Rectifier and regulator

In this lab you will construct and analyze a full wave rectifier and a shunt voltage regulator. All component types in the example circuit are available in OrCAD Capture libraries for simulation.

I. Introduction
1.1 The Full Wave Rectifier
he first building bloc! in the dc power supply is the full wave rectifier. he purpose of the full wave rectifier "#$%& is to create a rectified ac output from a sinusoidal ac input signal. It does this by using the nonlinear conductivity characteristics of diodes to direct the path of the current.

#igure '. Common four(diode bridge configuration for the #$% Diode Currents Consider the current path in the diode bridge rectifier. In the positive half cycle of )in* diodes D+ and D, will conduct. During the negative half cycle* diodes D- and D' will conduct. As a result* the load will pass current in the same direction in each half cycle of the input. Design Concerns %everse current does not exceed the brea!down value .ower dissipation limit . / )d Id is not exceeded

Diode Voltages #orward 0ias

If we consider a simple* piece(wise linear model for the diode I) curve* the diode forward current is zero until )bias 1/ )threshold* where )threshold is 2.3 ) to 2.4 ). he current increases abruptly as )bias increases further. Due to this turn(on or threshold voltage associated with the diode in forward bias* we should expect a 2.3 to 2.4 ) voltage drop across each forward biased diode in the rectifier bridge. In the case of the full wave rectifier diode bridge* there are two forward biased diodes in series with the load in each half cycle of the input signal. he maximum output voltage "across load& will be )in ( - )threshold* or 5 )in ( '.+ ). 6ince some current does flow for voltage bias below ) threshold and the current rise around is )threshold is more gradual than the piece(wise model* the actual diode performance will differ from the simple model.

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%everse 0ias
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In reverse bias "and neglecting reverse voltage brea!down&* the current through the diode is approximately the reverse saturation current* Io. he voltage across the load during reverse bias will be )out / Io %load. In specifying a diode for use in a circuit* you must ta!e care that the limits for forward and reverse voltage and current are not exceeded.

1.2 Filtered Full Wave Rectifier

he filtered full wave rectifier is created from the #$% by adding a capacitor across the output.

#igure -. #iltered full wave rectifier

he result of the addition of a capacitor is a smoothing of the #$% output. he output is now a pulsating dc* with a pea! to pea! variation called ripple. resistance. o describe the source of the voltage ripple* consider the performance of the filtered full wave rectifier above. he input to the rectifier is a sinewave of fre7uency f. 8et )i be the full wave rectified signal input to the filter stage of the rectifier and )o be the output. )i can be approximated as the absolute value of the rectifier input* with fre7uency -f. he magnitude of the ripple depends on the input voltage magnitude and fre7uency* the filter capacitance* and the load

#igure ,. Output ")i& and input ")o& of a filtered full wave rectifier In the time period from 2 to '* the diode D' "or D,* depending on the phase of the signal& is forward biased since )i 1 )C' "approximate the forward biased diode as a short circuit&. he capacitor C' charges and the voltage across the load % increases. #rom ' to -* the diodes D' and D- are reverse biased "open circuit& because )cap 1 )i* and the capacitor discharges through the load % with a time constant of %C seconds. he voltages between times ' and - lie along a capacitor discharge curve. Along this line*

he pea! to pea! "pp& ripple is defined as the voltage difference between )max and )min.

If C is large* such that %C 11 - ( '* we can approximate the exponential Then

as

6ince - ( ' 5 9-* where

is the period of the sine wave* then

Peak Current Levels Diodes in the bridge conduct only in the time period from 2 to '. he diode current must replace the charge lost by the capacitor during its discharge. I / d:9d / C;d)9d As the magnitude of the filter capacitor increases* the pea! current through the diodes must increase to replace the charge in less time. herefore it is not always best to choose the largest value of C' available. In a dc power supply* you can rely on the stages following the ##$% to significantly improve the voltage regulation.

1. The !hunt Regulator

A shunt regulator may be placed between the filtered full wave rectifier and the load resistance "impedance&. Its purpose is to minimize the variation in the voltage across the load* as either the input voltage or the output resistance changes.

