CHAPTER 4:

Half Wave Rectifiers

AC - DC Conversion
AC to DC CONVERSION
(RECTIFIER)
1. Single-phase, half wave rectifier
a) Uncontrolled : R load, R-L load
b) Controlled : R load, R-L load
c) Free wheeling diode
2. Single-phase, full wave rectifier
a) Uncontrolled: R load, R-L load
b) Controlled : R load, R-L load
c) Continuous & discontinuous current mode
 RECTIFIERS : INTRODUCTION
A rectifier converts AC to DC signal.
DEFINITION: Converting AC (from mains or other AC
source) to DC power by using power diodes or by
controlling the firing angles of thyristors / controllable
switches.

The purpose of a rectifier may be:

• to produce an output that is purely dc
• to produce a voltage/current
waveform that has a specified dc component.

 half wave rectifier normally used in low applications

only.
Uncontrolled Half - Wave
Rectifier Circuit with
R-LOAD
Uncontrolled Half-Wave Rectifier with Resistive Load
+ vd -
• During the positive half-cycle of
is
input voltage, D1 conducts and the
D1 input voltage appears across the
load.
• During the negative half - cycle of
the input voltage, D1 is in a blocking
condition and the output voltage is
zero
• The current produces a voltage
across the load, which has the same
shape as the positive half-cycle the
input voltage.
• Positive half cycle
⇒ diode is on
• Negative half-cycle
⇒ diode is off
 v (t) = V p sin(ωt)

Vp
i(t) =
R sin(ωt)
V D,ak VD,ak

I Dak (t) I Dak (t)

I in I out Iout
I in

Vin (t) R Vout V in (t) R V out

t=0 ⇒ π t= π⇒2π
Uncontrolled Half-Wave Rectifier with Resistive Load …cont.

The average value of the output (load) voltage, Vdc or Vo or Vavg is determined by
finding the area under the curve over a full cycle.

(4.0)

(4.1)
Uncontrolled Half-Wave Rectifier with Resistive Load …cont.
The dc component of the current for the purely resistive load is

(4.2)

The root-mean-square (rms) value of the output voltage, Vrms

(4.3)

The rms value of the output current, Irms

𝑉𝑚
𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 =
2𝑅
Average power absorbed by the resistor can be computed from
Uncontrolled Half - Wave
Rectifier Circuit with
RL-LOAD
 RESISTIVE-INDUCTIVE LOAD
As the source voltage is positive in
the circuit, the diode will be forward
biased.
After the diode turns off (reverse
biased), the current continue to flow
because of the energy storage into
the inductor, which force the diode to
turn on again and continue to be on
until the current becomes zero.

The Kirchhoff voltage law equation

that describes the current in the
circuit in this case is
The solution can be obtained by expressing the current as the sum
of the forced response and the natural response.

The forced response for this circuit is the current that exists after the
natural response has decayed to zero.
 The natural response is when the right hand side of Kirchoff
equation is equal to zero.

di (t )
Ri(t )+ L =0
dt
The solution of the first order differential equation

Where τ is time constant L/R and A is a constant that is determined

from the initial condition (A is the current value at t=0).

Thus

The initial condition of current in the inductor is zero because it was

zero before diode started conducting and it cannot change
instantaneously.
Using the initial condition, A can beobtained

Thus

or
 This equation is valid for positive current only because of the
diode in the circuit, so current is zero when the function in the
equation is negative.

Note that the diode remains forward-biased longer than π rad

although the source is negative during this duration due to the
inductor.
The point when the current reaches zero is when the diode turns off.
This point called the extinction angle β (β=ωt).

