1

Power Electronics
Lecture 2:
Uncontrolled AC to DC Converters
(Diode Rectifiers)

Lecturer: Dr. S. M. Muyeen

Semester 1, 2019
Curtin University, Perth, Australia

Slides by Dr. Pooya Davari, Dr. Mahdi Dargahi k., and Dr. S. M. Muyeen
Power Electronics Lecture 1
2
Power Electronics Lecture 1
3

Text, figures and tables in this presentation are from –

1. Muhammad Rashid, Power Electronics: Circuits, Devices and Applications, 4th ed., Pearson,
2014
(http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/product/Power-Electronics-Circuits-Devices-
Applications/9780133125900.page)
(ISBN/ISSN: 0133125904)

2. Ned Mohan, Tore Undeland and William Robbins, Power Electronics: Converters, Applications,
and Design, 3rd
ed., Wiley, 2002 (http://au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471226939.html)
(ISBN/ISSN: 978-0-471-22693-2)

Other references:
1. Ned Mohan, Power Electronics: A First Course, Wiley, 2012
(http://au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTit
Power Electronics Lecture 2
4

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Introduction

1- Single phase half-wave diode rectifier

2- Battery charger

3- Single phase full wave diode rectifier

4-Multiphase half-wave rectifier

5-Three-phase full wave bridge rectifier

Power Electronics Lecture 2
5

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Block Diagram

AC

DC

 Uncontrolled utility interface (ac to dc)

Power Electronics Lecture 2
6

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Main issues in diode rectifiers

AC

DC
Resistive
Single-phase
Inductive

Resistive-inductive
Three-phase
Power Electronics Lecture 2
7

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase half-wave diode rectifier (R load)
Power Electronics Lecture 2
8

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase half-wave diode rectifier (R load)

Example: Find average and rms values

of the output voltage and FF, RF and PF
for the following circuit:

Note: Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV) or Peak Reverse

Voltage (PRV) refer to the maximum voltage a
diode or other device can withstand in the
reverse-biased direction before breakdown.
Power Electronics Lecture 2
9

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase half-wave diode rectifier (R load)

The average output voltage Vdc is defined as:

𝜋
1
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = 𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑑𝜔𝑡
2𝜋 0

𝜋
𝑉𝑚
= sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑑𝜔𝑡
2𝜋 0

𝑉𝑚 𝜋
= −cos(𝜔𝑡)
2𝜋 0
2𝑉𝑚
=
2𝜋
𝑉
= 𝜋𝑚
=0.318𝑉𝑚
Power Electronics Lecture 2
10

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase half-wave diode rectifier (R load)
The rms (root mean square) value of a periodic waveform is defined as:

𝑇
1
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 𝑣02 𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑇 0

1 𝜋 2 𝜋
𝑉𝑚
𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = (𝑉 sin 𝜔𝑡 )2 𝑑𝜔𝑡= 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 (𝜔𝑡) 𝑑𝜔𝑡
2𝜋 0 𝑚 2𝜋 0

2 𝜋
𝑉𝑚 2 𝜋
𝑉𝑚
= 2𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 (𝜔𝑡) 𝑑𝜔𝑡= (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝜔𝑡 ) 𝑑𝜔𝑡
4𝜋 0 4𝜋 0

2
𝑉𝑚 2
𝑉𝑚
𝜋
= t − sin2(𝜔𝑡) 0
= 𝜋 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜋 − (0 − sin 0)
4𝜋 4𝜋

2
𝑉𝑚 𝑉𝑚2𝜋
= 𝜋 − 0 − (0 − 0 =
4𝜋 4𝜋

𝑉
= 2𝑚
=0.5𝑉𝑚
Power Electronics Lecture 2
11

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase half-wave diode rectifier (R load)
The form factor (FF) is defined as the ratio of the root-mean- square value (heating
component) of a voltage or current to its average value:

𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝐼𝑟𝑚𝑠
𝐹𝐹 = 𝑜𝑟
𝑉𝑑𝑐 𝐼𝑑𝑐
The ripple factor (RF), which is a measure of the ripple content, is defined as:

where Vac is the effective (rms) value of the ac component of load voltage vo.
𝑉𝑎𝑐
𝑅𝐹 =
𝑉𝑑𝑐

𝑉𝑎𝑐 = 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 2 − 𝑉𝑑𝑐 2

The Transformer utilization factor (TUF) is defined as

P
TU𝐹 = V dcI
s s
Where, Vs and Is are the rms voltage and current of the transformer secondary, respectively.
Power Electronics Lecture 2
12

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase half-wave diode rectifier (R load)
If  is the angle between the fundamental components of input current and voltage,  is
called displacement angle, the Displacement factor (DF) is defined as:

D𝐹 = cos 
The Harmonic factor (HF) of the input current is defined as
𝐼𝑠2 −𝐼𝑠1
2 𝐼𝑠 2
𝐻𝐹 = 2 = −1
𝐼𝑠1 𝐼𝑠1

Where, Is1 is the fundamental component of input current Is1 (rms value).

