Al-Esraa University College Power Electronics

Medical Instrumentation Chapter 2

Technical Engineering
Dr. Alabbas A. Al-Azzawi
Third Year

4. In a single-phase full-wave bridge uncontrolled rectifier, the diodes have a

reverse recovery time of 40 𝜇𝑠. If the ac input voltage is 230 V, determine the
effect of reverse recovery time on the average output voltage for a supply
frequency of (a) 50 Hz and (b) 2.5 kHz.

5. A single-phase full-wave bridge diode rectifier is supplied from 230 V, 50 Hz

source. If the load is highly inductive with a resistance of R = 10. Sketch
𝑣𝑖𝑛 , 𝑣𝑜 , 𝑣𝐷2 , 𝑣𝐷3 , 𝑖𝑜 and 𝑖𝑠 waveforms, and then determine:

(a) The average values of output voltage and output current.

(b) The average and RMS values of diode current.
(c) The ripple factor.

2.4 Three-Phase Half-Wave Uncontrolled Rectifier

A basic three-phase half-wave uncontrolled rectifier circuit with resistive load is shown
in Figure 2.11. The rectifier is fed from an ideal 3-phase supply through delta-star
transformer.

The diode in a particular phase conducts during the period when the voltage on that
phase is higher than that on the other two phases. For example: from π/6 to 5π/6, D1 has
a more positive voltage at its anode, in this period D2 and D3 are off. The neutral wire
provides a return path to the load current.

Unlike the single-phase rectifier circuit, the conduction angle of each diode is 2π/3,
instead of π. The voltage and current waveforms on resistive load and the voltage and
current waveforms on D1 are shown in Figure 2.12.

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Al-Esraa University College Power Electronics
Medical Instrumentation Chapter 2
Technical Engineering
Dr. Alabbas A. Al-Azzawi
Third Year

Figure 2.11: A three-phase half-wave uncontrolled rectifier with resistive load.

Figure 2.12: The waveforms of the three-phase half-wave uncontrolled rectifier with a
resistive load.

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Al-Esraa University College Power Electronics
Medical Instrumentation Chapter 2
Technical Engineering
Dr. Alabbas A. Al-Azzawi
Third Year

𝑽𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒆 = √𝟑 𝑽𝑷𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆

The average value of the load voltage:

5𝜋/6
3
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) = ∫ 𝑉𝑚 sin(𝑤𝑡 ) 𝑑𝑤𝑡
2𝜋
𝜋/6

𝟑√𝟑 𝑽𝒎(𝑷𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆)
𝑽𝑫𝑪(𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅) =
𝟐𝝅

The average value of the load current:

𝑽𝑫𝑪
𝑰𝑫𝑪(𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅) =
𝑹

𝟑√𝟑 𝑽𝒎(𝑷𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆)
𝑰𝑫𝑪(𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅) =
𝟐𝝅𝑹

The rms value of the output voltage and current:

5𝜋/6
3
𝑉𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) = √ ∫ [𝑉𝑚 sin(𝑤𝑡 )]2 𝑑𝑤𝑡 = 0.84𝑉𝑚(𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒)
2𝜋
𝜋/6

𝑉𝑅𝑀𝑆
𝐼𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) =
𝑅

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Al-Esraa University College Power Electronics
Medical Instrumentation Chapter 2
Technical Engineering
Dr. Alabbas A. Al-Azzawi
Third Year

Adding an inductance in series with the load resistance changes the current waveform.
If L is much higher than R (L>>>R), the load time constant L/R is very high and can be
considered infinity. Consequently, the load current is assumed constant as shown by the
waveforms in Figure 2.13.

Figure 2.13: The current waveforms of the three-phase half-wave uncontrolled rectifier
loaded with highly inductive load.

Example 5: Power is supplied to heavily inductive load from a three-phase

supply, using a three-phase half-wave rectifier. If the supply phase voltage is 220
V and the resistance of the load is 100 Ω, determine the DC load voltage and
current. Then,

(a) Sketch the output load voltage waveform.

(b) Sketch D1 current waveform.

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Al-Esraa University College Power Electronics
Medical Instrumentation Chapter 2
Technical Engineering
Dr. Alabbas A. Al-Azzawi
Third Year

Solution:

𝑉𝑠,𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒) = 220 𝑉, 𝑅 = 100 𝛺, 𝐿 ≫ 𝑅

3√3 𝑉𝑚(𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒)
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) = , 𝑉𝑚(𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒) = 220√2
2𝜋

(3√3)(220√2)
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) = = 257.4 𝑉
2𝜋

𝑉𝐷𝐶
𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) =
𝑅

257.4
𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) = = 2.6 𝐴
100

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Al-Esraa University College Power Electronics
Medical Instrumentation Chapter 2
Technical Engineering
Dr. Alabbas A. Al-Azzawi
Third Year

2.5 Three-Phase Full-Wave (Bridge) Uncontrolled Rectifier

A basic three-phase Full-wave uncontrolled rectifier circuit is shown in Figure 2.14. The
rectifier is fed from an ideal 3-phase supply through delta-star transformer. The principle
of operation of this rectifier can be explained as follows:

• Each three-phase line connects between pair of diodes. One to route power to
positive (+) side of load, and other to route power to negative (-) side of load.

