AC to DC converters (Uncontrolled) –

Diode Rectifiers (cont.)

1 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020

 Single Phase Diode Bridge Rectifier with C&R load

2 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020

 Single Phase Diode Bridge Rectifier with large L

3 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020

 Single phase diode bridge rectifier with R-L load
Fig5a_DB_R_L_Load
ILoad
Vs Vload
d1 d3 400
300
Is 200
100

Vsource (V)
R=0

0.6
-100
Vs -200

100.0
-300
Vload -400
Vload
400
300
200
d4 d2 100

Vload (V)
0
-100
-200

 The diode conduction pattern is as before for R -300

-400
load 3.0
Is

 Load voltage waveform is similar to that of the 2.0

R load case 1.0

Isource (A)
 The ripple in the load current waveform is 0.0
-1.0
dependant on the L/R time constant -2.0
 Source current waveform approaches a square -3.0
waveform as L/R increases 3.00
Iload
2.75
2.50
2.25

Iload (A)
2.00
1.75
1.50
1.25
1.00
Time ... 0.330 0.340 0.350 0.360 0.370 0.380 0.390
4 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020
 Single phase diode bridge rectifier with R-L (very large) load
Fig5b
 Load current is nearly ripple free 400
Vs Vload
 Note the square wave shape of source current

Vsource (V)
200
when very large L is used 0
-200
 The average of the load voltage waveform is -400
equal to: Vload
400
2Vm 200

Vload (V)
Vload(avg)  0
 -200
-400
Is
4.0
 This average voltage is absorbed by the load 2.0

Isource (A)
resistance only as the inductor cannot support 0.0
an average voltage over a period -2.0
-4.0
di
vL  L Iload
dt 3.00
where I0 is the 2.50

Iload (A)
I0 t 2.00
current at the
I Ldi  0 v L dt  0 beginning and
1.50
1.00
0
Id1
end of a period 4.0
2Vm 2.0
Idiode1 (A)

Iload (avg)  
0.0
-2.0
Rload -4.0
Time ... 0.540 0.550 0.560 0.570 0.580 0.590 0.600 ...
...
...
5 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020
 Single phase diode bridge rectifier with R-L (very large) load

Fourier spectrum of the ac supply side current

Assuming this waveform to be square in shape having an amplitude of iload(avg) the following is the
Fourier series.
Frequency scanner (FFT block)
4  iload (avg)
is ( t )   sin t Mag
 n1 n FFT
(15) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Is Ph
4  1 1  (15)
 iload (avg)sin t  sin 3t  sin t.......
  3 5  F = 50 [Hz]
dc

7 data taps extract the first 7

Harmonic component magnitudes (vs time and as frequency spectrum seven harmonics (can extract
snapshot). Note that 2nd, 4th, 6th harmonics (even) harmonics are not up to 255 harmonics
present. including the fundamental)

Fig5b Spectrum Fig5b_Spectrum

i1 i2 i3 i4 i5 i6 i7 2.0
2.00

1.50
Vsource (V)

1.00

0.50

0.00
Time ... 0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 ... 0.0
... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
... [1] 1.93442
6 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020
 Three phase diode bridge rectifiers

 These are the more common rectifier systems that are found in
practical applications

 They give much smoother outputs and require less filtering in

general

 Found at the front end of AC variable speed drives where

conversion from fixed ac to fixed dc is required before inversion

7 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020

 Three phase diode half bridge rectifier

Half bridge rectifier:

 Before studying the full bridge diode rectifier
consider the half bridge arrangement shown
(rarely used in this form in practice)

ILoad
d1 d2 d3
Van
A Ia
RLC
Vbn
B RLC Ib

Vcn 100.0 Vload

C Ic
RLC

 Each diode conducts for 120 degrees during

which it is forward biased
 The load voltage has a ripple frequency of
350Hz
8 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020
 Three phase diode half bridge rectifier
Fig6
Half bridge rectifier: Van Vbn Vcn
 Before studying the full bridge diode rectifier 400
200

Vsource (V)
consider the half bridge arrangement shown 0
-200
(rarely used in this form in practice) -400
Vload
ILoad 400
d1 d2 d3 300

Vload (V)
Van 200
A Ia 100
RLC
0
Vbn
B RLC Ib ia
4.0

100.0
3.0

Isource (A)
Vcn Vload 2.0
C Ic
RLC 1.0
0.0
-1.0
ib
4.0
3.0

Isource (A)
2.0
d1 conducts 1.0
0.0
d2 conducts -1.0

d3 conducts 4.0
ic
3.0

Isource (A)
2.0
 Each diode conducts for 120 degrees during 1.0
0.0
which it is forward biased -1.0

 The load voltage has a ripple frequency of Time ... 0.000 0.010 0.020 0.030 0.040 0.050 ...
...
350Hz ...
9 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020
 Three phase diode full bridge rectifiers

Resistive load:

ILoad
d1 d3 d5
Van
A Ia
RLC
Vbn
B RLC Ib

100.0
Vcn Vload
C Ic
RLC

d4 d6 d2

 In this circuit 2 devices will conduct at a time, one from the top half and one from the bottom
through which the load current flows.

