CH.

Full-wave and Threephase rectifiers

(Converting AC to DC)

4-1 Introduction

The average current in AC source is zero

in the
full-wave rectifier, thus avoiding
problems
associated with nonzero average
source currents,
particularly in transformers.
The output of the full-wave rectifier has inherently
less ripple than the half-wave rectifier.
Uncontrolled and controlled single-phase and threephase full-wave converters used as
rectifiers are
analyzed.

4-2

Single-phase full-wave rectifiers

Fig. 4-1 Bridge

rectifier

The lower peak diode voltage

for high-voltage applications.

make it

more

suitable

Fig. 4-2 center-tapped

rectifier

transformer

With electrical isolation, only

one diode voltage drop between
the source and load, suitable for
low-voltage, high-current applications

Resistive

load

Vm sin wt ,0 wt
v0 ( wt )

Vm sin wt , wt 2
Vo

Io Vo

Vm sin(wt )d ( wt ) 2Vm

2 Vm

Irms Im

(R)

power absorbed by the load resistor

PR I 2 rmsR
power

factor Pf=1

R-L load

Fig.4-3


v ( wt ) Vo
Vn cos( nwt )
0
n2,4,
Vo 2Vm

Io Vo

Vn

2Vm 1
1

n 1 n 1

In Vn
R

Zn

Vn
| R jnwL |

If L is relatively large, the load current is essentially

dc.
( L >> R )
Vo 2Vm

R
R for L >> R

Irms Io
Source harmonics are rich in the
Filtersreducing the harmonics.
i( wt ) Io

odd-numbered harmonics.

R-L source load

Fig.4-5

For continuous current operation, the only modification to

the analysis that was done for R-L load is in the dc
term of the Fourier series .The dc component of current
in this circuit is.

2Vm

Vdc

Vo Vdc

Io

R
R

The sinusoidal terms in the Fourier analysis

are unchanged by the dc source, provided
that the current is continuous.
Discontinuous current is analyzed like
section 3-5.

Capacitance

output filter:

Fig.

4-6

Assuming ideal diodes

, one diode pair on

| Vm sin wt |
v0 ( wt )
( wt ) /( wRc )
, diodes off
Vm sin e

the angle where the diodes become reverse biased,

which is the same as for the half-wave rectifier
and is

Tan 1 ( RC ) Tan 1 ( RC )

wt
Vm sin e ( ) /( RC ) Vm sin( )

(sin )e ( ) /( RC ) sin 0

solved numerically for

Peak-to-peak variation(ripple)

Vo Vm | Vmsin( ) | Vm(1 sin )

In practical circuits where

2
,

minimal

RC

wt

output voltage occurs at

v0 ( ) Vm e

( ) /( RC )
2 2

Vm e /( RC )

Vo Vm Vm e /( RC ) Vm 1 e /( RC )


Vm1 1

RC
Vm
Vm

RC 2 fRC

x x2 x3
e 1

...
1 2 3
w 2f
x

is half that of the half-wave rectifier.

Fig. 4-7

(a) Voltage doubler

Fig. 4-7

(b) Dual voltage rectifier

=full-wave rectifier(sw. open)+
voltage doubler(sw. closed)

L-C filtered output Fig.4-8

C holds the output voltage at a constant level, and the L
smoothes the current from rectifier and reduces the peak
current in diodes.

Continuous
Current

Vx Vo 2Vm

I L I R Vo

2Vm

VL =0 , full-wave rectified

, Ic 0

(R)

i L can be estimate from the first

The variation in
Ac term (n=2) in the Fourier series.
The amplitude of the inductor current for n=2 is
I2

where

V2
V
4Vm / 3 2Vm
2

Z 2 2 L
2 L
3 L

Vn

2Vm 1
1

, n2
n 1 n 1

For Continuous current,

2Vm 2Vm

3 L
R

R
L
3

I2 IL

3L
1
R

Discontinuous current

When

iL

,
is positive
(

Vm sin wt Vo

at

wt )

Vo
sin

Vm
1

vL Vm sin wt Vo
1 wt
Vm sin wt Vod (wt )
iL ( wt )

L
1
Vm(cos cos wt ) Vowt

L
for wt , ,
iL ( ) 0 , ?