#igure +. #iltered #$% and shunt regulator his regulator is called a shunt because it provides an additional path for current to flow* so that some current can bypass the load. he shunt regulator consists of a zener diode and a resistor. he zener diode has a nearly constant voltage drop when used in reverse bias. he resistor is chosen to maintain the zener in its proper wor!ing region* where it can provide regulation and not exceed a maximum power limit.

A simple model for the zener diode is a dc supply "battery& with a value of )zo* where )zo is the effective zener voltage* wor!ing region. * )z is the rated brea!down voltage* and %z is

the effective resistance of the zener* given by the inverse of the slope of the I) curve in the

#igure <. #iltered #$% and shunt regulator with the zener diode replaced with its circuit model In the zeners wor!ing region* %z is small "2.' to <2 ohm &. #or voltages less than the !nee voltage* %z is very high* and for purposes of hand calculations can be considered to be an open circuit.

#igure 3. Current(voltage characteristic of a zener diode =ou can show for the circuit above that

where I8 is the current through the load.

he 'st term in this e7uation is constant since it

depends only on the diode zener voltage and two resistances. he -nd and ,rd terms depend on

the input voltage and load current* both of which may change with time. hese terms must be minimized for 7uality regulation. In"ut !ensitivit# and Load !ensitivit# Assume the input to the shunt regulator is )dc >9( )ripple. #or )in / )in"max& / )dc > )ripple* additional current is available from the source. o !eep )o / I8 %8 constant* some of that current must be shunted through the zener diode. As long as Iz ? Iz"max&* as defined by the maximum power dissipation for the zener* the circuit will safely regulate. Choose % to prevent the zener from exceeding its maximum current limit.

#or )in / )in"min& / )dc ( )ripple* current drops. o !eep )o / I8;%8 constant* the current through the zener diode must be reduced. o maintain regulation* Iz must not be reduced below the !nee current. Choose % to maintain sufficient current through the zener@

he shunt regulator has several maAor problems which prevent its common use as the sole pre(regulation stage in dc power supplies@
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$hen the load is open circuit* all current is shunted through the zener diode. his re7uires an expensive* high power device. he line and load regulations values are high "5 '2 B or more&. he energy efficiency is low.

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#or an improved design* the shunt regulator is used in conAunction with a series pass element with gain* usually a transistor* between the unregulated supply and the load.

II. Pro$ect Design

2.1 !i%ulation Part 1&
o simulate the full wave rectifier circuit as shown in #igure '* the following components should be used@

'. Input AC voltage ")in&@ )in is a 1' V"eak and (' )* sinusoidal +ave. Cse )6ID with the setting@ )O## / 2* )AE8 / '2 and #%F: / 32 -. #ull wave rectifier "#$%&@ he full wave rectifier is constructed in the form of bridge rectifier using four diodes "D1,-''-&. ,. 8oad resistor@ -22 G and <22 G resistors are used to understand the effect of load resistor on the performance of the DC power supply. Simulation results required in your lab report: 1. Output voltage for Rload = 200 G 2. Output voltage for Rload = 500 G

All the simulations in this project are in transient mode with run time = 35ms. On the simulation results, you should indicate the maximum output voltage (Vmax), the minimum output voltage (Vmin) and the ripple voltage Vr (Vmax Vmin).

o simulate the filtered full wave rectifier circuit as shown in #igure -* the filter capacitor is chosen from '22 u#* +H2 u# and '222 u#. Simulation results required in your lab report: 1. Output voltage for Rload = 200 G and C1 = 100 uF 2. Output voltage for Rload = 200 G and C1 = 470 uF 3. Output voltage for Rload = 200 G and C1 = 1000 uF 4. Output voltage for Rload = 500 G and C1 = 100 uF 5. Output voltage for Rload = 500 G and C1 = 470 uF 6. Output voltage for Rload = 500 G and C1 = 1000 uF

