Analog Electronics
Review on Half Wave and Full Wave Rectifier
Dr. R . K Saxena
Professor, Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Global Institute of Technology, Jaipur (Raj.)
Unit 1- Diode Circuits
Review on Half-wave and Full-wave
Rectifiers
To see the video explanation, click here :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqgBT2BHEy4
Dr R K Saxena, Prof-EED, Global Institute of Technology, Jaipur 2
Single Phase AC-DC Converter (Rectifier)
Rectifier is used to convert AC power into DC.
In a single-phase rectifier, the input of the rectifier is single phase AC power.
There are two types of rectifier: half-wave rectifier and full-wave rectifier.
Single-Phase Half-Wave Rectifier
Half-wave rectifier constructed only one diode. This
diode limits the current flow in one direction i.e. only half
of the AC waveform can pass through the diode, as shown
in Figure.
Dr R K Saxena, Prof-EED, Global Institute of Technology, Jaipur 3
Ripple Factor of Half Wave Rectifier
‘Ripple’ is the unwanted AC component remaining when converting
the AC voltage waveform into a DC waveform.
The ripple factor is the ratio between the RMS value of the AC voltage (on
the input side) and the DC voltage (on the output side) of the rectifier and
can be calculated by using following relation:
The ripple factor of half wave rectifier is equal to 1.21 (i.e. γ = 1.21).
For a good rectifier, ripple factor must be as low as possible. This is why
we use capacitors and inductors as filters to reduce the ripples in the
circuit.
Dr R K Saxena, Prof-EED, Global Institute of Technology, Jaipur 4
Efficiency of Half Wave Rectifier
Rectifier efficiency (η) is the ratio between the output DC
power and the input AC power.
The efficiency of a half wave rectifier is equal to 40.6% (i.e. η max
= 40.6%)
Dr R K Saxena, Prof-EED, Global Institute of Technology, Jaipur 5
Average and RMS value of Half Wave Rectifier
If the instantaneous load current is
iL = Im sin ωt
then the average of load current (Idc) is equal to:
Hence the output DC current (IDC) obtained across the load is:
For a half-wave rectifier, the RMS load current (Irms) is equal to the average
current (IDC) multiple by π/2. Hence the RMS value of the load current (Irms)
for a half wave rectifier is:
Dr R K Saxena, Prof-EED, Global Institute of Technology, Jaipur 6
Peak Inverse Voltage of Half Wave Rectifier
Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV) is the maximum voltage that the diode can withstand during
reverse bias condition. If a voltage is applied more than the PIV, the diode will be
destroyed.
PIV for Half Wave Rectifier= Vm
Form Factor of Half Wave Rectifier
Form factor (F.F) is the ratio between RMS value and average value, as shown in the
formula below:
The form factor of a half wave rectifier is equal to 1.57 (i.e. F.F= 1.57).
Dr R K Saxena, Prof-EED, Global Institute of Technology, Jaipur 7
Applications of Half Wave Rectifier
Half wave rectifiers are not as commonly used as Full Wave Rectifiers,
Despite this, they still used for:
Rectification applications
Signal demodulation applications
Signal peak applications
Advantages of Half Wave Rectifier
Simple circuit
Less components required to construct
Cheaper
Disadvantages of Half Wave Rectifier
They only allow a half-cycle through per sinewave, and the other half-cycle
is wasted. This leads to
power loss.
produces a low output voltage.
output current is not purely DC, andhave ripples
Dr R K Saxena, Prof-EED, Global Institute of Technology, Jaipur 8
Single Phase AC-DC Converter (Rectifier)
Single-Phase Full-Wave Rectifier (i) Centre Tapped Type (ii) Bridge Rectifier
Differing from the half-wave rectifier, the full-wave rectifier allows the input AC source to complete its
current flow circuit in both positive and negative half of an AC cycle.
1. Centre Tapped Type
Dr R K Saxena, Prof-EED, Global Institute of Technology, Jaipur 9
2. Bridge Rectifier
Advantages of Full Wave Rectifier- It is better in comparison to
HWR as its PIV is double, increased efficiency and output with
less ripples i.e. smooth output.
Dr R K Saxena, Prof-EED, Global Institute of Technology, Jaipur 10
Thank you
To see the video explanation, click here :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqgBT2BHEy4
Dr R K Saxena, Prof-EED, Global Institute of Technology, Jaipur 11
