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Full Wave Rectifier
Full Wave Rectifier
THEORY:
The process of converting AC (which periodically reverses
direction) current into DC (which flows only in one
direction) current is known as Rectification.
The electrical device used to so is known as Rectifier.
Rectifiers have many uses, but are often found serving as
components of DC power supplies and high-voltage direct
current power transmission systems. Rectification may
serve in roles other than to generate direct current for use as
a source of power.
The simple process of rectification produces a type of DC
characterized by pulsating voltages and currents (although
still unidirectional). Depending upon the type of end-use,
this type of DC current may then be further modified into
the type of relatively constant voltage DC characteristically
produced by such sources as batteries and solar cells.
A diode bridge is an arrangement of four (or more) diodes
in a bridge circuit configuration that provides the same
polarity of output for either polarity of input. When used in
its most common application, for conversion of an
alternating current (AC) input into a direct current (DC)
output, it is known as a bridge rectifier. A bridge rectifier
provides full-wave rectification from a two-wire AC input,
resulting in lower cost and weight as compared to a rectifier
with a 3-wire input from a transformer with a center-tapped
secondary winding.
MATERIALS REQUIRED
A centre-tapped full wave rectifier system consists of:
1. Centre-tapped Transformer
2. Two Diodes
3. Resistive Load
During the positive cycle, diode D1 conducts and during negative cycle diode
D2 conducts and during positive cycle. As a result, both half-cycles are
allowed to pass through. The average output DC voltage here is almost twice
of the DC output voltage of a half wave rectifier.
OBSERVATION:
FILTER CIRCUIT
We get a pulsating DC voltage with a lot of ripples as the output of the
centre-tapped full wave rectifier. We cannot use this pulsating for
practical applications. So, to convert the pulsating DC voltage to pure DC
voltage, we use a filter circuit as shown above. Here we place a capacitor
across the load. The working of the capacitive filter circuit is to short the
ripples and block the DC component so that it flows through another path
and is available across the load. During the positive half-wave, the diode
D1 starts conducting. The capacitor is uncharged, and when we apply an
input AC voltage which happens to be more than the capacitor voltage, it
charges the capacitor immediately to the maximum value of the input
voltage. At this point, the supply voltage is equal to capacitor voltage.
When the applied AC voltage starts decreasing and less than the
capacitor, the capacitor starts discharging slowly but this is slower when
compared to the charging of capacitor and it does not get enough time to
discharge entirely and the charging starts again. So, around half of the
charge present in the capacitor gets discharged. During the negative cycle,
the diode D2 starts conducting, and the above process happens again. This
will cause the current to flow through the same direction across the load
APPLICATIONS
Because of their low cost compared to center tapped they are widely
used in power supply circuit.
This can be used to detect the amplitude of modulated radio signal.
Bridge rectifiers can be used to supply polarized voltage in welding.
In daily life, rectifier find use in mobile chargers.
MERITS:
The rectification efficiency of full-wave rectifier is double of that of a half-
wave rectifier.
The ripple voltage is low and of higher frequency in case of a full-wave
rectifier so simple filtering circuit is required.
Higher output voltage higher output power and higher TUF in case of a
full-wave rectifier.
In a full-wave rectifier, there is no problem due to DC saturation of the core
because the DC currents in the two halves of the transformer secondary
flow in opposite directions.
DEMERITS:
Full-wave rectifier needs more circuit elements and is costlier.
CONCLUSION:
The output voltage of the full wave rectifier is not constant, it is always
pulsating. But this cannot be used in real life applications. In other
words, we desire a DC power supply with a constant output voltage. In
order to achieve a smooth and constant voltage a filter with a capacitor
or an inductor is used.