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Introduction

Single-phase alternating current (AC) rectifiers are electronic devices used for the electrical power transmission. It is also known as AC to DC conversion. Rectification process is employed for a number of applications such as HVDC power transmission and power factor improvement. This article focuses on the application field, working principle, and types of single-phase rectifiers.

Application Field Of Single Phase Rectifiers

Single-phase rectifiers are widely used for AC to DC conversion. This makes them suitable for applications ranging from household devices, industrial appliances, to military and aerospace applications. They are also employed in HVDC power transmission as well as other power correction applications. Moreover, single-phase rectifiers are an integral part of power electronics applications, such as inverters, converters, and choppers.

Working Principle Of Single-Phase AC Rectifiers

The working principle of a single phase rectifier is rather simple. A rectifier is a diode switch that permits current flow in one direction only and blocks the current flow in the other direction. Rectifiers have three terminals, the anode, the cathode, and the ground. When an AC voltage is applied, the diode will start conducting when it reaches the voltage needed to break down its barrier potential and the current flow occurs. However, when the voltage is reversed, the diode stops conducting and the current fails to flow. This only applies for single-phase rectifiers, as in the case of three-phase rectifiers the polarity is reversed for each phase after passing through an AC voltage.

Types Of Single-Phase Rectifiers

The single-phase rectifiers can be classified into two types: half-wave rectifiers and full-wave rectifiers.

Half-Wave Rectifiers

The half-wave rectifier is the most basic type of rectifier. It is composed of a load resistor and a single diode. The output of the rectifier is only through the positive half of the AC supply. The other half is completely cut off, resulting in an output with a DC level that is equal to half of the peak AC voltage. This limits the efficiency of the rectifier and a large amount of ripple is present in the output.

Full-Wave Rectifiers

Full-wave rectifiers are composed of four diodes arranged in a bridge configuration. In this case, each half of the AC cycle is utilized to provide an output with the same DC level as the peak of the applied AC voltage. This leads to much higher rectification efficiency compared to the half-wave rectifier. Due to the utilization of the second half of the AC cycle to provide reverse current flow, the output of a full-wave rectifier is much smoother with a lower amount of ripple.

Conclusion

This article has discussed the application field, working principle, and types of single-phase rectifiers. Single-phase rectifiers are widely used for AC to DC conversion. They are composed of a load resistor and a single or multiple diodes depending on the type of rectifier. Half-wave rectifiers are composed of a single diode, while full-wave rectifiers are composed of four diodes arranged in a bridge configuration. The main advantage of a full-wave rectifier is the higher rectification efficiency and lower amount of ripple compared to a half-wave rectifier.

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