 These conducting devices will be established based on the instantaneous magnitude and polarity
of the incoming ac supply line-line voltages

10 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020

 Three phase diode full bridge rectifiers

Resistive load:

ILoad
d1 d3 d5
Van
A RLC Ia

Vbn
B RLC Ib

100.0
Vcn Vload
C RLC Ic

d4 d6 d2

11 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020

 Three phase diode full bridge rectifiers with large inductor load

12 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020

 Three phase diode full bridge rectifiers
Fig7

 The conduction pattern is: 400

Van Vbn Vcn

Vsource (V)
200
d1-d6, d1-d2, d3-d2, 0
d3-d4, d5-d4, d5-d6, -200
-400
d1-d6, … Vload
600
400

Vload (V)
d1-d6 d3-d2 d5-d4
200 d1-d2 d3-d4 d5-d6
d1 d3 d5
0
ia
8.0
4.0

Isource (A)
0.0
-4.0
-8.0
ib
8.0
4.0

Isource (A)
0.0
d4 d6 d2
-4.0
-8.0
ic
8.0
4.0

Isource (A)
 Load current waveform will follow the load 0.0
-4.0
voltage waveform -8.0
Time ... 0.0000 0.0100 0.0200 0.0300 ...
...
...
13 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020
 Three phase diode full bridge rectifiers
Fig8
Highly Inductive Load: V an V bn Vcn
400

Vsource (V)
 The conduction pattern is same as before 200
0
-200
-400
V load
d1 d3 d5 600
400

Vload (V)
200
0
ia
8.0
4.0

Isource (A)
0.0
-4.0
-8.0
ib
8.0
4.0

Isource (A)
d4 d6 d2 0.0
-4.0
-8.0
ic
8.0
4.0

Isource (A)
 Load current waveform is now much 0.0
-4.0
smoother than for the resistive load case -8.0
ILoad
 The supply line current has a quasi-square 6.0

waveform as a result of the smoothing 5.0

Iload (A)

4.0
applied by the load inductance 3.0
Time ... 0.200 0.210 0.220 0.230 0.240 ...
...
...

14 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020

 Three phase diode full bridge rectifiers

Highly Inductive Load:

 The average load voltage has to be established using line-line voltage waveforms
 For example when d1 and d6 are conducting (over a period of 60 degrees – illustrated
below)
Fig8
Van Vbn Vcn
400
200
Vsource (V)

0
-200
-400
Vload
600

400
Vload (V)

200

0
Time ... 0.2000 0.2050 0.2100 0.2150 0.2200 0.2250 0.2300 ... -Vm /-1200
...
...

Vload = van – vbn (time domain)

= Vm /00 – Vm /-120o (phasor domain) 600
= 3Vm /300 (phasor domain) Vm /00
= 3 Vmsin(t + 30o) (time domain) assume van as the reference

15 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020

 Three phase diode full bridge rectifiers

 Average load voltage has ripple frequency of 300Hz

(much easier to filter)

 Average value of load voltage is calculated as follows:

2
1
 6
v load ( avg )  3 Vm sin(  t  30 o
)d( t )
( )
3
3 3
v load ( avg )  Vm

3 2
 VLL

 1.35 VLL

16 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020

 Three phase diode full bridge rectifiers

• The ac side input current has a peak value equal to the dc load current and its
rms value is given by: Fig8
Van Vbn Vcn
o 400
240 2
Is  I2load( avg )  Iload( avg )

Vsource (V)
o
360 3

-400
ia
6.0
4.0

Isource (A)
2.0
0.0
-2.0
-4.0
-6.0
Time ... 0.440 0.450 0.460 0.470 0.480 0.490 ...
...
...

• Real power delivered to the load = vload(avg) Iload(avg) = 1.35VLL Iload(avg)

2
input voltampere s  3 VLL Iload( avg )
3

input (output ) real power 1.35 VLL Iload( avg ) assuming the
input power factor    0.955!! rectifier to be
input voltampers 2
3 VLL Iload( avg ) lossless Pin=Pout
3
17 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020
 Three phase diode full bridge rectifiers - Exercise

A three-phase diode bridge rectifier connected to a 400V, 50Hz source

supplies a highly inductive dc load which draws 20kW. Calculate the (a)
average load voltage (b) average load current (c) effective resistance of the
load (d) fundamental reactive power drawn by the rectifier (e) apparent volt-
amperes drawn by the rectifier (f) ac side power factor. Carry out PSCAD
simulations using the data given including the answer of Part (c). Give the
value of the inductance on the dc side which synthesises the highly inductive
dc load.

18 Introduction to Power Electronics Spring 2020