Part 2&
o design and simulate a filtered full wave rectifier with a shunt regulator* the following design steps should be followed@ '. o design a shunt regulator* first pic! up a ,., volts zener diode "a particle diode* part number 'D<--3& and plug it into the curve tracer. Caution& *ener diode should .e reverse .iased. he cathode of the zener diode "the end with a blac! ring& should be connected to the IAJ of the diode test port. /enu !ettings@ type diodeK )d < voltsK Id

 -2 mAK %load .-< ohmK .max - $att&. Choose any two points in the linear region and use CC%6O% function to display Id and )d of the two points. .rint out from the screen and it should loo! li!e that in #igure 3 except in the first 7uadrant. -. Calculate the effective zener resistance %z and effective zener voltage )zo from the e7uation or %z / ")z- )z'&9"Iz- Iz'& and )zo / )z' Iz';%z.

,. Calculate the value of the series resistor % "% < in #igure +& for the shunt regulator with the equation )in"min& is the minimum input voltage* )in"min& / )p -;2.H )r* )p is the pea! input voltage or '2 volts in this lab* 2.H volt is the voltage drop across one diode* )r can be used as - volts for an estimation )zo and %z are obtained in step Iz"min& is the minimum current needed for the zener diode to operate properly* for example* < mA is a good rating I8"max& is the maximum load current and determined by )o9%min. he output voltage of the shunt regulator is about the zener voltage used* %min is the minimum load resistance. In this lab* )o 5 ,., volts and %min / -22 G +. Let a practical resistor with a value close but smaller than the resistance % calculated above. 0se this value for R in all the follo+ing calculation and si%ulation. <. Calculate the capacitance re7uired for the filter using C / )p9"-;f;)r;%&. 3. Create a #$% and shunt regulator circuit in OrCAD(Capture as shown in #igure +. % < and C' in #igure + should use the value of % and C obtained in step + and step <* respectively. Dz' is the ,., volts zener diode "D'D<--3&. H. 6imulate the circuit with %load / -22 G. 1.tain a ca"ture of the out"ut voltage. 4. 6imulate the circuit with %load / <22 G. 1.tain a ca"ture of the out"ut voltage.

2.2

/easure%ents
'. 0uild the hardware circuit of a full wave rectifier as shown in #igure '. he input voltage )in is a '2 volts pea!* 32 Mz sinusoidal wave. )in is stepped down from line voltage "32

Part 1&

Mz and ''2 )rms& using a '<@' turns(ratio transformer. Cse 'D+22+ diodes to construct your bridge rectifier. Observe the output voltage across the load resistor on the scope for %load / -22 G. Ca"ture the out"ut into a Word file . %epeat for %load / <22 G and o.tain a ca"ture. -. Add a capacitor C / '22 u# to form a filtered full wave rectifier. 0e careful of the polarity of the capacitor when you connect the circuit. I.ositiveJ of the capacitor goes to IpositiveJ of the DC output of the bridge rectifier. Ca"ture the out"ut voltages for .oth Rload 2 2'' 3 and Rload 2 4'' 3. ,. %epeat step - for C / +H2 u# and C / '222 u# and ca"ture the out"ut voltages for .oth Rload 2 2'' 3 and Rload 2 4'' 3.

All the measurements on the scope in this project should have Vp-p, Vavg and frequency displayed.

.art -@
'. Eodify your circuit as #igure +. %< and C' should be the values obtained in the simulation part. he zener diode is 'D<--3 and %load / -22 G. Ca"ture the out"ut voltage. -. %epeat step ' for %load / <22 G and ca"ture the out"ut voltages.

III. Re"ort
'. 0rief Introduction -. 6chematic of full wave rectifier* filtered full wave rectifier and filtered full wave rectifier with a shunt regulator ,. Calculation of the series resistor % and the filter capacitor C "% < and C' in #igure +&. .lease also give the values of the physical % and C in your circuit. +. 6imulation results. All the ten re7uired captures are in bold font. <. Eeasurement results. All the ten re7uired captures are in bold font. 3. Discussion and conclusion@ Fffect of the load resistance on the output voltage "ripple* average& Fffect of the filter capacitance on the output voltage "ripple* average& Fffect of the shunt regulator on the output voltage "ripple* average&

 Comparison between the simulation results and the measurement results Any other 7uestions* comments