The Crest factor (CF), which is a measure of the peak input current, Is(peak), as compared with its
rms value Is, is often of interest to specify the peak current ratings of devices, is defined as:
Is(peak)
C𝐹 = Is
The input Power factor (PF) is defined as
VI
P𝐹 = Vs Is1 cos 
s s
Pac
For a resistive load, it can be written as, P𝐹 =
VsIs
Power Electronics Lecture 2
13

DIODE RECTIFIERS
How can we calculate the Power Factor (PF)?

vs(t)
is(t) is(t)
a
Linear
vs(t) 2𝜋
System
𝜃 𝜋
b
Power Electronics Lecture 2
14

DIODE RECTIFIERS
How can we calculate the Power Factor (PF)?

vs(t)
is(t) is(t)
a
Nonlinear
vs(t)
System
b
Power Electronics Lecture 2
15

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase half-wave diode rectifier (R load)

Rectification efficiency:
(0.318V ) 2

P 
dc
m

R
𝑃𝑑𝑐 (0.5V ) 2

𝜂= P  m

𝑃𝑎𝑐
ac
R
(0.318V ) 2

 m
 40.5%
(0.5V )
m
2

Power factor:

𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑎𝑐 0.52

𝑃𝐹 = = = = 0.707
𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑉𝐴 0.707 × 0.5
Power Electronics Lecture 2
16

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase half-wave diode rectifier (R load)
Diode voltage drop

The conduction angle 𝜃c is that part of the

cycle during which the diode is
conducting
Power Electronics Lecture 2
17

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase half-wave diode rectifier (R-L load)

Current continues to flows for a

while even after the input voltage
has gone negative

Due to the presence of inductor, the

conduction period of diode will
extend beyond 180°, until the
current becomes zero.
Power Electronics Lecture 2
18

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase half-wave diode rectifier (R-L load)

Example: Find the average output

voltage of the following circuit assuming
the conduction angle of  degree:
Power Electronics Lecture 2
19

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase half-wave diode rectifier (R-L load)

𝜋+𝜎
1
𝑉𝑑𝑐 = 𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑑𝜔𝑡
2𝜋 0

𝜋+𝜎
𝑉𝑚
= sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑑𝜔𝑡
2𝜋 0

𝑉𝑚 𝜋+𝜎
= −cos(𝜔𝑡)
2𝜋 0
𝑉𝑚
= 1 − cos(𝜋 + 𝜎)
2𝜋
Power Electronics Lecture 2
20

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase half-wave diode rectifier (R-L load)

 Compare the load current

waveform with the one in the
previous circuit. (without free-
wheeling diode)

 Average output voltage depends on

the load parameters.
Power Electronics Lecture 2
21

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Battery charger with a resistive current limiter
R D1
Diode D1 is turned on when vs >E at

Diode D1 is turned off when vs < E at

Power Electronics Lecture 2
22

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Battery charger with an inductive current limiter

• Current begins to flow when the

input voltage exceeds Ed.
• Current continues to flows for a
while even after the input voltage has
gone below Ed.
Power Electronics Lecture 2
23

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase full-wave diode rectifier with center-tapped transformer,
(R load)

- +
Power Electronics Lecture 2
24

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase full-wave diode rectifier with center-tapped transformer,
(R load)
The average output is: The rms value of the output voltage is:
𝜋
1 1 𝜋 𝑉𝑚2 𝜋
𝑉𝑑𝑐 =2 𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑑𝜔𝑡 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 = 2 2𝜋 0 (𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡 )2 𝑑𝜔𝑡= 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 (𝜔𝑡) 𝑑𝜔𝑡
2𝜋 𝜋 0
0
2 𝜋
𝑉𝑚 2 𝜋
𝑉𝑚
𝜋 2 (𝜔𝑡) 𝑑𝜔𝑡=
𝑉𝑚 = 2𝑠𝑖𝑛 (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝜔𝑡 ) 𝑑𝜔𝑡
= sin 𝜔𝑡 𝑑𝜔𝑡 2𝜋 0 2𝜋 0
𝜋 0
2
𝑉𝑚 2
𝑉𝑚
𝜋
= t − sin2(𝜔𝑡) 0
= 𝜋 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜋 − (0 − sin 0)
𝑉𝑚 𝜋 2𝜋 2𝜋
= −cos(𝜔𝑡)
𝜋 0 2 2𝜋
𝑉𝑚 𝑉𝑚
2𝑉𝑚 = 𝜋 − 0 − (0 − 0 =
2𝜋 2𝜋
=
𝜋
𝑉𝑚
=0.636𝑉𝑚 =
2
=0.707𝑉𝑚
Power Electronics Lecture 2
25

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase full-wave diode rectifier with center-tapped transformer,
(R load)

