Introduction

A diode bridge is an arrangement of four (or more) diodes in

a bridge circuit configuration that provides the same polarity of
output for either polarity of input.
When used in its most common application, for conversion of
an alternating current (AC) input into a direct current (DC)
output, it is known as a bridge rectifier. A bridge rectifier
provides full-wave rectification from a two-wire AC input,
resulting in lower cost and weight as compared to a rectifier
with a 3-wire input from a transformer with a centretapped secondary winding
For many applications, especially with single phase AC where
the full-wave bridge serves to convert an AC input into a DC
output, the addition of a capacitor may be desired because the
bridge alone supplies an output of pulsed DC
The function of this capacitor, known as a reservoir
capacitor (or smoothing capacitor) is to lessen the variation in
(or 'smooth') the rectified AC output voltage waveform from the
bridge. There is still some variation, known as ripple. One
explanation of 'smoothing' is that the capacitor provides a
low impedance path to the AC component of the output,
reducing the AC voltage across, and AC current through, the
resistive load. In less technical terms, any drop in the output
voltage and current of the bridge tends to be cancelled by loss
of charge in the capacitor. This charge flows out as additional
current through the load. Thus the change of load current and
voltage is reduced relative to what would occur without the
capacitor. Increases of voltage correspondingly store excess
charge in the capacitor, thus moderating the change in output
voltage / current.

Components Required
SR.N Name
o.

Specificatio
n

Quantit
y

230V to 12V or
110V to 12V

N4007
470F
1 Red
1K

4
1
1
1

2
3
4
5

Step down
transform
er
Diodes
Capacitor
Led
Resistor

Circuit Diagram

Working of a Bridge Rectifier

During the positive half cycle of secondary voltage, diodes
D2 and D3 are forward biased and diodes D1 and D4 are
reverse biased. Now the current flows through D2>Load
>D3
During the negative half cycle of the secondary voltage,
diodes D1 and D4 are forward biased and rectifier diodes
D2 and D3 are reverse biased. Now the current flows
through D4>Load>D1
In both the cycles, load current flows in the same
direction. Hence we get a pulsating DC voltage
Addition of a capacitor at the output converts the
pulsating DC voltage to fixed DC voltage.

 Up to a time period of t=1s input voltage is increasing, so

the capacitor charges up to peak value of the input. After
t=1s input starts to decrease, then the voltage across the
capacitor reverse biases the diodes D2 and D4 and
therefore it will not conduct. Now capacitor discharges
through the load, then voltage across the capacitor
decreases.
When the peak voltage exceeds the capacitor voltage,
diodes D2 or D4 forward biases and as a result capacitor
again charges to the peak value. This process continues.
Hence we get almost smooth DC voltage

Output Waveforms

Advantages of Bridge Wave

Rectifier
The rectification efficiency of full-wave rectifier is double
of that of a half-wave rectifier.

 The ripple voltage is low and of higher frequency in case

of full-wave rectifier so simple filtering circuit is required.
Higher output voltage, higher output power and higher
Transformer Utilization Factor (TUF) in case of a full-wave
rectifier.
In a full-wave rectifier, there is no problem due to dc
saturation of the core because the dc current in the two
halves of the two halves of the transformer secondary flow
in opposite directions.
No centre tap is required in the transformer secondary so
in case of a bridge rectifier the transformer required is
simpler. If stepping up or stepping down of voltage is not
required, transformer can be eliminated even.
The PIV is one half that of centre-tap rectifier. Hence
bridge rectifier is highly suited for high voltage
applications.
Transformer utilization factor, in case of a bridge rectifier,
is higher than that of a centre-tap rectifier.
For a given power output, power transformer of smaller
size can be used in case of the bridge rectifier because
current in both (primary and secondary) windings of the
supply transformer flow for the entire ac cycle.

JSS ACADEMY OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

PROJECT REPORT ON

BRIDGE WAVE
RECTIFIER

Submitted By:
Shubhi Srivastava
1209122083
4th Year (Batch 2012-16)
Instrumentation and Control
Department