Rectifier is an electronic circuit that converts alternating current (AC) to pulsating direct current (DC). There are different types of rectifiers including half-wave, full-wave, and bridge rectifiers. Half-wave rectifiers use a single diode to conduct during one half of the AC cycle. Full-wave rectifiers use two diodes and a center-tapped transformer to conduct during both halves of the cycle. Bridge rectifiers use four diodes in a bridge configuration and do not require a center-tapped transformer. All rectifiers convert the alternating polarity of AC to a pulsating unidirectional output for use by devices that require DC power.
6. +
_
A
B
+
_
+
_
B
Open
circuit
Half Wave Rectifier
Input
voltage
Load
current
IL
Load
voltage
VL
Voltage
across
diode
During the positive half cycle, the
terminal A becomes positive and
terminal B becomes negative
The diode gets forward biased
and current will flow through diode
and resistance RL, It is denoted by IL
During the negative half cycle, the
terminal B becomes positive and
terminal A becomes negative
The diode gets reverse biased and
the circuit is open circuited
In reverse bias diode voltage is
equal to input voltage and it is
called as Peak inverse voltage (PIV)
9. Full wave rectifier conducts both in positive and negative half cycles
Here two diodes are used and fed to a common load R
A centre tapped transformer is used here
Full wave rectifier
10. Input
voltage
During the positive half
cycle, the terminal A
becomes positive and
terminal B becomes negative
Diode D1 gets forward
biased and diode D2 gets
reverse biased and diode D2
is open circuited
The diode D1 conducts and
supplies the load current Id1
_
+
+
_
Open
circuited
Id1
Id2
+ _
_ +
11. Input
voltage
Id1
Id2
During the negative half
cycle, the terminal B becomes
positive and terminal A
becomes negative
Diode D2 gets forward
biased and diode D1 gets
reverse biased and diode D1 is
open circuited
The diode D2 conducts and
supplies the load current Id2
+
_
+
_
Open
circuited
_ +
+ _
15. D3
Bridge rectifier is a full wave rectifier ,which uses four diodes and forms
four arms of an electrical bridge
It also conducts in both the cycles
Here normal transformer is used and there is no need of centre tap
transformer
Bridge rectifier
16. During the positive half cycle, the terminal A becomes
positive and terminal B becomes negative
Diode D1and D2 gets forward biased and diode D3 and D4
gets reverse biased also diode D3 and D4 is open circuited
The current flows as shown in fig
+
_
D3
+
_
+
_
+
_
+
_
During Positive half cycle:
17. During the negative half cycle, the terminal B becomes
positive and terminal A becomes negative
Diode D3and D4 gets forward biased and diode D1 and D2
gets reverse biased also diode D1 and D2 is open circuited
The current flows as shown in fig
+
_
_
+
_
+
_
+
_
+
During Negaitive half cycle:
D3
