1-Phase Diode

Rectifiers

Diode Rectifier Block Diagram

• Uncontrolled utility interface (ac to dc)

 A Simple Circuit

• Resistive load
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A Simple Circuit (R-L Load)

• Current continues to flows for a while even after the input

voltage has gone negative
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 A Simple Circuit (Load has a dc back-emf)

• Current begins to flow when the input voltage exceeds the dc back-emf
• Current continues to flows for a while even after the input voltage has
gone below the dc back-emf
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Single-Phase Diode Rectifier Bridge

• Large capacitor at the dc output for filtering and energy

storage
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 Diode-Rectifier Bridge Analysis

• Two simple (idealized) cases to begin with

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Redrawing Diode-Rectifier Bridge

• Two groups, each with two diodes

• Only one diode from each group will conduct.
• In the top group, the diode with its anode connected to the highest
positive potential will conduct.
• In the bottom group, the diode with its cathode connected to the
highest negative potential will conduct.
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 When Vs>0, D1 and D2 conduct. When Vs <0 D3 and D4 conduct.

vd = vs and is = id vd = −vs and is = −id

vd (t ) = vs (t )
is (t ) = { id for vs > 0
−id for vs < 0

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Average output voltage is

T /2 π
1 1 2 2Vs
Vd 0 =
T /2 ∫
0
2Vs sin ωt.dt =
π ∫0
2Vs sin ωt.dωt =
π
= 0.9Vs

For the highly inductive load with constant load current,

Id
Id

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 • RMS Source Current is IS= Id
• By Fourier analysis of the square waveform of current, the fundamental
component and the harmonics can be found as,
2
I s1 = 2 I d = 0.9 I d
π
I sh = 0 for even values of h
I s1 / h for odd values of h
• Therefore, the Total Harmonic distortion of source current can be
calculated as,

THD = I dis / I s1 = I s2 − I s21 / I s1 = 12 − 0.92 / 0.9 = 0.4843 = 48.43%

•The fundamental component of supply current is1 is in-phase with the

supply voltage. Therefore, DPF = 1.0

• Input Power factor of the diode bridge rectifier is

I
PF = DPF s1 = 0.9
Is
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Current Commutation

• Due to supply line inductance Ls, changes in supply current is take finite time. i.e.
no current jumps possible.
• Period of transition of load or source current from one set of diodes to the other set
of diodes is called “commutation overlap period” tu . Corresponding “commutation
overlap angle” is denoted as u =ωtu.
•u=0 if Ls=0 but Ls is always present in a practical circuit. The supply line resistance
has less effect and is neglected from the analysis.

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 Understanding Current Commutation

• Note the current loops for analysis

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Current Commutation

ID3 = Id ID1 = Id

ID1 = 0 ID3 = 0

0 u ωt

Reverse recovery
neglected
• Before ωt=0, D3 and D4 conduct. Therefore iD3= iD4 =Id ; iD1=iD2==0; is=-Id
• After ωt=u, D1 and D2 conduct. Therefore iD1 = iD2 =Id ; iD3 =iD4=0; is=Id
• After ωt=0, D1 and D2 get forward-biased and start conducting. As the
current transition has to happen gradually, all four diodes conduct during
commutation period.
• Current in D1 and D2 increase and current in D3 and D4 decrease.

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 Calculation of u
Neglect the diode voltage drops.

During 0< ωt <u : vs − vL = 0

dis
vs = vL ⇒ 2Vs sin ωt = Ls ⇒ 2Vs sin ωt.dωt = ωLs .dis
dt
is ωt
2V 2V
∫−I dis =
ω L ∫
s 0
sin ωt.dωt ⇒ is = −Id +
ωLs
(1− cos ωt )
d

The waveform of is is as given. At ωt = u, is = Id

2Vs 2ωLs Id
∴ 2I d = (1 − cos u) ⇒ cos u = 1 −
ωLs 2Vs
Commutation angle u increases with increasing Lsand Id
and it decreases with increasing Vs .
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Drop in Average Output Voltage

Average output voltage drops below the value of Vd0 = 0.9Vs

due to the volt-radian area Au lost due to commutation.
area Au
Average voltage Vd = Vd 0 −
π
u Id

Area Au = ∫ 2V sin ωt.dωt = ∫ ωL .di s s = 2ωLs Id

0 − Id

2ωLs Id
Vd = 0.9Vs −
π Rc=2ωLs/π
Vd Slope=Rc=2ωLs/π

Vd0

Id
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 Rectifier with a dc-
side voltage

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DC-Side Voltage and Current Relationship

• Zero current corresponds to dc voltage equal to the peak of

the input ac voltage
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 Effect of DC-Side Current on
THD, PF and DPF

• Very high THD at low current values

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Crest Factor versus the Current Loading

• The Crest Factor is very high at low values of current

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 Diode-Rectifier with a Capacitor Filter

• Power electronics load is represented by an equivalent load

resistance
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Diode Rectifier Bridge

• Equivalent circuit for analysis on one-half cycle basis

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 Diode-Bridge Rectifier: Waveforms

• Analysis using MATLAB

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Diode-Bridge Rectifier: Waveforms

• Analysis using PSpice

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 Input Line-Current Distortion

• Analysis using PSpice

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Line-Voltage Distortion

• PCC is the point of common coupling

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 Line-Voltage Distortion

• Distortion in voltage supplied to other loads

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Voltage Doubler Rectifier

• In 115-V position, one capacitor at-a-time is charged from the

input.
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 A Three-Phase, Four-Wire System

• A common neutral wire is assumed

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Current in A Three-Phase, Four-Wire

System

• The current in the neutral wire can be very high

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