EE462L, Spring 2014

Diode Bridge Rectifier (DBR)

1
 Rectifier
Rectifiers convert ac into dc

Some commercial rectifiers

(Used to charge batteries)

2
 Diode Bridge Rectifier
(DBR)

Be extra careful that you

Important never connect a DBR directly to observe the polarity markings
120Vac or directly to a variac. Use a 120/25V on the electrolytic capacitor
transformer. Otherwise, you may
overvoltage the electrolytic capacitor Equivalent DC load
+ Idc
resistance RL
1 3
Iac +
282Vdc 40Vdc
+ 4 2

120V 120/25V
Transformer 28Vac rms
Variac

3
 Variac, Transformer, DBR Hookup

The variac is a one-winding The 120/25V transformer has separate input

transformer, with a variable output tap.
The output voltage reference is the
same as the input voltage reference
(i.e., the output voltage is not isolated).
and output windings, so the input voltage
reference is not passed through to the output
(i.e., the output voltage is isolated)
4
Example of Assumed State Analysis

+
+
Vac RL

Consider the Vac > 0 case

We make an intelligent guess that I is

flowing out of the source + node.

If current is flowing, then the diode must be on

We see that KVL (Vac = I RL ) is satisfied

Thus, our assumed state is correct

5
 Example of Assumed State Analysis

+
+ + 1V +
11V 10V RL 11V

We make an intelligent guess that I is flowing out of the 11V source

If current is flowing, then the top diode must be on
Current cannot flow backward through the bottom diode, so it must
be off
The bottom node of the load resistor is connected to the source
reference, so there is a current path back to the 11V source
KVL dictates that the load resistor has 11V across it
The bottom diode is reverse biased, and thus confirmed to be off
Thus our assumed state is correct
6
 Assumed State Analysis
+

1 3
What are the states of
RL the diodes on or off?
+ 4 2
Vac

Consider the Vac > 0 case

We make an intelligent guess that I is flowing out of the source + node.

I cannot flow into diode #4, so diode #4 must be off. If current is flowing,
then diode #1 must be on.

I cannot flow into diode #3, so diode #3 must be off. I flows through RL.

I comes to the junction of diodes #2 and #4. We have already determined

that diode #4 is off. If current is flowing, then diode #2 must be on, and
I continues to the Vac terminal.
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 Assumed State Analysis, cont.

1 + +
RL
+ +
2
Vac > 0

A check of voltages confirms that diode #4 is indeed reverse biased as we

have assumed

A check of voltages confirms that diode #3 is indeed reverse biased as we

have assumed

We see that KVL (Vac = I RL ) is satisfied

Thus, our assumed states are correct

The same process can be repeated for Vac < 0, where it can be seen that
diodes #3 and #4 are on, and diodes #1 and #2 are off 8
AC and DC Waveforms for a Resistive Load

1 3
+ +
Vdc Vdc
+ 2 4
Vac > 0 Vac < 0
+

Vac Vdc
40 40

20 20

Volts
Volts

0 0
0.00 8.33 16.67 25.00 33.33 0.00 8.33 16.67 25.00 33.33
-20 -20

-40 -40

Milliseconds Milliseconds

With a resistive load, the ac and dc current waveforms

have the same waveshapes as Vac and Vdc shown above

Note DC does not mean constant!

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 EE362L_Diode_Bridge_Rectifier.xls

F - Hz C - uF VAC P-W
60 18000 28 200
Diode bridge
conducting. AC system
replenishing capacitor
C charges C discharges to load energy.

45
40 Peak-to-peak Diode bridge off.
35 ripple voltage Capacitor discharging
30 into load.
25 Vsource
Volts

20 Vcap
15
10
5
0
0.00 2.78 5.56 8.33 11.11 13.89 16.67
Milliseconds

From the power grid point of view, this load is not a good
citizen. It draws power in big gulps. 10
DC-Side Voltage and Current for Two Different
Load Levels

Vdc
200W Load 800W Load
Ripple voltage
1 increases
T
f

Average current increases (current

Idc pulse gets taller and wider)

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 Approximate Formula for DC Ripple Voltage

Energy consumed by constant load

1 2 1 2 power P during the same time interval
CV peak CVmin Pt
2 2

Energy given up by capacitor as its

voltage drops from Vpeak to Vmin

2 2 2 Pt
V peak Vmin
C

2 Pt
(V peak Vmin )(V peak Vmin )
C

2 Pt
(V peak Vmin )
C (V peak Vmin )
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 Approximate Formula for DC Ripple Voltage,
cont.

2 Pt
(V peak Vmin )
C (V peak Vmin )
T/2

T t
For low ripple, V peak Vmin 2V peak , and t
2

1
T
f

P
(V peak Vmin ) V peak to peak ripple
2 fCV peak
13
 AC Current Waveform
1
T=
f

The ac current waveform has significant harmonic content.

High harmonic components circulating in the electric grid may create

quality and technical problems (higher losses in cables and transformers).

Harmonic content is measurements: total harmonic distortion (THD) and

power factor
1 T
Average Power T 0 p(t )dt
p. f .
Total Used (Apparent) Power VRMS I RMS

V60 Hz , RMS I 60 Hz , RMS I 60 Hz , RMS

p. f .
V60 Hz , RMS I RMS I RMS
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 Vampire Loads

= ?
Vampire loads have high leakage currents and low power
factor.

Your new lab safety tool:

15
Schematic

16
Thermistor Characteristics

For our thermistor, 1pu = 1k

17
Measuring Diode Losses with an Oscilloscope
Scope alligator clip

Scope probe
1 3

4 2

Estimate on oscilloscope the average value I avg of

ac current over conduction interval T cond
i(t)

Estimate on oscilloscope the average value Vavg

of diode forward voltage drop over conduction
interval T cond
v(t)

Tcond
Since the forward voltage on the diode is approximately constant during the conduction
interval, the energy absorbed by the diode during the conduction interval is
approximately V avg I avg T cond . Each diode has one conduction interval per
60Hz period, so the average power absorbed by all four diodes is then
4Vavg I avg Tcond
Pavg 240Vavg I avg Tcond Watts.
T60 Hz 18
 Forward Voltage on One Diode

Conducting Forward voltage on

Zero one diode

Zoom-In
Forward voltage on
one diode
Zero

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 AC Current Waveform
View this by connecting the oscilloscope probe directly
across the barrel of the 0.01 current-sensing resistor

One pulse like this passes

through each diode, once
per cycle of 60Hz

The shape is nearly

triangular, so the average
value is approximately
one-half the peak

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