Which reduce to

β can only be solved numerically

Therefore, the diode conducts between 0
and β.
 The average power absorbed by the load is I 2rms R since the
average power absorbed by the inductor is zero

1 2𝜋 2 1 𝛽 2
𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = ‫)𝑡𝑑()𝑡𝜔( 𝑖 ׬‬ = ‫)𝑡𝑑()𝑡𝜔( 𝑖 ׬‬
2𝜋 0 2𝜋 0

The average current is

β
1
I o= ∫
2π 0
i(ωt )d (ωt )
Example 3-2
For the half-wave rectifier RL load circuit, R = 100 Ω , L = 0.1 H, ω =
377 rad/s, and Vm= 100 V and β= 3.50 rad. determine
(a) an expression for the current in this circuit, i(t)
(b) the average current, Io
(c) the rms current, Irms
(d) the power absorbed by the RL load,
(e) power factor, p
Uncontrolled Half-Wave Rectifier with Resistive- INDUCTIVE Load
The Half-wave Controlled Rectifier
Normal rectifiers are considered as uncontrolled rectifiers.
Once the source and load parameters are established, the
dc level of the output and power transferred to the load
are fixed quantities.
A way to control the output is to use SCR instead of diode.
Two condition must be met before SCR can conduct:
1. The SCR must be forward biased (VSCR>0)
2. Current must be applied to the gate of SCR
The simplest controlled rectifier uses a single device,
such as a thyristor, to produce variable voltage D.C.
from fixed voltage A.C. mains. The circuit arrangement
is shown below
Voltage waveforms for two delay angles are shown below:
The thyristor is turned on in
the positive half-cycle, some
time after supply voltage
zero, by the application of a
gate pulse with delay angle
α.
In the negative halfcycle, the
thyristor is reverse biased
and cannot switch on.
The larger the delay angle,
the smaller is the average
load voltage.
HALF - WAVE CONTROLLED
RECTIFIER CIRCUIT WITH
R-LOAD
Average voltage: RMS voltage:

RMS current:

Average power absorbed by

resistor:
Example 1:
Design a circuit to produce an average voltage of 40V
across 100Ω load resistor from a 120Vrms 60 Hz ac source.
Determine the power absorbed by the resistor.
Briefly describe what happen if the circuit is replaced by
diode to produce the same average output.

1 V
Vo  Vm sin  t  d  t   m 1  cos  
2  2

𝑉𝑚 𝛼 sin 2𝛼
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 1 − +
2 𝜋 2𝜋
Half - Wave Controlled
Rectifier Circuit with
RL-LOAD
 When ωt=π, the source becomes
zero, but at this instant, the current
through the circuit is not zero and
there is some energy stored in the
inductor.
When Vs becomes negative, the
current through the circuit would
not become zero suddenly because
Let Vs(t) be Vm sin (wt). At ωt=0, of the inductor. The inductor acts as
the current through the circuit is a source and keeps the SCR
zero. forward-biased till the energy
As wt becomes > 0, Vs becomes stored in the inductor becomes
positive. zero.
If a diode instead of an SCR has
Let the current through the circuit
been used, the diode would start
become zero at ωt= and the value
conduction at ωt = 0.
of β > π.
With an SCR, the conduction does
not start till the SCR is triggered. Let For β< ωt < 2π, the current through
the SCR be triggered when ωt=α. the circuit is zero
Then α is called the firing angle and
the SCR continues to conduct.
RL LOAD

During positive half cycle, anode

is connected to the positive
terminal of the supply and the
cathode is connected to
negative terminal of supplyand
the thyristor is forward biased.
When the thyristor is fired at a
firing angle (α), the load current
will increase in a finite-time
through the inductive load. The
supply voltage from this instant
appears across the load.

Due to inductive load, the

increase in current isgradual.
Energy is stored in inductor
between α and π.
At π, the supply voltage reverses, but the thyristor is kept
conducting because current through the inductance cannot be
reduced to zero.

During negative half cycle, anode is connected to the negative

terminal of the supply and the cathode is connected to positive
terminal of supply and the thyristor is reverse biased.

Current continues to flow till the energy stored in the inductance is

dissipated in the load-resistor and a part of the energy is fed- back
to the source.

Hence due to energy stored in the inductor, current continues to

flow up to angle β. At angle β, the load-current is zero and due to
negative supply voltage, thyristor turns-off.

Hence the effect of inductive load is increased in the conduction

period of SCR.
The analysis of this circuit is similar to that of the uncontrolled RL
load rectifier.
The current is the sum of the forced and natural responses.