• Only one diode in the top half of the bridge may conduct at one time (D1, D3, or
D5). The diode that is conducting will have its anode connected to the phase
voltage that is highest at that instant.

• Only one diode in the bottom half of the bridge may conduct at one time (D2,
D4, or D6). The diode that is conducting will have its cathode connected to the
phase voltage that is lowest at that instant.

• There are six combinations of line-to-line voltages (three phases taken two at a
time). Considering one period of the source to be 2𝜋, a transition of the highest
line-to-line voltage must take place every 2π/6 = π/3. Because of the six
transitions that occur for each period of the source voltage, the circuit is called a
six-pulse rectifier.

Figure 2.14: A three-phase full-wave uncontrolled rectifier.

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Al-Esraa University College Power Electronics
Medical Instrumentation Chapter 2
Technical Engineering
Dr. Alabbas A. Al-Azzawi
Third Year

Similar to the three-phase rectifier circuit, the conduction angle of each diode is 2π/3. If
L is much higher than R (L>>>R), the load time constant L/R is very high and can be
considered infinity. Consequently, the load current is assumed constant. The current and
voltage waveforms of the three-phase full-wave uncontrolled rectifier loaded with
highly inductive load are shown in Figure 2.15.

Figure 2.15: The current and voltage waveforms of the three-phase full-wave
uncontrolled rectifier loaded with highly inductive load.

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Al-Esraa University College Power Electronics
Medical Instrumentation Chapter 2
Technical Engineering
Dr. Alabbas A. Al-Azzawi
Third Year

The average value of the load voltage:

𝜋/2 2𝜋/3
3 𝜋 3
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) = ∫ √3 𝑉𝑚 sin (𝑤𝑡 + ) 𝑑𝑤𝑡 = ∫ √3 𝑉𝑚 sin(𝑤𝑡 ) 𝑑𝑤𝑡
𝜋 6 𝜋
𝜋/6 𝜋/3

𝟑√𝟑 𝑽𝒎(𝑷𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆)
𝑽𝑫𝑪(𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅) =
𝝅

The average value of the load current:

𝑽𝑫𝑪
𝑰𝑫𝑪(𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅) =
𝑹

𝟑√𝟑 𝑽𝒎(𝑷𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆)
𝑰𝑫𝑪(𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅) =
𝝅𝑹

The rms value of the output voltage and current:

5𝜋/6
3 𝜋 2
𝑉𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) = √ ∫ [√3 𝑉𝑚 sin (𝑤𝑡 + )] 𝑑𝑤𝑡 = 1.655𝑉𝑚(𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒)
2𝜋 6
𝜋/6

𝐼𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) = 𝐼𝐷𝐶

Example 6: Power is supplied to heavily inductive load from a three-phase supply,

using a three-phase bridge rectifier. If the supply phase voltage is 220 V and the
resistance of the load is 10 Ω, determine the DC load voltage and current. Then, sketch
the output load voltage, the load current, and D4 current waveforms.

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Al-Esraa University College Power Electronics
Medical Instrumentation Chapter 2
Technical Engineering
Dr. Alabbas A. Al-Azzawi
Third Year

Solution:

𝑉𝑠,𝑅𝑀𝑆(𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒) = 220 𝑉, 𝑅 = 10 𝛺, 𝐿 ≫ 𝑅

3√3 𝑉𝑚(𝑃ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒)
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) = , 𝑉𝑚(𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒) = 220√2
2𝜋

(3√3)(220√2)
𝑉𝐷𝐶(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) = = 514.9 𝑉
𝜋

𝑉𝐷𝐶
𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) =
𝑅

514.9
𝐼𝐷𝐶(𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑) = = 51.5 𝐴
10

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Al-Esraa University College Power Electronics
Medical Instrumentation Chapter 2
Technical Engineering
Dr. Alabbas A. Al-Azzawi
Third Year

Assignment 3

1. A heavily inductive load of R = 5 Ω is to be supplied with a DC voltage of 200

V, using three-phase bridge rectifier. Calculate:

(a) The DC load current.

(b) The RMS current of any diode.
(c) The transformer secondary phase current.
(d) The transformer secondary line voltage.
(e) PRV of any diode.

2. Repeat Q1 above if the rectifier is three-phase half-wave type.

2.6 Single-Phase Half-Wave Controlled Rectifier

A way to control the output of a single-phase half-wave rectifier is to use a thyristor

instead of a diode. A basic single-phase half-wave controlled rectifier with a resistive
load is shown in Figure 2.16.

During the positive half cycle of the input voltage, thyristor T1 is forward biased and
current flows through the load when the thyristor is fired (at 𝑤𝑡 = 𝛼). The thyristor
conducts only when the anode is positive with respect to cathode (forward biased), and
a positive pulse signal is applied to the gate, otherwise, it remains in the forward
blocking state and blocks the flow of the load current.

In the negative half cycle (i.e., at 𝑤𝑡 = 𝜋 − 2𝜋), the thyristor is in the reverse biased
condition and no current flows through the load. Thus, varying the firing angle at which
the thyristor starts conducting in positive half cycle controls the average DC output
voltage. The voltage and current waveforms on resistive load and the voltage waveform
on the thyristor are shown in Figure 2.17.

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