108   Chapter 3    Diode Rectifiers

Example 3.1 Finding the Performance Parameters of a Full-Wave Rectifier with a

Center-Tapped Transformer
If the rectifier in Figure 3.2a has a purely resistive load of R, determine (a) the efficiency, (b) the
FF, (c) the RF, (d) the TUF, (e) the PIV of diode D1, (f) the CF of the input current, and (g) the
input power factor PF.

Solution
From Eq. (3.11), the average output voltage is

2Vm
Vdc = = 0.6366Vm
π

and the average load current is

Vdc 0.6366Vm
Idc = =
R R

The rms values of the output voltage and current are

T/2 1/2 Vm
T L0
2
Vrms = c (Vm sin ωt)2 dt d = = 0.707Vm
12
Vrms 0.707Vm
Irms = =
R R

From Eq. (3.1) Pdc = (0.6366Vm)2/R, and from Eq. (3.2) Pac = (0.707Vm)2/R.
a. From Eq. (3.3), the efficiency η = (0.6366Vm)2/(0.707Vm)2 = 81%.
b. From Eq. (3.5), the form factor FF = 0.707Vm/0.6366Vm = 1.11.
c. From Eq. (3.7), the ripple factor RF = 21.112 - 1 = 0.482 or 48.2,.
d. The rms voltage of the transformer secondary Vs = Vm/12 = 0.707Vm. The rms value
of transformer secondary current Is = 0.5Vm/R. The volt-ampere rating (VA) of the
transformer, VA = 22Vs Is = 22 * 0.707Vm * 0.5Vm/R. From Eq. (3.8),

0.63662
TUF = = 0.81064 = 81.06%
22 * 0.707 * 0.5

e. The peak reverse blocking voltage, PIV = 2Vm.

f. Is(peak) = Vm/R and Is = 0.707Vm/R. The CF of the input current is CF = Is(peak)/Is =
1/0.707 = 12.
g. The input PF for a resistive load can be found from

Pac 0.7072
PF = = = 1.0
VA 22 * 0.707 * 0.5

Note: 1/TUF = 1/0.81064 = 1.136 signifies that the input transformer, if present, must be
1.75 times larger than that when it is used to deliver power from a pure ac sinusoidal voltage. The
rectifier has an RF of 48.2% and a rectification efficiency of 81%.

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 3.4   Single-Phase Full-Wave Rectifier with RL Load   109

Example 3.2 Finding the Fourier Series of the Output Voltage

for a Full-Wave Rectifier
The rectifier in Figure 3.3a has an RL load. Use the method of Fourier series to obtain expres-
sions for output voltage v0(t).

Solution
The rectifier output voltage may be described by a Fourier series (which is reviewed in
Appendix E) as

a
∞
v0(t) = Vdc + (an cos nωt + bn sin nωt)
n = 2,4, c
where
2π π
2Vm
2π L0 2π L0 m
1 2
Vdc = v0(t) d(ωt) = V sin ωt d(ωt) =
π
2π π

π L0 π L0 m
1 2
an = v0 cos nωt d(ωt) = V sin ωt cos nωt d(ωt)

a
4Vm ∞ -1
= for n = 2, 4, 6, c
π n = 2,4, c (n - 1)(n + 1)
= 0 for n = 1, 3, 5, c
2π π

π L0 0 π L0 m
1 2
bn = v sin nωt d(ωt) = V sin ωt sin nωt d(ωt) - 0

Substituting the values of an and bn, the expression for the output voltage is
2Vm 4Vm 4Vm 4Vm
v0(t) = - cos 2ωt - cos 4ωt - cos 6ωt - g  (3.12)
π 3π 15π 35π

Note: The output of a full-wave rectifier contains only even harmonics and the
second harmonic is the most dominant one and its frequency is 2f( = 120 Hz). The
output voltage in Eq. (3.12) can be derived by spectrum multiplication of switching
function, and this is explained in Appendix C.

Key Points of Section 3.3

• There are two types of single-phase rectifiers: center-tapped transformer and
bridge. Their performances are almost identical, except the secondary current of
the center-tapped transformer carries unidirectional (dc) current and it requires
a larger VA rating. The center-tapped type is used in applications less than 100 W
and the bridge rectifier is used in applications ranging from 100 W to 100 kW.
The output voltage of the rectifiers contains harmonics whose frequencies are
multiples of 2f (two times the supply frequency).

3.4 Single-Phase Full-Wave Rectifier with RL Load

With a resistive load, the load current is identical in shape to the output voltage. In
practice, most loads are inductive to a certain extent and the load current depends on
the values of load resistance R and load inductance L. This is shown in Figure 3.4a.

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 110   Chapter 3    Diode Rectifiers

vo

Vm

io

is
D1 D3 0  2 t
R
io

 vs Vo
L
Imax
Io

Imin
D4 D2
E
 0     2 t
2
(a) Circuit (b) Waveforms

is

Io

2
t
0 

Io

(c) Supply line current

v
vo  Vm sin ( t –  )
Vm

t
0  2

io

0    
(d) Discontinuous current

Figure 3.4
Full-bridge rectifier with RL load.

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 3.4   Single-Phase Full-Wave Rectifier with RL Load   111

A battery of voltage E is added to develop generalized equations. If vs = Vm sin ωt =

12 Vs sin ωt is the input voltage, the load current i0 can be found from
di0
L + Ri0 + E = ∙ 12 Vs sin ωt ∙ for i0 Ú 0
dt
which has a solution of the form
12Vs E
i0 = ` sin(ωt - θ) ` + A1 e -(R/L)t - (3.13)
Z R
where load impedance Z = [R2 + (ωL)2]1/2, load impedance angle θ = tan-1(ωL/R),
and Vs is the rms value of the input voltage.
Case 1: continuous load current.  This is shown in Figure 3.4b. The constant A1
in Eq. (3.13) can be determined from the condition: at ωt = π, i0 = I0.
E 12Vs
A1 = aI0 + - sin θb e (R/L)(π/ω)
R Z
Substitution of A1 in Eq. (3.13) yields
12Vs E 12Vs E
i0 = sin(ωt - θ) + aI0 + - sin θb e (R/L)(π/ω - t) - (3.14)
Z R Z R
Under a steady-state condition, i0(ωt = 0) = i0(ωt = π). That is, i0(ωt = 0) = I0.
Applying this condition, we get the value of I0 as
12Vs 1 + e -(R/L)(π/ω) E
I0 = sin θ -(R/L)(π/ω)
- for I0 Ú 0 (3.15)
Z 1 - e R
which, after substituting I0 in Eq. (3.14) and simplification, gives

12Vs 2 E
i0 = c sin(ωt - θ) + -(R/L)(π/ω)
sin θ e -(R/L)t d -
Z 1 - e R

for 0 … (ωt - θ) … π and i0 Ú 0 (3.16)

The rms diode current can be found from Eq. (3.16) as
π 1/2

2π L
1
ID(rms) = c i20 d(ωt) d
0

and the rms output current can then be determined by combining the rms current of
each diode as

Io(rms) = (I 2D(rms) + I 2D(rms))1/2 = 12Ir

The average diode current can also be found from Eq. (3.16) as
π

2π L
1
ID(av) = i0 d(ωt)
0

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