EE 442

POWER ELECTRONICS I
DIODE RECTIFIERS
(UNCONTROLLED RECTIFIERS)
Dr. Said A. Deraz
Assistant Professor
Electrical Engineering Department
Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University
sderaz@kau.edu.sa
saidderaz@yahoo.com
Rectifier is a circuit that converts an AC signal to a DC signal

Rectifier

AC supply Transformer

Block diagram of an uncontrolled diode rectifier circuit

Note: In a diode rectifiers, the power flows only from the AC source to the DC side.

Applications of Uncontrolled Rectifiers

• DC power supply for consumer electronic products such as radios, TVs, DVD players,
mobile phone chargers, computers, laptops and so on (low power)
• DC motor drives (high power)

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Depending on the type of input source, rectifiers are classified into two main groups:

Half-wave
Single phase
Full-wave
Uncontrolled
rectifier
Half-wave
Three phase
Full-wave

Important equations

1 𝑇
𝑦𝑎𝑣 = න 𝑦(𝑡) 𝑑𝑡
𝑇 0

1 𝑇
𝑦𝑟𝑚𝑠 = න 𝑦(𝑡)2 𝑑𝑡
𝑇 0
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Single-phase half-wave rectifier (R load)

Circuit diagram

Waveforms

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 𝑉𝑚
The average value of output voltage 𝑉𝑑𝑐 =
𝜋

𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑚
The average value of load current 𝐼𝑑𝑐 = =
𝑅 𝜋𝑅

𝑉𝑚
The rms value of output voltage 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 =
2

𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠
The rms value of load current 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 =
𝑅

Peak inverse voltage across the diode 𝑃𝐼𝑉 = 𝑉𝑚

𝑃𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝐼𝑑𝑐

The efficiency of rectification η= =
𝑃𝑎𝑐 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠

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The effective (rms) value of the ac component of output voltage

2 2
𝑉𝑎𝑐 = 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 − 𝑉𝑑𝑐

The form factor (a measure for the shape of output voltage)

𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠
FF =
𝑉𝑑𝑐

The ripple factor (a measure for the ripple content)

2 2
𝑉𝑎𝑐 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 − 𝑉𝑑𝑐
RF = = = 𝐹𝐹 2 − 1
𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝑉𝑑𝑐

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The harmonic factor or total harmonic distortion (a measure for distortion of a
waveform] of the input current

2
𝐼ℎ 𝐼𝑠2 − 𝐼𝑠1
2
𝐼𝑠
𝐻𝐹 = 𝑇𝐻𝐷 = = = −1
𝐼𝑠1 𝐼𝑠1 𝐼𝑠1

Where Is1 is the rms value of the fundamental component of the input current. And Is is the rms value of
the input current.

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If Φ is the angle between the fundamental component of the input current and the
voltage, the displacement factor

𝐷𝐹 = cos ∅

The input power factor

𝑉𝑠 𝐼𝑠1 cos ∅ 𝐼𝑠1 cos ∅
𝑃𝐹 = =
𝑉𝑠 𝐼𝑠 𝐼𝑠

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Single-phase half-wave rectifier (RL load) without freewheeling diode
Due to inductive load, the conduction period of the diode D1 will extend beyond 180
degree until the current becomes zero.

Circuit diagram

Waveforms

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The average value of the output voltage

𝑉𝑚
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = 1 − cos(𝜋 + 𝜃)
2𝜋

Where the angle θ can be calculated as:

𝜔𝐿
𝜃= 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ,𝜔 = 2 𝜋 𝑓
𝑅
The average value of the load current
𝑉𝑑𝑐
𝐼𝑑𝑐 =
𝑅

The average value of the output voltage (and hence the current) can be increased by
making θ=0, which is possible by adding a freewheeling diode Dm across the load.

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11
Single-phase half-wave rectifier (RL load) with freewheeling diode

Circuit diagram

Waveforms

The effect of the freewheeling diode Dm is to prevent the negative voltage appearing
across the load, and as a result, the magnetic stored energy is increased. At t=π/ω, the
current from D1 is transferred to Dm and this process is called commutation of diodes.
Depending on the load time constant, the load current may be discontinuous.

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Single-phase center-tap full-wave rectifier (R load)

Circuit diagram

Waveforms
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 2𝑉𝑚
The average value of output voltage 𝑉𝑑𝑐 =
𝜋

𝑉𝑑𝑐 2𝑉𝑚
The average value of load current 𝐼𝑑𝑐 = =
𝑅 𝜋𝑅

𝑉𝑚
The rms value of output voltage 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 =
2

𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠
The rms value of load current 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 =
𝑅

Peak inverse voltage across each diode 𝑃𝐼𝑉 = 2𝑉𝑚

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Single-phase bridge full-wave rectifier (R load)

Circuit diagram

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The average value of output voltage
2𝑉𝑚
𝑉𝑑𝑐 =
𝜋
The average value of load current
𝑉𝑑𝑐 2𝑉𝑚
𝐼𝑑𝑐 = =
𝑅 𝜋𝑅
The rms value of output voltage
𝑉𝑚
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 =
2
The rms value of load current
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠
𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 =
𝑅
Peak inverse voltage across each diode

𝑃𝐼𝑉 = 𝑉𝑚
Waveforms

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Single-phase bridge full-wave rectifier (RL load)

With a resistive load, the load current

is identical in shape to the load
voltage.
In practical applications, most loads
are inductive. The load current shape
and magnitude depend on both the
load resistance R and inductance L.

