Project Report on Full Wave Rectifier

INTRODUCTION

Although in our daily life we use A.C. current devices. But rectifier is a

‘Electronic device which converts A.C. power into D.C. power’.

The study of the junction diode characteristics reveals that

the junction diode offers a low resistance path, when forward biased, and a

high resistance path, when reverse biased. This feature of the junction

diode enables it to be used as a rectifier.

The alternating signals provides opposite kind of biased

voltage at the junction after each half-cycle. If the junction is forward

biased in the first half-cycle, its gets reverse biased in the second half. It

results in the flow of forward current in one direction only and thus the

signal gets rectified.

In other words, we can say, when an alternating e.m.f.

signal is applied across a junction diode, it will conduct only during those

alternate half cycles, which biased it in forward direction.

Mainly we have two types of rectifier :

1. Full wave rectifier.

“A rectifier which rectifies both waves of the a.c. input is called a

full wave rectifier”.

Diode Currents

Consider the current path in the diode bridge rectifier. In the positive

half cycle of Vin, diodes D4 and D3 will conduct. During the

negative half cycle, diodes D2 and D1 will conduct. As a result, the

load will pass current in the same direction in each half cycle of the

input.

Design Concerns

• Reverse current does not exceed the breakdown value

• Power dissipation limit P = Vd Id is not exceeded

Diode Voltages

• Forward Bias

o If we consider a simple, piece-wise linear model for the diode

IV curve, the diode forward current is zero until Vbias >=

Vthreshold, where Vthreshold is 0.6 V to 0.8 V. The current

increases abruptly as Vbias increases further. Due to this turn-on or

should expect a 0.6 to 0.8 V voltage drop across each forward

biased diode in the rectifier bridge. In the case of the full wave

rectifier diode bridge, there are two forward biased diodes in series

with the load in each half cycle of the input signal.

o The maximum output voltage (across load) will be Vin - 2

Vthreshold, or ~ Vin - 1.4 V.

o Since some current does flow for voltage bias below

Vthreshold and the current rise around is Vthreshold is more

gradual than the piece-wise model, the actual diode performance

will differ from the simple model.

• Reverse Bias

o In reverse bias (and neglecting reverse voltage breakdown),

the current through the diode is approximately the reverse

saturation current, Io. The voltage across the load during reverse

bias will be Vout = Io Rload.

o In specifying a diode for use in a circuit, you must take care

that the limits for forward and reverse voltage and current are not

exceeded.
Principle :- It is based upon the principle that a junction diode offers

low resistance during forward biased and high resistance, when reverse

biased.

Diagram

Difference from half-wave-rectifier :- The main difference is that

in full wave rectifier we use two diodes. For this when we apply a.c.

current to the rectifier then the first half wave get forward biased due to

first diode. And when the second half wave comes. Then at that time the
second diode comes in action and gets forward biased. Thus output

obtained during both the half cycles of the a.c. input

Arrangement :- The a.c. supply is applied across the primary coil(P) of a

step down transformer. The two diodes of the secondary coil(S) of the

transformer are connected to the P-sections of the junction diodes (D1) and

(D2). A load resistance (RL) is connected across the n-sections of the two

diodes and at centre of the secondary coil. The d.c. output will be obtained

across the load resistance (RL).

Theory :-

Suppose that during first half of the input cycle, upper end of (S)

coil is at positive potential. And lower end is at negative potential. The

junction diode (D1) gets forward biased, while the diode. (D2) get reverse

biased. When the second half of the input cycle comes, the situation will

be exactly reverse. Now the junction diode (D2) will conduct. Since the

current during both the half cycles flows from right to left through the load

resistance (RL) the output during both the half cycles will be of same

nature.
 Thus, in a full wave rectifier, the output is continuous but pulsating

in nature. However it can be made smooth by using a filter circuit.

A P-n junction is said to be reverse biased if the positive terminal

of the external battery B is connected to n-side and the negative terminal to

p-side of the p-n junction. In reverse biasing, the reverse bias voltage

supports the potential barrier VB. (Now the majority carriers are pulled

away from the junction and the depletion region become thick. There is

no conduction across the junction due to majority carriers. However, a

few minority carriers (holes in n-section and electrons in p-section) of p-n

Junction diode cross the junction after being accelerated by high reverse

bias voltage. Since the large increase in reverse voltage shows small

increase in reverse current, hence, the resistance of p-n junction is high to

the flow of current when reverse biased.

1. Transformer :

It is device which is used to increase or decrease the

alternating current and alternating voltage. For the rectifier, it may be step

down or step up.

2. Junction Diode :

It is made up of p-type and n-type semiconductor which

conducts when the p terminal of diode to connect to positive terminal of

battery and n region is connected to negative terminal of battery i.e. during

forward biased and does not conduct during reverse biased.