Full-wave half-wave
Rectification efficiency:
0.636𝑉𝑚 2 (0.318V ) 2

𝑃𝑑𝑐 = P 
𝑅
m
dc

𝑃𝑑𝑐 R
0.707𝑉𝑚 2
𝜂= 𝑃𝑎𝑐 = (0.5V ) 2

𝑃𝑎𝑐 𝑅 P 
ac
m

R
2
0.636𝑉𝑚 (0.318V ) 2

𝜂= 2
= 81%   40.5%
m

0.707𝑉𝑚 (0.5V ) 2

Power factor:

𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑎𝑐

𝑃𝐹 = = =1 𝑃𝐹 = 0.707
𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑉𝐴
Power Electronics Lecture 2
26

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase full-wave diode bridge rectifier

Two simple (idealized) cases (pure resistive and inductive loads)

Power Electronics Lecture 2
27

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase full-wave diode bridge rectifier

Output voltage and current waveforms with a purely resistive load

Power Electronics Lecture 2
28

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase full-wave diode bridge rectifier
Output voltage and current waveforms with a purely inductive load

• In both cases, the dc-side voltage waveform is the same

Power Electronics Lecture 2
29

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Single phase full-wave diode bridge rectifier

Input current in the idealized case

Power Electronics Lecture 2
30

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Design of filter to limit the ripple in a single phase bridge rectifier
Draw vo here
D1 D3
Full Rectified
+
vs C Vo

-
D2 D4

vs(t)
• If the instantaneous supply voltage, vs
Draw iS here
is higher than the instantaneous
capacitor voltage, vc, the diodes (D1, D4
or D2, D3) conduct; and the capacitor, C
is then charged from the supply.
• If the instantaneous supply voltage, vs
falls below the instantaneous
capacitor voltage, vc, the diodes (D1, D4
or D2, D3) are reverse biased and the
capacitor, C discharges through the
load resistance R.
Power Electronics Lecture 2
31

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Design of filter to limit the ripple in a single phase bridge rectifier

Full Rectified Vo
Vr(pp)

• The ripple
frequency, fr is
double than
the system
frequency. vs(t)

In practice, if the peak-to-peak ripple voltage is small, it can be approximated as:

The output dc voltage,

The rms output ripple voltage,

𝑉𝑎𝑐
The ripple factor, 𝑅𝐹 = 1
𝑉𝑑𝑐
Power Electronics Lecture 2
32

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Design of filter to limit the ripple in a single phase bridge rectifier

Full Rectified
Vo
D1 D3
+
vs C Vo

-
D2 D4
is(t)
vs(t)

𝑘𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡 =0.46
𝑘𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝 =0.9659

𝑃𝐹 =0.44

Typical harmonic content for a

full-bridge rectifier
Power Electronics Lecture 2
33

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Example of applying passive PFC (power factor correction) filter
64

Rectifier with AC-side inductor

Amplitude (A)
is(t) D1 D3 0

+
vs C Vo

-
D2 D4 15

-64

is(t)
La D1 D3

Amplitude (A)
+
0
vs C Vo

-
D2 D4

-15
Power Electronics Lecture 2
34

DIODE RECTIFIERS
A three-phase, four-wire system
Power Electronics Lecture 2
35

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Multiphase Star Rectifier
Power Electronics Lecture 2
36

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Multiphase Star Rectifier

V1 has the highest magnitude

compared to the other phases.
Thus during this period D1
conducts and the rest of diodes
are reverse biased.

DC value of the output voltage for the

case of 6-phase star rectifier:
Power Electronics Lecture 2
37

DIODE RECTIFIERS
Multiphase Star Rectifier

V2 >V1 and other phases, thus

during this period, D1 is turned
off and D2 is turned on.

RMS value of the output voltage for the

case of 6-phase star rectifier:
Power Electronics Lecture 2
38

DIODE RECTIFIERS
A three-phase half-wave rectifier with pure inductive load

When D1 is off, VD=V1-V2 or V1-V3

which is a line voltage
Power Electronics Lecture 2
39

DIODE RECTIFIERS
A three-phase, full-bridge rectifier with resistive load
Power Electronics Lecture 2
40

DIODE RECTIFIERS
A three-phase, full-bridge rectifier with resistive load
Power Electronics Lecture 2
41

DIODE RECTIFIERS
A three-phase, full-bridge rectifier with resistive load
Power Electronics Lecture 2
42

DIODE RECTIFIERS
A three-phase, full-bridge rectifier with resistive load
Power Electronics Lecture 2
43

DIODE RECTIFIERS
A three-phase, full-bridge rectifier with resistive load
Power Electronics Lecture 2
44

DIODE RECTIFIERS
A three-phase, full-bridge rectifier with resistive load
Power Electronics Lecture 2
45

DIODE RECTIFIERS
A three-phase, full-bridge rectifier with resistive load
Power Electronics Lecture 2
46

DIODE RECTIFIERS
A three-phase, full-bridge rectifier with resistive load