EEET2602: Engineering Design 2

Diode Rectifiers
 Agenda

• Introduction to electric power conversion

• Introduction to diode rectifiers

• Haft-wave diode rectifier design

• Full-wave diode rectifier design

• Diode rectifier design with Zener diodes

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Full-wave Diode Rectifier
Design

3
 Full-wave diode rectifier design
Source: A. S. Sedra, K. C. Smith, and K. C. (Kenneth C. Smith, Microelectronic circuits,
International seventh edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2016.

𝑣𝑖 𝑣𝑖
𝑣𝑜 𝑣𝑜

𝑣𝑖 −𝑣𝑖
𝑉𝑝
𝑣𝑜

𝑣𝑜 = 𝑣𝑖 − 2 × 0.7𝑉 when 𝑣𝑖 ≥ 1.4𝑉 Similar to its role in the half-wave

𝑣𝑜 = −𝑣𝑖 − 2 × 0.7𝑉 when 𝑣𝑖 ≤ −1.4𝑉 rectifier, the filter capacitor C helps
Other cases (i.e. −1.4V < 𝑣𝑖 < 1.4𝑉): smooth out the output voltage, make it
𝑣𝑜 = 0𝑉 more “more DC” (with ripples)
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 Full-wave rectifier without a filter capacitor design

𝑣𝑖 −𝑣𝑖
𝑉𝑝
𝑣𝑜

𝑣𝑖
𝑣𝑜

Watch it Full-wave rectifier without filter capacitor: simulation experiment

after class Source: Tinkercad, “A Full Wave Rectifier,“ Autodesk, [Online]. Available:
https://www.tinkercad.com/things/8qyHUqQocN3. [Accessed 01 07 2022].

5
 Full-wave rectifier without a filter capacitor design

𝑣𝑖 −𝑣𝑖
𝑉𝑝
𝑣𝑜

𝑣𝑖
𝑣𝑜

2𝜋
Input voltage 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑉𝑃 sin 𝜔𝑡 = 𝑉𝑃 sin 𝑡 = 𝑉𝑝 sin()
𝑇

Calculate the average output voltage 𝑣𝑜𝐴𝑉

6
 Full-wave rectifier without a filter capacitor design

𝑣𝑖 −𝑣𝑖
𝑉𝑝
𝑣𝑜

𝑣𝑖
𝑣𝑜

Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV) value of the diode:

𝑃𝐼𝑉 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑑𝑒 = 𝑃𝑒𝑎𝑘 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑉𝑝 − 0.7

Maximum forward current of the diode:

𝑃𝑒𝑎𝑘 𝑣𝑖 − 1.4 𝑉𝑝 − 1.4
𝐷𝑖𝑜𝑑𝑒′𝑠 max 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 = =
𝑅 𝑅

DESIGN NOTES:
Usually, to “play safe”, we select a diode with PIV and max forward current of at least 50%
higher than the calculated values above.
7
 Full-wave rectifier without a filter capacitor design
summary

𝑣𝑖 −𝑣𝑖
𝑉𝑝
𝑣𝑜

𝑣𝑖
𝑣𝑜

Input voltage 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑉𝑃 sin 𝜔𝑡 = 𝑉𝑝 sin()

Average output voltage 𝑣𝑜 :
2𝑉𝑝
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑣𝑜 = − 1.4
𝜋
Diode’s Peak Invert Voltage (PIV):
𝐷𝑖𝑜𝑑𝑒 ′ 𝑠 𝑃𝐼𝑉 = 𝑉𝑝 − 0.7
Diode’s Maximum forward current:
𝑉𝑝 − 1.4
𝐷𝑖𝑜𝑑𝑒 ′ 𝑠 max 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 =
𝑅
To “play safe”, we often select a diode whose quoted PIV and max forward current is at least
50% higher than the calculated values
8
 Full-wave rectifier with a filter capacitor:
ripple voltage

𝑣𝑖
𝑣𝑜
𝑡1 𝑡2 𝑇
4

Input voltage 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑉𝑃 sin 𝜔𝑡 = 𝑉𝑝sin()

At the end of the diode OFF interval (or the RC discharging interval):
𝑻 𝑻
𝑽𝒑 − 𝑽𝒓 ≅ 𝑽𝒑𝒆 −𝟐𝑹𝑪 ≅ 𝑽𝒑 𝟏 −
𝟐𝑹𝑪

Hence, the ripple voltage 𝑉𝑟 can be calculated as:

𝑇
𝑉𝑟 = 𝑉𝑝
2𝑅𝐶

Note that we can only get the above result if 𝑹𝑪 ≫ 𝑻. Also, because of this, we have: 𝑉𝑟 ≪ 1
As a result, the output voltage 𝑣𝑜 of the half-wave rectifier with a filter capacitor can be
estimated as: 𝑣𝑜 ≅ 𝑉𝑝

And the current running through the load 𝑖 𝐿 is: 𝑖𝐿 ≅ 𝑉𝑝 /𝑅 9

 Full-wave rectifier with a filter capacitor:
Diode conduction interval

𝑣𝑖
𝑣𝑜
𝑡1 𝑡2 𝑇/4
Calculate the Diode’s conduction interval 𝚫𝒕
𝑣𝑖 𝑡2 − 𝑣𝑖 𝑡1 = 𝑉𝑟
𝑇
→ 𝑣𝑖 𝑡1 = 𝑉𝑝 − 𝑉𝑟 = 𝑣𝑖 − Δ𝑡
4
Since 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑉𝑃 sin 𝜔𝑡 , we have:
𝜔𝑇 𝜋
𝑉𝑝 − 𝑉𝑟 = 𝑉𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑛 − 𝜔Δ𝑡 = 𝑉𝑝 sin − 𝜔Δ𝑡 = 𝑉𝑝 cos 𝜔Δ𝑡
4 2
𝟐
𝜔𝚫𝒕
Since the interval 𝚫𝒕 is very small: 𝜔𝚫𝒕 ≪ 𝟏. So we have: cos 𝜔Δ𝑡 ≅ 1 −
𝟐
As a result, the Diode’s conduction interval 𝚫𝒕 is calculated as:
𝟐𝑽𝒓 𝐓 𝟐𝑽𝒓
𝜔𝚫𝒕 = 𝒐𝒓 𝚫𝐭 = ×
𝑽𝒑 𝟐𝝅 𝑽𝒑 10
 Full-wave rectifier with a filter capacitor:
Average maximum forward current

𝑣𝑖
𝑣𝑜

Calculate the Average of maximum forward current of the diode (𝑖𝐷𝑎𝑣 ):

𝑖𝐷𝑎𝑣 = 𝐼𝐿 + 𝑖𝐶𝐴𝑉

∆𝑣𝑜 𝑉𝑟
𝑖𝐶𝐴𝑉 = 𝐶 =𝐶
∆𝑡 ∆𝑡
𝑉𝑟 𝑅𝐶𝑉𝑟 𝑇
𝑖𝐷𝑎𝑣 = 𝐼𝐿 1 + 𝐶 = 𝐼𝐿 1 + = 𝐼𝐿 1 +
𝐼𝐿∆𝑡 𝑉𝑝∆𝑡 2∆𝑡

T 2𝑉𝑟
Δt = ×
2𝜋 𝑉𝑝

𝑉𝑝
=> 𝑖𝐷𝑎𝑣 = 𝐼𝐿 1 + 𝜋 2𝑉𝑟 11
 Full-wave rectifier with a filter capacitor
design summary

𝑣𝑖
𝑣𝑜

Input voltage 𝑣𝑖 = 𝑉𝑃 sin 𝜔𝑡 = 𝑉𝑝 sin(𝑢)

Output voltage 𝑣𝑜 ≅ 𝑉𝑝
Load’s current 𝑖𝐿 ≅ 𝑉𝑝 /𝑅
𝑇 𝑇 𝑖𝐿
Ripple voltage 𝑉𝑟 = 𝑉𝑝 = 𝑖𝐿 =
2𝑅𝐶 2𝐶 2𝑓𝐶
1 2𝑉𝑟 T 2𝑉𝑟
Diode’s conduction interval Δt = × = ×
𝜔 𝑉𝑝 2𝜋 𝑉𝑝

𝑉𝑝
Average of Diode’s maximum forward current 𝑖𝐷𝑎𝑣 = 𝐼𝐿 1 + 𝜋
2𝑉𝑟

Diode’s Peak Invert Voltage (PIV): 𝐷𝑖𝑜𝑑𝑒 ′ 𝑠 𝑃𝐼𝑉 ≅ 𝑉𝑝

To “play safe”, we often select a diode whose quoted maxium forward current is at least
2 × 𝑖𝐷𝑎𝑣 and the quoted PIV is at least (1.5 × 𝑃𝐼𝑉)
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Diode Rectifier Design with
Zener Diodes

13
 Diode Rectifier Design with Zener
Diodes

• Even with the filter capacitor, the rectified DC voltage (of a diode
rectifier) is still highly variable (due to the peak-to-peak ripple)

• We can further smooth/regulate this rectified voltage by using Zener

diode and additional electronic devices (BJT, voltage regulator IC, etc.)

Further
regulate
voltage

Source: A. S. Sedra, K. C. Smith, and K. C. (Kenneth C. Smith, Microelectronic circuits,

International seventh edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2016.
14
 Zener diode operation
• When forward-biased (𝑉𝑧 ≥ 0), a Zener diode operates like a standard one

• When reverse-biased (𝑉𝑧 ≤ 0):

o If 0 > 𝑉𝑧 ≥ 𝑉𝑍0 (Zener/breakdown voltage): Zener is like an open-circuit

o If 𝑽𝒛 < 𝑽𝒁𝟎 then 𝑽𝒛 ≅ 𝑽𝒁𝟎

–
Vz
+
Zener diode model (𝐷1 : ideal diode, 𝐷2 : standard)
Can be further simplified with 𝑟𝑧 ≅ 0 15
 Zener diode operation

– Simple Zener diode circuit operation

𝑣𝑖 = (10𝑉, 50𝐻𝑧)
Vz
+
Zener diode model (𝐷1: ideal diode, 𝐷2 : standard)
Can be further simplified with 𝑟𝑧 ≅ 0

16
Zener-regulated diode rectifier
circuit

Zener-regulated

Further
regulate
voltage

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 Diode rectifier applications:
DC Power Supply

DC power source
Source: GW Instek, "GPS-x303 Series Multiple Output Linear D.C. Power Supply,“ Good Will Instrument Co., Ltd.,
2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.gwinstek.com/en-global/products/detail/GPS-x303. [Accessed 1 7 2022]. 18
 Diode rectifier applications:
Charging System for Electric Vehicle

Source: P. Meesala, "Week-6 Challenge: EV Drivetrain," Skill-Lync Inc., 15 6 2021. [Online]. Available:
https://skill-lync.com/student-projects/week-6-challenge-ev-drivetrain-238. [Accessed 1 7 2022]. 19
 Diode rectifier applications:
Wind energy

Source: WindML, "Horizontal Wind Turbine: All You Wanted to Know," WindML, 23 4 2020.
[Online]. Available: https://www.windml.org/horizontal-wind-turbine/. [Accessed 1 7 2022]. 20
 Full-Wave and Half-Wave
Rectification Comparison

Source: R. Semiconductor, "Full-Wave Rectification and Half-Wave Rectification," Rohm CO. LTD.,
[Online]. Available: https://www.rohm.com/electronics-basics/ac-dc/rectification. [Accessed 01 07 2022].

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Q&A
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