffer from premature breakdown or damage
if the reverse voltage applied across becomes too high

FUNCTION OF ZENER DIODE:

1. Zener diode permits the current to flow in the forward direction.


2. The main function of a diode is to allow an electric current to pass in one
direction (called the diode's forward direction), while blocking it in the opposite
direction (the reverse direction) when the voltage is above the breakdown
voltage or ‘ZENER’ voltage
3. Zener diodes will also allow current to flow in the reverse direction when the
voltage is above a certain value. This breakdown voltage is known as the Zener
voltage. The diode is permanently damaged if a reverse current above that value
is allowed to pass through it.
4. In the reverse bias direction, there is practically no reverse current flow until
the breakdown voltage is reached. When this occurs there is a sharp increase in
reverse current

ZENER DIODE AS A VOLTAGE REGULATOR:

Voltage regulator provides a stable DC voltage independent of the load current,


temperature and AC line voltage variations. A Zener diode of break down voltage
Vz is reverse connected to an input voltage source Vi across a load resistance RL
and a series resistor RS. The voltage across the zener will remain steady at its
break down voltage VZ for all the values of zener current Iz as long as the current
remains in the break down region. Hence a regulated DC output voltage V0=Vz is
obtained across RL, whenever the input voltage remains within a minimum and
maximum voltage.
Two types of Regulations:

Line Regulation: In this type of regulation, series resistance and load resistance
are fixed, only input voltage is changing. Output voltage remains the same as long
as the input voltage is maintained above a minimum value.
In Line Regulation, Load resistance is constant and input voltage varies. VI must be
sufficiently large to turn the Zener Diode ON.
VL = VZ = VImin × RL / (RS + RL)
So, the minimum turn-on voltage VImin is:
VImin =VZ × (RS + RL) / RL
The maximum value of VI is limited by the maximum zener current IZmax
IRmax = IZmax + IL
IL is fixed at:
VZ/RL Since VL=VZ
So maximum VI is
VImax = VRmax + VZ
Or,
VImax = IRmax × R + VZ
For VI<VZ, VO = VI
For VI>VZ, VO = VI – I S × RS

Load Regulation: In this type of regulation, input voltage is fixed and the load
resistance is varying. Output volt remains same, as long as the load resistance is
maintained above a minimum value.

In Load Regulation, input voltage is constant and Load resistance varies. Too small
a Load Resistance RL, will result in VTh < VZ and Zener Diode will be OFF.
VL = VZ = VImin × RL / (RS+RL)
So the minimum load resistance RL
RLmin=VZ × RS / (VI−VZ)
Any load resistance greater than RLmin will make Zener Diode ON
IS = IL + IZ
RLmin will establish maximum IL as
ILmax = VL / RLmin=VZ /RLmin
Since VL = VZ
VS is the voltage drop across RS
VS = VImin − VZ

IS = (VI min−VZ) / RS
For RL < RLmin, VO = VI
For RL > RLmin, VO = VI – IS × RS
5. Laboratory readings: Set of readings in a tabular form like below (add columns or rows as
required): 6. Plot from observations (separate plots for each experiment)
4. Calculations with theoretical plot: Give a numerical example why the plot should come
the way you expect it. Plot from your oretical understanding.
Remarks:
1. For some of the cases the resistance is not varying, so it’s the system default
there.
2. For any value of resistance and voltage the current value is not changing.

7. Conclusion:
 In the regulation, we observed that the input voltage is increasing and
output voltage is also increasing till the input voltage reaches zener voltage. After
that when input voltage is increased output voltage remained the same.
 In the load regulation case also, at a particular RL min diode gets into
breakdown where the current sharply increases.
 Value of line regulation is also decreases by reducing voltage.
 Similarly the value of load regulation decreases with decrease in zener
voltage.

8. Discussion:
 Therefore we conclude that zener diode can be used as voltage regulator
without damaging it. We get steady output when zener diode works in breakdown
region.
 The Zener diode, with its accurate and specific reverse breakdown voltage,
allows for a simple, inexpensive voltage regulator. However, the low power
ratings of standard Zener diodes and resistors make this solution impractical for
high power devices.
 The load voltage equals breakdown voltage VZ of the diode. The series
resistor limits the current through the diode and drops the excess voltage when
the diode is conducting.
 As a result, the voltage across the zener diode remains constant and hence
the output voltage is raised to normal.
9. Application:

 Zener diode acts as a voltage regulator


Zener diode can work as a voltage regulator if it is introduced in a circuit. The
output across the diode will be constant. It is driven by a current source.

In-order to avoid unstable performance, zener diodes are used where voltage
reference is required like ohmmeters, ammeters and voltmeters.

 Zener diode is used in clipping circuits


Zener diodes are used to modify or shape AC waveform clipping circuits. The
clipping circuit limits or clips off parts of one or both of the half cycles of an AC
waveform to shape the waveform or provide protection

 Zener diode can be used to shift voltage

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