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Full Wave Rectifier: AC Current DC Current Diode

The document discusses and compares center tapped full wave rectifiers and bridge rectifiers. It explains that: 1) A center tapped full wave rectifier uses a center tapped transformer and two diodes to convert the full AC cycle to pulsating DC. 2) A bridge rectifier does not require a center tapped transformer, instead using four diodes in a bridge configuration. 3) Bridge rectifiers have advantages over center tapped rectifiers, including requiring a smaller transformer size and having a higher transformer utilization factor.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
88 views5 pages

Full Wave Rectifier: AC Current DC Current Diode

The document discusses and compares center tapped full wave rectifiers and bridge rectifiers. It explains that: 1) A center tapped full wave rectifier uses a center tapped transformer and two diodes to convert the full AC cycle to pulsating DC. 2) A bridge rectifier does not require a center tapped transformer, instead using four diodes in a bridge configuration. 3) Bridge rectifiers have advantages over center tapped rectifiers, including requiring a smaller transformer size and having a higher transformer utilization factor.

Uploaded by

Alexo Man
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Full wave rectifier

The process of converting the AC current into DC current is called


rectification. Rectification can be achieved by using a single diode or group
of diodes. These diodes which convert the AC current into DC current are
called rectifiers.

Rectifiers are generally classified into two types: half wave rectifier and full
wave rectifier.

A half wave rectifier uses only a single diode to convert AC to DC. So it is


very easy to construct the half wave rectifier. However, a single diode in
half wave rectifier only allows either a positive half cycle or a negative half
cycle of the input AC signal and the remaining half cycle of the input AC
signal is blocked. As a result, a large amount of power is wasted.
Furthermore, the half wave rectifiers are not suitable in the applications
which need a steady and smooth DC voltage. So the half wave rectifiers
are not efficient AC to DC converters.

We can easily overcome this drawback by using another type of rectifier


known as a full wave rectifier. The full wave rectifier has some basic
advantages over the half wave rectifier. The average DC output voltage
produced by the full wave rectifier is higher than the half wave rectifier.
Furthermore, the DC output signal of the full wave rectifier has fewer
ripples than the half wave rectifier. As a result, we get a smoother output
DC voltFull wave rectifier definition

A full wave rectifier is a type of rectifier which converts both half cycles of
the AC signal into pulsating DC signal.

As shown in the above figure, the full wave rectifier converts both positive
and negative half cycles of the input AC signal into output pulsating DC
signal.
The full wave rectifier is further classified into two types: center tapped full
wave rectifier and full wave bridge rectifier.

In this tutorial, center tapped full wave rectifier is explained.

Before going to the working of a center tapped full wave rectifier, let’s first
take a look at the center tapped transformer. Because the center tapped
transformer plays a key role in the center tapped full wave rectifier.

Center tapped transformer

When an additional wire is connected across the exact middle of the


secondary winding of a transformer, it is known as a center tapped
transformer. 

The wire is adjusted in such a way that it falls in the exact middle point of
the secondary winding. So the wire is exactly at zero volts of the AC signal.
This wire is known as the center tap.

The center tapped transformer works almost similar to a normal


transformer. Like a normal transformer, the center tapped transformer also
increases or reduces the AC voltage. However, a center tapped
transformer has another important feature. That is the secondary winding of
the center tapped transformer divides the input AC current or AC signal
(VP) into two parts. 
The upper part of the secondary winding produces a positive voltage
V1 and the lower part of the secondary winding produces a negative voltage
V2. When we combine these two voltages at output load, we get a complete
AC signal.

I.e. VTotal = V1 + V2

The voltages V1 and V2 are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.


That is the voltages (V1 and V2 ) produced by the upper part and lower part
of the secondary winding are 180 degrees out of phase with each other.
However, by using a full wave rectifier with center tapped transformer, we
can produce the voltages that are in phase with each other. In simple
words, by using a full wave rectifier with center tapped transformer, we can
produce a current that flows only in single direction.

What is center tapped full wave rectifier

A center tapped full wave rectifier is a type of rectifier which uses a center
tapped transformer and two diodes to convert the complete AC signal into
DC signal.

The center tapped full wave rectifier is made up of an AC source, a center


tapped transformer, two diodes, and a load resistor.
The AC source is connected to the primary winding of the center tapped
transformer. A center tap (additional wire) connected at the exact middle of
the the secondary winding divides the input voltage into two parts.

The upper part of the secondary winding is connected to the diode D 1 and
the lower part of the secondary winding is connected to the diode D 2. Both
diode D1 and diode D2 are connected to a common load RL with the help of
a center tap transformer. The center tap is generally considered as the
ground point or the zero voltage reference point.

How center tapped full wave rectifier works

The center tapped full wave rectifier uses a center tapped transformer to
convert the input AC voltage into output DC voltage.

When input AC voltage is applied, the secondary winding of the center


tapped transformer divides this input AC voltage into two parts: positive and
negative.

Difference between Center Tapped


Full Wave and Bridge Rectifier
October 1, 2018 by admin
The main difference between a Center Tapped and Bridge Rectifier is that one uses
center tapped transformer while another do not require a center tapped transformer.
Both these types are full wave rectifiers but their method of converting AC input into DC
is different by employing different numbers of diodes.
In center tapped full wave rectifier, two diodes are used whereas four diodes are used in
bridge rectifiers. Before diving into the differences between the center tapped full wave
and bridge rectifiers, it is advised to first read the working principle and circuit diagram
of these two types of rectifiers. You can read them here, Center Tapped Full wave
Rectifier and Bridge Rectifier.
For recapping the working of both types of rectifiers, their circuit diagram is shown
below.
The size of transformer required for producing same DC output is less in bridge rectifier
when compared with center tapped full wave rectifier. You may think how?
As we know that the average value of DC output current for full wave rectifier is 0.636
times of the peak value of current i.e. 0.636Im. But the current Im = (Vm / R)
In case of center taped rectifier, this current Im is half of this current for bridge rectifier as
in bridge rectifier full supply voltage is causing this current to flow. Thus the size of
transformer required in bridge rectifier will be less. This is also evident form Transformer
Utilization Factor, TUF. The TUF for center tapped and bridge rectifiers are 0.672 &
0.810 respectively.
Some of the major differences between a center tapped full wave and a bridge rectifiers
are tabulated below.
Sr.
Center Tapped Full Wave Rectifier Bridge Rectifier
No.

No center tapped transformer is required in


1)      A center tapped transformer is required.
bridge rectifier.

PIV of diode is equal to the transformer


The peak inverse voltage (PIV) of diode in
secondary voltage. Thus this type of
2)      center tapped full wave rectifier is twice the
rectifier can be used for high voltage
transformer secondary terminal voltage.
application.

3)      Two numbers of diodes are required. Four diodes are required for bridge rectifier.

The transformer utilization factor (TUF) is The TUF is equal to 0.810 for bridge
4)     
equal to 0.672. rectifier.

The transformer size i.e. kVA rating required


5)      Transformer size requirement is less.
for center tapped rectifier is more.

A bridge rectifier using four diodes is more


6)      – economical when compared with center
tapped rectifier.
 

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