Ideal Diode

The characteristics of an
ideal diode are those of a
switch that can conduct
current in only one
direction.

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The ideal diode is a short circuit for the region of
conduction.

The ideal diode is an open circuit in the

region of nonconduction.
2
Conduction (forward biased) and non-conduction
(reverse biased) states of the ideal diode are
determined by the direction of conventional
current.

Forward biased

(b) Reverse biased

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4
Practical diode characteristics

5
Forward Biased diode

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Reverse biased diode

VD = E

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 Rectifiers
•A rectifier is a circuit that allows current to flow
through it in one direction only.
•Rectifiers are used to provide wave-shaping of signals
and also to convert AC to DC in power supplies.
•Diode conduction is controlled by the input signal. The
diode will be in either the forward biased or reverse
biased state.

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Rectification
Half wave

Forward biased diode ( +ve half cycle)

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Reverse biased diode (-ve half cycle)

Overall response

The average value or dc value

Of the output waveform is

Vdc = 0.318 Vm = Vm/π

Where Vm is the peak value of

the input waveform

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If VT is taken into consideration the output waveform will be

And Vdc will now be

Vdc = 0.318 (Vm – VT)

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 PIV
• The peak inverse voltage (PIV) [or PRV (peak reverse voltage)] rating of the
diode is of primary importance in the design of rectification systems.
• The PIV is the reverse voltage rating that must not be exceeded or the diode
will enter the reverse-breakdown region.
• Applying Kirchhoff”s voltage law to the half-wave rectifier it is seen that the
PIV rating of the diode must equal or exceed the peak value of the applied
voltage.

PIV  Vm

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 Average and Effective Values
A periodic function f (t), with a period T, has an average value Favg given by

The root-mean-square (rms) or effective value of f(t) during the same period is defined by

It can be seen that F2rms = Average value of f2(t). The average value is the dc value.
Full wave rectification: Bridge method

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 Note that the frequency is now twice
that of the half-wave rectifier

If VT is taken into consideration Vdc = 0.636(Vm – 2 VT)

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Full wave rectification: Centre-tapped transformer

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Positive half-cycle

Negative half-cycle

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The PIV is determined from the following diagram
Placing the maximum voltage for the secondary voltage and
Vm as established by the adjoining loop will result in a
PIV = Vsecondary + VR
= Vm + Vm
Hence, the PIV >= 2Vm for the CT transformer, full-wave
rectifier.

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 Rectifier Ideal VDC Realistic VDC

Half Wave Rectifier VDC = 0.318Vm VDC = 0.318(Vm – 0.7)

Bridge Rectifier VDC = 0.636Vm VDC = 0.636(Vm – 2(0.7 ))V

Center-Tapped Transformer
VDC = 0.636Vm VDC = 0.636(Vm – 0.7) V
Rectifier

Vm = peak of the AC voltage.

In the center tapped transformer rectifier circuit, the peak AC voltage

is the transformer secondary voltage to the tap.

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 Large Signal Diode Applications
•A large signal diode application that is one of the most
common is the Linear Regulated DC Power Supply.
12V
Line Diode (Optional)
Low Pass
Transformer Voltage
(25V Sec.) Rectifier Filter Regulator
RL

35V 35V
325.3V 70.7V

115V
RMS V p  p  VRMS  2 2
V p  p  115V  2.828
V p  p  325.3V 20
Block Functions:
1. Transformer..Allows line voltage (325.3Vp-p) to be
stepped down as needed. Also provides electrical
isolation from the AC line voltage thereby reducing the
shock hazard.
2. Diode Rectifier..Converts AC input signal to a
pulsating DC output voltage. The rectifier can be half or
full wave.
3. Low Pass Filter..Converts the pulsating DC voltage
into a relatively smooth DC voltage.
4. Voltage Regulator..Maintains a constant DC output
voltage even if the input line voltage fluctuates or the
output load (RL) changes. 21
Output Frequency
The output frequency of the half wave rectifier is the same as that of
the input waveform fout = fin.
Whereas for the full wave rectifier the output frequency is twice that
of the input waveform fout = 2fin.

Half Wave signals Full wave signals 22

 Efficiency
The ratio of d.c. power output to the applied input a.c. power is known
as rectifier efficiency i.e.
𝑑𝑐 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝜂=
𝑎𝑐 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

Consider a half-wave rectifier. Let v = Vm sin θ be the alternating

voltage that appears across the secondary winding. Let rf and RL be the
diode resistance and load resistance respectively. The diode conducts
during positive half-cycles of a.c. supply while no current conduction
takes place during negative half-cycles.

To find the dc power,

The dc or average current has to be found. 23

AC Power

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The efficiency will be maximum if rf is negligible as compared to RL.
∴ Max. rectifier efficiency = 40.6%
This shows that in half-wave rectification, a maximum of 40.6% of
a.c. power is converted into d.c. power.

Note

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Question
An a.c. supply of 230 V is applied to a half-wave rectifier circuit
through a transformer of turn ratio 10 : 1. Find (i) the output d.c.
voltage and (ii) the peak inverse voltage. Assume the diode to be ideal.

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Question
A diode having internal resistance rf = 20Ω is used for half-wave
rectification. If the applied voltage v = 50 sin ω t and load resistance
RL = 800 Ω, find :
(i) Im, Idc, Irms (ii) a.c. power input and d.c. power output
(iii) d.c. output voltage (iv) efficiency of rectification.

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Efficiency of the Full Wave Rectifier
Let v = Vm sin θ be the a.c. voltage to be rectified. Let rf and RL be the
diode resistance and load resistance respectively. Consider a centre-tap
rectifier. The rectifier will conduct current through the load in the
same direction for both half-cycles of input a.c. voltage. The
instantaneous current i is given by :

To find the dc average power, the average current must be known

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The efficiency will be maximum if rf is negligible as compared to RL.
∴ Maximum efficiency = 81.2%
NB. For a bridge rectifier two diodes conduct therefore 2rf is used in the above analysis.
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In the centre-tap circuit shown, the diodes are assumed to be ideal
i.e. having zero internal resistance. Find :
(i) d.c. output voltage(ii) peak inverse voltage (iii) rectification
efficiency.

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Solution
R.M.S. primary voltage = 230 V
∴ R.M.S. secondary voltage = 230 × (1/5) = 46 V
Maximum voltage across full secondary = 46 × Ö2 = 65V
Maximum voltage across half secondary winding is Vm = 65/2 = 32.5 V

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Questions
1. The four diodes used in a bridge rectifier circuit have forward
resistances which may be considered constant at 1Ω and infinite
reverse resistance. The alternating supply voltage is 240 V r.m.s.
and load resistance is 480 Ω. Calculate (i) mean load current and
(ii) power dissipated in each diode.

2. The four semiconductor diodes used in a bridge rectifier circuit

have forward resistance which can be considered constant at 0.1Ω
and infinite reverse resistance. They supply a mean current of 10
A to a resistive load from a sinusoidally varying alternating supply
of 20V r.m.s. Determine the resistance of the load and the
efficiency of the circuit. [1.6 ohm and 72%]

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