The constant A is determined from the initial condition i(α) = 0

 The extinction angle β is the angle at which the the current
returns to zero (ωt = β)

The angle β – α is called the conduction angle γ

Average (dc) output voltage is

The average current is computed from

The power absorbed by the load is I 2rms R

Example 3-11:
A half wave rectifier has a source of 120 V RMS at 60 Hz.
R = 20 Ω, L = 0.04 H, and the delay angle is 45 degrees.
Determine:
(a) the expression for i(ωt),
(b) average current,
(c) the power absorbed by the load,
(d) the power factor.
 Example 2:
A half wave rectifier has a source of 120V RMS at 60Hz.
R=20 ohm, L=0.04H, and the delay angle is 45 degrees.
Determine:
(a) the expression for i(ωt),
(b) average current,
(c) the power absorbed by the load.

Answer: −𝝎𝒕
(a) 𝒊 𝝎𝒕 = 𝟔. 𝟕𝟖 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝝎𝒕 − 𝟎. 𝟔𝟒𝟔 − 𝟐. 𝟔𝟕𝒆𝟎.𝟕𝟓𝟒 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝜶 ≤ 𝝎𝒕 ≤ 𝜷
(b) 2.19 A
(c) 213 W
 THE FREEWHEELING DIODE

Note that for single phase, half wave rectifier with RL load, the
load (output) current is not continuous→ bad current. Therefore,
freewheeling diode can be placed to make it continuous.

The two diodes cannot be forward-biased at the same time.

Diode D1 will be on when the source is positive, and diode D2
will be on when the source is negative.
● For positive source voltage,
● D is on.
1
● D is off.
2
●
The equivalent circuit is as shown in
figure (b).
●
The voltage across the RL load is
the same as the source.

● For negative source voltage,

● D is off.
1
● D is on.
2
●
The equivalent circuit is as shown in
figure (c).
●
The voltage across the RL load is
zero.
● The inductor contains energy from positive cycle. The load current still
circulates through the R-L path. But, in contrast with normal half
wave rectifier, the circuit in figure (c) does not consist supply voltage in
its loop. Hence the “negative part” of Vo as shown in the normal half
wave (disappear)
●
The conclusion of FWD result is a continuous current → good
current (almost DC current due to large inductance)
The output voltage is the same as half-wave rectified since the
voltage across the diode D1 is zero
𝑉𝑚
𝑉𝑜 =
𝜋
The current here is continues not like previous RL circuit current,
since the current appear only on positive half cycle and
discontinues elsewhere, therefore, the current here is represented
by Fourier series 𝑉 𝑛
𝐼𝑛 = 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑛 → ∞
𝑍𝑛
where,
Zn= √R2+(n ωL) 2

The Fourier series for the half-wave rectified sine wave for the
voltage across the load is
 so,

𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠(0) = ෍ 𝐼𝑘,𝑟𝑚𝑠
𝑘=0

2 2 2
2
𝐼1 𝐼2 𝐼𝑛
𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠(0) = 𝐼𝑑𝑐 + + + ⋯.+
2 2 2

L>>>R, thus no AC term of Fourier series, it will only have the DC term

Vm
Io =
πR
 CHAPTER 4 - cont:
Full Wave Rectifiers

AC - DC Conversion
Why Single Phase Full-Wave Rectifier?
 To produce purely DC supply (less ripple) voltage or
current.

 Suitable for high power application.

 Average current in the AC source is zero, thus avoiding

problem associated with non-zero average source current
especially in transformer.
Center-
Tapped
Single
Phase
Full-Wave
Rectifier
Full
Bridge
 Full-Wave Rectifier

Full Bridge Center-Tapped

• Center–Tapped (CT) requires center-tapped transformer.

