To construct a Full Wave Bridge rectifier and show that the
(AC) alternating current is rectified into a direct current (DC).
The aim is to -
1. Understand Rectification.
2. Explain center tapped full wave rectification.
3. Explain Bridge Full Wave Rectification.
Table of
CONTENTS
01 Introduction
02 Theory
03 Materials Required
04 Circuit Diagram
05 Procedure
06 Working
07 Observation & Results
08 Conclusion
09 Bibliography
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. Rectification
produces a type of DC that encompasses active voltages and currents,
which are then adjusted into a type of constant voltage DC, although this
varies depending on the current's end-use. The current is allowed to flow
uninterrupted in one direction, and no current is allowed to flow in the
opposite direction.
Physically, rectifiers take a number of forms, including vaccum tube diodes,
mercury-arc valves, copper and selenium oxide rectifiers, semiconductor
diodes, silicon-controlled rectifiers and other silicon-based semiconductor
switches.
Rectifier circuits may be single-phase or multi-phase. Most low power
rectifiers for domestic equipment are single-phase, but three-phase
rectification is very important for industrial applications and for the
transmission of energy as DC.
In half wave rectification, 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, it is very inefficient
if used for power transfer.
A full-wave rectifier is exactly the same as the half-wave, but allows
unidirectional current through the load during the entire sinusoidal
cycle (as opposed to only half the cycle in the half- wave). A full-
wave rectifier converts the whole of the input waveform to one of
constant polarity (positive or negative) at its output. Let us see our
half wave rectifier example and deduce the circuit. So, we have seen
that this rectifier circuit consists of two sources which have a phase
difference along with two diodes. When V1 is positive, V2 is negative.
Hence the top diode will be a short and the bottom diode will be an
open. On the other hand, when Vs1 is negative, Vs2 is positive. Hence
the bottom diode will be on and the top diode will be an open circuit.
A full-wave rectifier can be constructed using Center-Tapped
transformer - which give us two shifted sinusoids so that exactly one
of the waveforms is positive at one time and two diodes. As
compared to the half wave rectifier we use two diodes instead of
one, one of the two diodes remains in conduction in both of the half
cycles. At any point in time, only one of the diodes is forward biased.
This allows for continuous conduction through load.
Connecting Wires
A Plug
Single lead wire - 2m
Three Nuts & Bolts 2-3 cm length
Circuit board
A Transformer (12 V)
A Resistor
p-n junction diode (4 nos)
A LED
* Insulation Tape, Blades, Soldering Wax,
Soldering Iron, Soldering Lead & Sand
Paper
Curcuit Diagram
Take the transformer and attach it to one end of the circuit
board. Attach the plug with the wire of desired length and
connect it to the transformer AC. Now, take four diodes and
connect the 4 diodes into a loop. Connect the anode of diode D1
to the anode of D2.
Connect the cathode of D2 to anode of D3 connect the cathode
of D3 to anode of D4 and connect the anode of D4 to cathode of
D1. The output of transformers should be connected to A and C.
Now, take two capacitor and connect its -ve terminal to
negative and +ve terminal to +ve. And connect both the
capacitors to B and D. Connect a resistor and a LED to the
capacitor. Attach wire from the capacitors and connect it to
the output device.
When the AC is supplied to the transformer, it step down the 240V main
supply to 12V. It has a capability of delivering 700mA. The 12 volts AC
appearing across the secondary is the RMS value. The four diodes
labelled Di to D4 are arranged in "series pairs" with only two diodes
conducting current during each half cycle. The four diodes labelled D1 to
D4 are arranged in "series pairs" with only two diodes conducting current
during each half cycle. During the positive half cycle of the supply, diodes
D1 and D2 conduct in series while diodes D3 and D4 are reverse biased
and the current flows through the load as shown below.
The positive Half cycle
During the negative half cycle of the supply, diodes D3 and D4
conduct in series, but diodes D1 and D2 switch "OFF" as they are
now reverse biased. The current flowing through the load is the
same direction as before.
The negative Half cycle
In subsequent Half cycles of the AC Current the above process are
repeated. In both the half cycles it is clear that current flows
through the resistor in only one direction. Even though the voltage
across load is unidirectional it will still contains a few AC
components. This is filtered and made smooth using a capacitor,
which filters 99% of the AC current. A resistor is then used to
adjust the output voltage. Capacitor also nearly filters all AC
components from supply and resistance is adjusted for the
required output. As this is a simple circuit, two capacitors and one
resistor are being used. The output Direct Current and voltage
light up the LED and other source connected with it.
On connecting a voltmeter to the output of bridge circuit
12V current is coming.
Rectifiers are found in all power supplies that operate
from an ac voltage source. Also the rectifier is used as a
power supply unit. The rectifier converts the ac input
voltage to a pulsating de voltage. The filter eliminates the
fluctuations in the rectified voltage and produces a
relatively smooth de voltage. The regulator is a circuit
that maintains a constant voltage for variations in the
input line voltage or in the load.
Working of a rectifier
