Half Wave Rectifier (HWR)
Concept: In half wave rectifier, the rectifier is on only during one half cycle of
the ac supply. So output is produced only in that half cycle. The output is
suppressed (zero) in the other half cycle. The conduction takes place only in one
half cycle of supply, hence the name of this circuit is half wave rectifier.
Circuit diagram :
Fig. 3.3.1
The circuit configuration of a half wave rectifier is as shown in Fig. 3.3.1 is the
input step down transformer. R(L) is the load resistance. The resistance of the
diode in the on state be R(F) and let the resistance of the secondary winding be
R(s).
Operation of the HWR :
Operation in the positive half cycle of ac supply (0- π):=
Fig 3.3.2
In the positive half cycle (0-π)of the ac supply, the secondary voltage VAB is
positive. i.e. A is positive with respect to B. Hence the diode is forward biased
and starts conducting.
The equivalent circuit of HWR for the positive half cycle is shown in Fig.
3.3.2. As the diode starts conducting, the secondary voltage V AB appears
almost as it is across the load resistance (as the voltage drop across a
conducting diode is very small).
The load voltage is thus positive and almost equal to the instantaneous
secondary voltage V AB.
The load current has the same shape as that of the load voltage since the
load is purely resistive. The waveforms for HWR are shown in Fig. 3.3.3(a).
The instantaneous load current i(L)is equal to the ratio of instantaneous
secondary voltage (VAB) and total resistance (RS + RF + R₁).
VAB
IL = ____________________
(RS + RF + R₁)
Operation in the negative half cycle of ac supply (π to 2 π):
Fig 3.3.3
Refer to the equivalent circuit shown in Fig. 3.3.3. In the negative half
cycle of the ac supply (л to 2π), secondary voltage V AB is negative, i.e. A
is negative with respect to B.
Hence the diode is reverse biased and offers a very high resistance.
Hence we can replace it by an open circuited switch.
The load is disconnected from the secondary. Hence the load voltage and
load current both are zero and the voltage across the diode is equal to
the instantaneous secondary voltage VAB .
The waveforms are shown in Fig. 3.3.4.
Why the name Half Wave Rectifier ?
This circuit is called as half wave rectifier because it delivers power to the
load during only one half cycle of the ac supply voltage.
Analysis of Half Wave Rectifier :
1) Average load current (IL dc).
2) Average load voltage (VL dc)
3) RMS load current (IL ms)
4) RMS load voltage (VL rms)
5) Ripple factor
6) Voltage regulation
7) Rectification efficiency and TUF.
Let the amplitude Vm>> Vv where Vv is the cutin voltage for the pn
diode. Hence we may assume that Vv = 0. Further let the diode be
idealized with resistance Rf in the ON state and open circuit (Rr = ∞) in
the OFF state. Then the current i through the diode and the load
resistance RL is given by,
for …..(2)
for …..(3)
Where
And the peak current Im is given by
.…(4)
Figure 2. shows the wave forms of voltage vi fed to the diode, current I
through the diode and the output voltage v0. Current I flows through
the diode and the load resistor RL. only during the positive half of the
applied input voltage vi. this load current I flowing through the load
resistor RL produces the rectifier output voltage vo.
1. Average or DC Current Idc | Half Wave Rectifier
Average or DC output current of half wave rectifier is given by
…..(5)
Where i is given by equation (2) and (3). Current i = 0 i.e. no current
flows during the period radians. Hence,
…..(6)
Or,
……(7)
