Diodes with RL loads.

Freewheeling
Assume ideal diode (zero reverse
rocvery time, zero voltage drop)
An antiparallel diode known as the
freewheeling diode must be
connected across the load to provide
a path for the inductive current to
flow.

Diode rectifiers
Learn performance parameters of rectifiers and
power converters
Study effects of load inductance on load current
D1

D2
Vs

L
R

First neglect the freewheeling

diode

The diode current is found using the

Laplace transform method:

Note that the diode conduction time is

longer than half-period
The waveform is nonsinusoidal but periodic.

From www.powerdesigners.com

Now with the freewheeling diode

www.powerdesigners.com

Recommended reading
Chapter 1

Sections 2.10-2.13 and examples in those sections, the rest are optional)

Sections 3.1 to 3.3, example 3.2

Single phase full wave rectifier

Full wave rectifier with centre tapped transformer

Full wave bridge rectifier

Single phase full wave rectifier with large

inductive load

Single phase full wave rectifier with RL load

T/2

For a steady state solution, require i0(0)= i0(T)=I0. Then

I0>0 guarantees that the current flows continuously.

Load, source and diode currents (E=10V).

Download Matlab code fwr.m, (also requires fun_fwr.m).

Load, source and diode currents (E=0.6Vm)

E=10 V

E=120 V

Load voltage
Source voltage

Load current

Conclusion

An inductive load can make load current flow

continuously if voltage ratio is below the critical
value

E=0 guarantees continuous current

If L=0, any E>0 will cause current interruptions

References: Section 3.4 and examples in that

section

Three phase bridge rectifier

(Note 30 deg phase shift).

Performance:
Single phase rectifier

3 phase rectifier

3phase rectifiers with RL load

Condition for continuous load current

Largest critical value of the

EMF ratio is substantially
higher (95.5% vs 63.6%)