Procedure for determining Vo

(1) Estimate a
(2) Solve

Value

for Vo slightly below Vm, and solve

i L ( ) 0 Vm(cos cos ) Vo( )

numerically,

(3) Solve

1
I L i L ( wt )d ( wt )

1 1
Vm(cos cos wt ) Vo( wt )d ( wt )

(4) Slove

Vo=

ILR

(5) Repeat step (1)~(4) until the computed

equals the estimated Vo in step(1)
Output Voltage for discontinuous current
for continuous current.(see Fig4-8(d))

Vo in step(4)

is

larger

than

4-3

controlled full-wave rectifiers

Resistive

load

Fig.4-10

1
Vo Vm sin( wt )d ( wt )

Vm

( 1 cos )

Io

I rms

delay angle

Vo Vm

(1 cos )
R R

Vm
2

(
sin
wt
)
d ( wt )
R

Vm 1 sin(2 )

R 2 2
4

The power delivered to the load

P I 2 rmsR

The rms current in source is the same as the rms

the load.

current in

R-L

load : Fig.4-11

discontinuous current :

Vm
io ( wt )
sin( t ) sin( )e ( t ) /( )
Z

for

Z R 2 ( L ) 2
tan 1 (

L
)
R

, L

For discontinuous current

Analysis of the controlled full-wave rectifier operating in the

discontinuous current mode is identical to that of the controlled
half-wave rectifier, except that the period for the output current
is .

continuous current
wt

, i( ) 0

sin( ) sin( )e ( ) /( )

sin( ) 1 e /( )
sin( - ) 0
( - ) 0

Tan (
-1

v0 ( wt ) Vo Vn cos(nwt n)
n 1

Vo

R
for continuous current

Vm sin wt d ( wt )

Vn an bn
2

n Tan-1 (

bn
)
an

2Vm

cos

an

2Vm cos(n 1) cos(n 1)

n 1
n 1

bn

2Vm sin(n 1) sin(n 1)

n 1
n 1

n 2,4,6,....

Fig 4-12

In Vn

Vn
Zn
| R jnwL |

Irms Io
2

n 2 ,4...

Io Vo

In
2

)2

R-L Source load

Fig.4-14

The SCRS may be turned on at any time

forward biased, which is at an angle

sin 1 (VdcVm)

that they are

For continuous current case, the average bridge output voltage is

Vo

2 Vm
cos

average load current is

Io

Vo Vdc
R

The ac voltage terms are unchanged from the controlled rectifier

with an R-L load. The ac current terms are determined from
circuit.
Power absorbed by the dc voltage is

Pdc IoVdc
Power absorbed by resistor in the load is

P I 2 rmsR Io 2 R if

L is l arg e

Controlled Single-phase converter operating as an inverter

seeing Fig 4-14. 4-15

For inverter operation, power is supplied by the dc source,

and power is absorbed by the bridge and is transferred to
the ac system.

Vdc and Vo must be negative

00 900

900 1800

Pbridge Pac IoVo

Vo 0

rectifier operation

Vo 0

inverter operation

4-4 Three-phase rectifiers

Resistive load :

Fig 4-16

DiodeONDiodeON
Diode ON
A transition of the highest line-to-line voltage must take place
every 3600 / 6 60 0
.

Because of the six transitions that occur for each period

of the source voltage, the circuit is called a six-pulse
rectifier.
vo(t)3

Diode turn on in the sequence 1,2,3,4,5,6,1,..

ia i D1 i D 4
i i i
b D3 D6
ic i D 5 i D 2

Each diode conducts one-third of the time, resulting in

I D,avg

1
I o,avg
3

I D ,rms

I S ,rms

2
I o ,rms
3

I o ,rms

Apparent power from the three-phase source is

S 3 VLL ,rms I S ,rms

v0 ( t ) Vo

n
n 6 ,12 ,18..

cos( nw0 t )

3Vm ,L L
1 2 / 3
V0
Vm ,L L sin wtd ( wt )

/
3
/3

0.95Vm ,L L
Vn

6 Vm ,L L
( n 1 )
2

, n 6, 12, 18, ...

Since the output voltage is periodic with period 1/6 of the ac

supply voltage, the harmonics in the output are of order 6k,
k=1,2,3,

Adevantageoutput is inherently like a dc voltage, and the highfrequency low-amplitude harmonics enable filters to be effective.

For a dc

load current (constant I0) --- Fig4.17

ia

2 3
1
1
1
1
I o (cos w0 t cos 5w0 t cos 7 w0 t cos11w0 t cos13 w0 t ....

5
7
11
13

which consists of terms at fundamental frequency of the ac

system and harmonics of order 6k 1, k=1,2,3,
Filters(Fig.4-18) are
currents to enter the
Resonant filters for
High-pass filters for

frequently necessary to prevent harmonic

ac system.
5th and 7th harmonics.
higher order harmonics.

4-5 Controlled three-phase rectifiers

Vo

3 3
3Vm, L L

Vm, L L sin wtd ( wt )

) cos

Harmonics for output voltage remain of order 6k, but amplitude are
functions of
. seeing

Fig. 4-20

Twelve-pulse rectifiersusing two six-pulse bridges

The purpose
phase 30 0 shift
This results in
apart. The two

of the transformer connection is to introduce

between the source and bridge.
30 0
inputs to two bridges which are
bridge outputs are similar, but also shifted by

30 0
.

