INTRODUCTION:

A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC),

which periodically reverses direction, to direct current (DC), which flows
in only one direction. The process is known as rectification.
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. As noted, detectors of radio signals
serve as rectifiers. In gas heating systems flame rectification is used to
detect presence of flame. 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.

Full Wave Rectifier:-

Half-wave rectification:-
In half wave rectification of a single-phase supply, either the positive or
negative half of the AC wave is passed, while the other half is blocked.
Because only one half of the input waveform reaches the output, mean
voltage is lower. Half-wave rectification requires a single diode in a single-
phase supply, or three in a three-phase supply. Rectifiers yield a
unidirectional but pulsating direct current; half-wave rectifiers produce
far more ripple than full-wave rectifiers, and much more filtering is
needed to eliminate harmonics of the AC frequency from the output.

Full-wave rectification:-
A full-wave rectifier converts the whole of the input waveform to one of
constant polarity (positive or negative) at its output. Full-wave
rectification converts both polarities of the input waveform to DC (direct
current), and yields a higher mean output voltage. Two diodes and a
center tapped transformer, or four diodes in a bridge configuration and
any AC source (including a transformer without center tap), are needed.

Bridge rectifier: A full-wave rectifier using 4 diodes:-

For single-phase AC, if the transformer is center-tapped, then two diodes
back-to-back (cathode-to-cathode or anode-to-anode, depending upon
output polarity required) can form a full-wave rectifier. Twice as many
turns are required on the transformer secondary to obtain the same
output voltage than for a bridge rectifier, but the power rating is
unchanged.

Working:-
1st when the A.C. is supplied to the transformer, it steps down the 230V
main supply to 6 volts. It has a capability of delivering a current of
500mA. The 6 volts A.C. appearing across the secondary is the RMS value
and the peak value is 8.4 volts. During the 1st half cycle of the A.C. input
Diode D1 is forward biased and a current ‘I’ flows in the circuit in the
direction
S1D1 ABEOS1. During this time diode D2 is reverse biased. So it does not
conduct any electric current. During the next half
cycle, the diodeD2 is forward and D1 is reversed. Hence D2 conducts
current in the direction S2D2 ABEOS2and D1 does
not conduct any current. In subsequent half cycles of the A.C current the
above processes are repeated. In both the half cycles it is clear that
current flows through the resistor in only
one direction ABE. Even though the voltage across RL is unidirectional it
will still contain a few A.C components. This
is filtered and made smooth using a capacitor, which filters 99% of the
A.C current. A resistor is then used to adjust the output voltage. Capacitor
also nearly filters all A.C components from
the supply and resistance is adjusted for the required output. As this is a
simple circuit, only one capacitor and a resistance are being used. But
there will be slight factor of A.C. current still left in the output but it is
negligible. The output Direct Current and voltage light up the LED.

Graph: