EPC403: Power Electronics I

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Ahram Canadian University

Dr. Sayed Ahmed Zaki

Assistant Prof. in Electrical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
Cairo University
 5. Zener Diode
A Zener diode is a type of diode that permits current to flow in
the forward direction like a normal diode, but also in the
reverse direction if the voltage is larger than the breakdown
voltage known as "Zener knee voltage" or "Zener voltage".

A Zener diode exhibits almost the same properties of a normal

diode, except the device is specially designed so as to have a
greatly reduced breakdown voltage, ( Zener voltage).
This characteristic of the zener diode is very useful for voltage
regulation circuits.
 Zener Effect
By proper doping of the silicon, the “Zener Breakdown” can
be made to have a very “sharp breakdown”.
Zener break down: VD <= Vz:
VD = Vz, ID is determined by the circuit
 ZENER DIODE VOLTAGE-REGULATOR:
No Load

A voltage regulator circuit provides a nearly constant

voltage from a variable source.
Load-Line
The applied load to the circuit will normally have an
important impact on the point or region of operation of a
device. —►-
 Load-Line Analysis
The load line (the applied load) plots
all possible combinations of diode Characteristics (device)

current (ID) and voltage (Vd) for a

given circuit. The maximum I D Load lime (network)

equals E/R, and the maximum V D

equals E .

The point where the load line and the

characteristic curve intersect is the Q-
point, which identifies I D and V D for a
particular diode in a given circuit.

Quiescent point (abbreviated “Q-

pt.”) to reflect its “still, unmoving”
Series Diode Configurations

Forward Bias
Constants
• Silicon Diode: V D = 0.7 V
• Germanium Diode: V D = 0.3 V

Analysis (for silicon)

• V D = 0.7 V
• VR = E - VD
• ID = IR = IT = VR / R
Series Diode Configurations

Reverse Bias
Diodes ideally behave as open circuits

Analysis
• VD = E
• VR = 0 V
• In = 0 A
Half wave and full wave rectifier
Half-Wave Rectification (Pure resistive load)

The diode only conducts when it is forward biased, therefore only half of the AC
cycle passes through the diode to the output.

The DC output voltage is 0.318 Vm, where Vm = the peak AC voltage.

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PIV (PRV)
Because the diode is only forward biased for one-half of the AC
cycle, it is also reverse biased for one-half cycle.

It is important that the reverse breakdown voltage rating of the

diode be high enough to withstand the peak, reverse-biasing AC
voltage without entering the zener region.

PIV (or PRV) > Vm

• PIV = Peak inverse voltage
• PRV = Peak reverse voltage
• Vm = Peak AC voltage

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Half-Wave Rectification (Pure resistive load)
Half-Wave Rectification Pure resistive (R-load)
Half-Wave Rectification (Resistive-inductive (R-L) load)
Half-Wave Rectification (Resistive-inductive (R-L) load)
Half-Wave Rectification (Resistive-inductive (R-L) load)
Half-Wave Rectification (Resistive-inductive (R-L) load)
Half-Wave Rectification (Resistive-inductive (R-L) load)
Half-Wave Rectification (Resistive-inductive (R-L) load)