Electrical Theory

DERIVATION OF THE FORMULA FOR RECTIFIED AVERAGE

CURRENT IN AN AC-CIRCUIT
A. Definition of the Rectified Average Current
The rectified average of an alternating current (AC) is equal to a direct current (DC) that during a
period of time equivalent to half an AC cycle generates the same amount of electricity as does
the AC. The calculation of the value for the rectified average current is based on an AC current
with a sine form.
The rectified average current is calculated using the equation
2
Ir = ⋅ I max (1)
π
which is approximately
I r ≅ 0.6366 ⋅ I max (2)

The equation (1) is derived below.

B. Notations and Their Definitions
For the sake of clarity, the variables, or notations, used in order to derive the formula represented
by the equation (1) are defined below.
Q = The amount of electricity generated
I r = The rectified average current
I max = The maximum current

I DC = A direct current that generates the same amount of electricity as the AC during half an AC
cycle
i = Momentary value of the current (refer to Fig. 1)
t = Time in seconds
f = Frequency expressed as the number of cycles (periods) per second
dt = Time differential
dQ = Electricity amount differential
C = Integration constant
C. Derivation of the Formula for Calculating the Rectified Average
Current
The amount of electricity

www.dabbleklix.com 1 01/11/05
Electrical Theory

dQ
that during the time period
dt
is generated by the current
I
is defined as
dQ = I dt (3)
But, as illustrated in Fig. 1
I = I max sin 2πft (4)

where
t = An arbitrary amount of time, expressed in seconds
2π = A complete cycle of 360 degrees, expressed in radians
Fig. 1
π/2 radians
(90 degrees)

Imax C
i
0 radians
2πft (0 degrees)
π radians
(180 degrees) A B 2π radians
(360 degrees)

3π/2 radians
(270 degrees)

Applying the equation (4) to the equation (3) results in

dQ = I max sin 2πft dt (5)

Q = I max ∫ sin 2πft dt (6)

D. Development of the Factor ∫ sin 2πft dt in the equation (6)

Based on the general function

www.dabbleklix.com 2 01/11/05
Electrical Theory

∫ sin xdx = − cos x (7)

and considering that the inner derivative of

2πft in the equation (6) is 2πf
integration of the equation (6) results in
− cos 2πft
Q = I max ⋅ +C (8)
2πf
E. Calculating the Value of the Integration Constant C
For
t=0 (9)
the amount of electricity generated is
Q=0 (10)
Applying the equations (9) and (10) to the equation (7) results in
− cos 0
0 = I max ⋅ +C (11)
2πf
−1
0 = I max ⋅ +C (12)
2πf
I max
C= (13)
2πf
F. Calculating the Conversion Factor Between Ir and Imax
Applying the equation (13) to the equation (8) results in
− cos 2πft I max
Q = I max ⋅ + (14)
2πf 2πf
I max
Q= ⋅ (− cos 2πft + 1) (15)
2πf
I max
Q= ⋅ (1 − cos 2πft ) (16)
2πf
In reference to the definition under the sub-title A, for
1
t= (17)
2f
the equation (16) becomes

www.dabbleklix.com 3 01/11/05
Electrical Theory

I max  2πf 
Q= ⋅ 1 − cos  (18)
2πf  2f 
I max
Q= ⋅ (1 − cos π ) (19)
2πf
But
cos π = cos180 = −1 (20)
Inserting the equation (20) into the equation (19) results in
I max
Q= ⋅ (1 − (−1) ) (21)
2πf
1
Q = I max ⋅ (22)
πf
Finally, a DC with the intensity
Ir
that during the time
1
t= (23)
2f
as illustrated in Fig. 2, generates the same amount of electricity as does the AC is defined as
Fig. 2

I max

Half a cycle
1
t = ----
2f

1
Q = Ir ⋅ (24)
2f
Thus, combining the equations (22) and (24) results in

www.dabbleklix.com 4 01/11/05
Electrical Theory

1 1
I max ⋅ = Ir ⋅ (25)
πf 2f
2
Ir = ⋅ I max (26)
π
or, as stated in the equation 2, approximately

I r ≅ 0.6366 ⋅ I max (27)

www.dabbleklix.com 5 01/11/05