A rectifier is an electrical converter to convert AC to DC supply. There are different types of rectifiers like half-wave, full-wave, bridge configuration, single-phase,three-phase, controlled(using thyristor), uncontrolled, and many more. But for now, we only discuss basic configuration.
Half Wave Rectifier
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| half-wave rectifier |
To understand how this works you should know how diodes work but if you know nothing about diodes so basically it is a one-way switch means it only allows conduction of current in one direction.during the first positive half cycle diode becomes forward biased and diode allow flow to current and positive wave came across load R.but when the negative cycle comes diode becomes reverse biased and blocks the conduction of current so no voltage across R.this configuration only use positive half cycle.
Full Wave Rectifier
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| full-wave rectifier |
In full-wave rectifier, we use 2 diodes and center-tapped transformer(voltage across centered tap point to point A is the same as the voltage across centered tap point to point B). this type of rectifier provides continuous output. During the first positive half cycle diode, D1 is forward biased and D2 is reverse biased so the positive half voltage wave came across the load. During the negative half-cycle, D2 is forward biased and D1 is reverse biased. Although its negative cycle but the voltage across load R always remains positive because if you see carefully the direction of current always remains the same.
Rectifier loves filter
after we get the output we observe that it is not pure DC but is variable.to make it somehow more constant we need a filter to obtain constant DC across the load. In this case, the capacitor is used as a filter.capacitor is placed across the load and the output becomes more constant.
If you guys want to know about different configurations and how a capacitor works as a filter in the rectifier circuit please make a comment.
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