Full bridge (FB) does not.
• CT  2 diodes
• FB  4 diodes
• Hence, CT experienced only one diode voltage drop per
half-cycle.
• Conduction losses for CT is half.
• Diodes ratings for CT is twice the FB.
Resultant output waveform
Full-Wave Rectifier

Full Bridge Center-Tapped

𝑉𝑚 sin ω𝑡 0 ≤ 𝑤𝑡 ≤ 𝜋
− 𝑉𝑚 sin ω𝑡 𝜋 ≤ 𝑤𝑡 ≤ 2𝜋
Full-Wave Rectifier

or

Full Bridge

Voltages & currents

Full-Wave Rectifier
Full-Wave Rectifier with RL Load

positive half - cycle

negative half - cycle
Full-Wave Rectifier with RL Load
Full-Wave Rectifier with RL Load :
transient & steady state

- When the circuit is 1st energized, the load current is zero &
cannot change instantaneously.
- The current reach periodic steady state after a few period
(depends on τ =L/R)
Current at the end =current at
the beginning
Full-Wave Rectifier with RL Load
How to analyze????!

Where the DC value;

𝑣𝑜 𝜔𝑡 = 𝑉𝑜 + 𝑉2 + 𝑉4 + … …
2𝑉𝑚
𝑉𝑜 =
𝜋
Full-Wave Rectifier with RL Load
Full-Wave Rectifier with RL Load

rms
Full-Wave Rectifier:RL Load Approximation
Full-Wave Rectifier:RL Load Example

Given a bridge rectifier has

an AC source 𝑉𝑚 = 100 𝑉 at
50 Hz, and RL load with R
= 100Ω and L = 10 mH.
Determine;

a) The average current in

the load
b) The first two higher
order harmonics of the
load current
c) The power absorbed by
the load
Controlled Full-Wave Rectifier: Resistive Load
Controlled Full-Wave Rectifier
Controlled Full-Wave Rectifier : Discontinuous
Mode

To improve Vo, insert

Free Wheeling diode
across the load.
Controlled Full-Wave Rectifier :
Discontinuous Mode
The analysis is similar to controlled half wave with RL load
Controlled Full-Wave Rectifier : Discontinuous
Mode
Controlled Full-Wave Rectifier : Continuous
Mode
Controlled Full-Wave Rectifier : Continuous
Mode
Controlled Full-Wave Rectifier : Continuous
Mode
Waveform for continuous RL load (L>>R)
Controlled Full-Wave Rectifier : Continuous
Mode

Waveform for negative

continuous RL load parts are
gone
(L>>R)
(with FWD)

effect of inserting FWD

Full-Wave Rectifier: Single Phase Diode
Group
• In the top group (D1,D3), the cathodes
(-) of the two diodes are at common
potential. Therefore, the diode with
anode (+) at the highest potential will
conduct (carry) 𝑖𝐷 .

• For example, when 𝑣𝑠 is (+), D1

conducts 𝑖𝐷 and D3 reverses (by taking
loop around 𝑣𝑠 , D1 & D3).
when 𝑣𝑠 is (-), D3 conducts, D1 reverses

• In the bottom group, the anodes of the

two diodes are at common potential.
Therefore diode with its cathode at the
lowest potential conducts 𝑖𝐷 .

• For example, when 𝑣𝑠 is (+), D2 carry

𝑖𝐷 and D4 reverses.
when 𝑣𝑠 is (-), D4 conducts, D2 reverses
Full-Wave Rectifier: Three Phase Diode
Group
Full-Wave Rectifier: Three Phase Diode
Group
Full-Wave Rectifier: Three Phase Diode
Group
• Top group : diode with its anode at the highest potential to
conduct. The other two will reversed.

• Bottom group : diode with its cathode at the lowest

potential will conduct. The other two will be reversed.

• For example : if D1 (of the top group) conducts, 𝑣𝑝 is

connected to 𝑣𝑎𝑛 . If D6 (of the bottom group) conducts,
𝑣𝑛 connects to 𝑣𝑏𝑛 . All the diodes are off.

• The resulting output waveform is given as :

𝑣𝑜 = 𝑣𝑝 − 𝑣𝑛

• For peak of the output voltage, it is equal to the peak of the

line to line voltage, 𝑣𝑎𝑏 .
 Three Phase: Average Voltage

Note that the output

DC voltage component
of a three – phase
rectifier is much higher
than of a single – phase.

Consider only one of

the six segments.
Obtain its average
over 60 degrees or
𝜋/3 radians.
END OF CHAPTER 4
FORMULA LIST