The delay angles for the bridge are typically the same.

Vo Vo ,Y Vo ,

3Vm, L L

cos

3Vm, L L

cos

6Vm, L L

cos

The peak output of the twelve-pulse converter occurs midway

between alternate peaks of the six-pulse converters. Adding the
voltages at that point for 0 gives

Vo , peak 2Vm , L L cos(15 ) 1.932 Vm , L L

for 0

Since a transition between conducting SCRs every 30

, there are a total of 12 such transitions for each period of the
ac source. The output has harmonic frequencies which are multiple
of 12 times the source fre. (12k
k=1,2,)
1
1
1
1
I o (cosw0t cos5 w0t cos7 w0t cos11w0t cos13w0t ....)

5
7
11
13
2 3
1
1
1
1
i (t )
I o (cosw0t cos5 w0t - cos7 w0t cos11w0t cos13w0t ....)

5
7
11
13
4 3
1
1
iac (t ) iY (t ) i (t )
I o (cosw0t - cos11w0t cos13w0t ...)

11
13
iac , harmonic order 12k 1 , k 1,2,...
iY (t )

2 3

Cancellation of harmonics 6(2n-1) 1 , n=1, 2, has resulted

from this transformer and converter configuration.

This principle can be expanded

number by incorporating increased
with transformers which have the
The characteristic ac harmonics
pk 1
, k=1,2,3

to arrangements of higher pulse

number of six-pulse converters
appropriate phase shifts.
of a p-pulse converter will be

More expense for producing high-voltage transformers with the

appropriate phase shifts.

Three-phase converter operating as

seeing 4-22.

a inverter

The bridge output voltage Vo must be negative.

0 90
, Vo 0 - - Rectifier operation
90 180 , Vo 0 - - Inverter operation

4-6 DC power transmission

By using controlled twelve-pulse converter (generally).
Used for very long distances of transmission lines.
Advantages(1)
(2)

XL 0

voltage drop in lines

, line loss
( line current

)
XC
(3) Two conductors required rather than three
(4) Transmission towers are smaller.
(5 ) Power flow in a dc transmission line is controllable
by adjustment of delay angles at the terminals.
(6) Power flow can be modulated during disturbances on
one of the ac system. System stability increased.
(7) The two ac systems that are connected by the dc
line do not need to be in synchronization.

Disadvantagescostly ac-dc converter, filter, and control system

required at each end of the line to interface
with the ac system.

Fig.4-23

using six-pulse converter

rectifier
, 0 90
Vo1 ,Vo 2

,
90

180

inverter

For current being ripple free

Vo1 Vo 2
R
3Vm1, L L
Vo1
cos 1
Io

Vo 2

3Vm 2, L L

cos 2

Power supplied by the converter at terminal 1 is

P1 Vo1 I o

Power supplied by the converter at terminal 2 is

P2 Vo 2 I o

Fig.4-24

using twelve-pulse converter

(a bipolar scheme)

One of the lines is energized at Vdc and the other is energized

at - Vdc . In emergency situations, one pole of the line can operate
without the other pole, with current returning through the ground path.

4-7 commutation effect of source inductance (

Single-phase bridge rectifier: Fig.4-25

Xs )

Assume that the load current is constant Io.

Commutation interval starts at t= ( Source polarity changed)

1 t
i s ( wt )
Vm sin wtd ( wt ) I o

Ls
Vm

( 1 cos wt ) I o
Ls
Commutation

is completed at t=

i( u ) I 0
=>

+u

Vm
1 cos( u ) I 0
Ls

Commutation angle

2 I o Ls
2I o X S
1
u cos ( 1
) cos ( 1
)
Vm
Vm
1

X S Ls

Average load voltage

is

Vm
1
V
sin
wt
d
(
wt
)

( 1 cos u )
m

2Vm
Io X s

(1
)

Vm

Vo

Source inductance lowers the average output voltage of fullwave rectifier.

Three-phase rectifier

Fig.4-26

During Commutation
is

v La

from

D1 to D3

, The voltage across La

v AB Vm ,L L

sin wt
2
2

Current in La starts at I0 and decreases zero in the

commutation interval

1 u Vm ,L L
i La ( u ) 0
sin wt d ( wt ) I 0

La
2
2La I 0
2X s I0
1
1
u cos ( 1
) cos ( 1
)
Vm ,L L
Vm ,L L

During the commutation

output voltage is

v BC v AC
vo
2

interval from

D1 to D3

v AB vBC vCA 0 ,
.

vo v AC vL a vL c v AC
v AC

Average output Voltage

Vo

(1

the converter

v AB v AC - vBC
.

3Vm ,L L

v AB

v AC vBC v AC vBC

2
2

Single-phase rectifier

X s I0
)
Vm ,L L

Source inductance lowers the average output voltage of threephase rectifiers.