Circuit diagram

Waveforms
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Single-phase bridge rectifier with very large inductive load

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E#1 If a single-phase bridge rectifier supplies a very high inductive load such as a dc
motor. the turns ratio of the transformer is unity. Determine a) the HF of the input
current, and b) the input PF of the rectifier.

Note the output (load) current is constant and ripple free due to the highly inductive load.

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Using Fourier series, the input current is can be analyzed as
∞

𝑖𝑠 (𝑡) = 𝐼𝑑𝑐 + ෍ (𝑎𝑛 cos 𝑛𝜔𝑡 + 𝑏𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑛𝜔𝑡)

𝑛=1,2,3,…

1 2𝜋
𝐼𝑑𝑐 = න 𝑖𝑠 (𝑡) 𝑑 𝜔𝑡 = 0
2𝜋 0
1 2𝜋
𝑎𝑛 = න 𝑖𝑠 (𝑡) cos 𝑛𝜔𝑡 𝑑 𝜔𝑡 = 0
𝜋 0
1 2𝜋 4 𝐼𝑎
𝑏𝑛 = න 𝑖𝑠 (𝑡) sin 𝑛𝜔𝑡 𝑑 𝜔𝑡 =
𝜋 0 𝑛𝜋

4 𝐼𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 3𝜔𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 5𝜔𝑡

∴ 𝑖𝑠 𝑡 = + + +⋯
𝜋 1 3 5

Therefore, the rms value of the input current is

2 2
4 𝐼𝑎 1 1
∴ 𝐼𝑠 = 1+ + +⋯ = 𝐼𝑎
𝜋 2 3 5
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Therefore, the rms value of the fundamental component of the input current is
4 𝐼𝑎
∴ 𝐼𝑠1 = = 0.9 𝐼𝑎
𝜋 2
Therefore, the harmonic factor is

2 2
𝐼𝑠 1
𝐻𝐹 = 𝑇𝐻𝐷 = −1= − 1 = 0.4843 𝑜𝑟 48.43%
𝐼𝑠1 0.9

Since Φ=0, the displacement factor is

𝐷𝐹 = cos ∅ = 1

Therefore, the input power factor

𝐼𝑠1 cos ∅
𝑃𝐹 = = 0.9 𝑙𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝐼𝑠

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Multiphase rectifier

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Three phase bridge rectifier

Circuit diagram

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Waveforms
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The average value of output voltage

3 3 𝑉𝑚
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = = 1.654 𝑉𝑚
𝜋

The rms value of output voltage

1Τ2
3 9 3
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = + 𝑉𝑚 = 1.6554 𝑉𝑚
2 4𝜋

Peak inverse voltage across each diode

𝑃𝐼𝑉 = 3 𝑉𝑚

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E#2 A three-phase bridge rectifier supplies a high inductive load such that the average
load current Idc= 60 A and the ripple content is negligible. Determine the ratings of the
diodes if the line-to-neutral voltage of the supply is 120V, 60Hz.

As shown, the average value of the diode

current
𝐼𝑑𝑐 60
𝐼𝑑(𝑎𝑣) = = = 20 A
3 3

The rms value of the diode current

1 𝜋
𝐼𝑑(𝑟𝑚𝑠) = න 𝐼𝑑𝑐 2 𝑑𝜃
2𝜋 𝜋/3

1 2𝜋 𝐼𝑑𝑐
= × 𝐼𝑑𝑐 2 × = = 46.19A
2𝜋 3 3

The peak inverse voltage across the

diode
PIV = 3𝑉𝑚 = 3 × 2 × 120 = 294𝑉 Currents through diodes

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E#3 For the following current waveform, determine the average, rms, peak value of
the current.

𝐼𝑎𝑣 = 𝐼1𝑎𝑣 + 𝐼2𝑎𝑣 + 𝐼3𝑎𝑣

𝑡3 400
𝐼1𝑎𝑣 = 150 × = 150 × = 12𝐴
𝑇 5000
2𝐼𝑚 𝑡2 − 𝑡1 2 × 150 100
𝐼2𝑎𝑣 = × = × = 1.91𝐴
𝜋 𝑇 𝜋 5000
𝑡5 − 𝑡4 200
𝐼3𝑎𝑣 = 100 × = 100 × = 4𝐴
𝑇 5000

𝐼𝑎𝑣 = 12 + 1.91 + 4 = 17.91𝐴

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 2 2 2
𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 𝐼1𝑟𝑚𝑠 + 𝐼2𝑟𝑚𝑠 + 𝐼3𝑟𝑚𝑠

𝑡3 400
𝐼1𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 150 × = 150 × = 42.43𝐴
𝑇 5000

𝐼𝑚 𝑡2 − 𝑡1 150 100
𝐼2𝑟𝑚𝑠 = × ×= × = 15𝐴
2 𝑇 2 5000

𝑡5 − 𝑡4 200
𝐼3𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 100 × = 100 × = 20𝐴
𝑇 5000

𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 42.432 + 152 + 202 = 49.25𝐴

𝐼𝑝 = 300𝐴

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