CHAPTER 2:

AC TO DC CONVERTERS
(RECTIFIER)

FREEWHEELING DIODE

Norazila jaalam
2.14 Freewheeling diode (FWD)
• A FWD, can be connected across an RL load to make
the load (output) current continuous (the load (output) current of
half-wave rectifier with R-load is NOT CONTINUOUS)
• but both diodes cannot be forward-biased at the same
time.
• Meaning that one diode must be RB
• Diode D1 will be on when the source is positive, and
diode D2 will be on when the source is negative.

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2.14 Freewheeling diode (FWD)

For a positive cycle of vs

● D1 is ON, D2 is OFF
● vo = vs

For a negative cycle of vs

● D1 is OFF, D2 is ON
● vo = 0
● the inductor de-energize which produces
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2.14 Freewheeling diode (FWD)
vo D1 ON

D2 ON
wt
io

wt

iD1

wt
iD2

wt 4
2.14 Freewheeling diode (FWD)
 Load power can be determined from I2rmsR and rms
current is determined from the Fourier components of
current. The amplitude of the ac current components are
determined from phasor analysis:

 Where the Fourier series for the voltage across the load
is given by:

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 Example:
 For the circuit shown below, determine the average load voltage and
average load current. Then, determine the power absorbed by the
resistor if R = 2Ω, L = 25mH, Vm = 100V, f = 60Hz.