Full-wave and Three- phase

rectifiers
(Converting AC to DC)

4-1 Introduction

 The average current in AC source is zero

in the full-wave rectifier, thus avoiding problems
associated with nonzero average source currents,
particularly in transformers.
 The output of the full-wave rectifier has inherently
less ripple than the half-wave rectifier.
 Uncontrolled and controlled single-phase and three-
phase full-wave converters used as rectifiers are
analyzed.
4-2 Single-phase full-wave rectifiers

Fig. 4-1 Bridge rectifier：

The lower peak diode voltage make it more suitable

for high-voltage applications.
Fig. 4-2 center-tapped transformer
rectifier

With electrical isolation, only

one diode voltage drop between
the source and load, suitable for
low-voltage, high-current applications
Resistive load：
 　Vm sin wt ,0  wt   
v0 ( wt )   
 Vm sin wt ,   wt  2
1 


Vo  Vm sin( wt )d ( wt )  2Vm
0 

Io  Vo  2Vm
R (R)
Irms  Im
2

power absorbed by the load resistor：

PR  I 2 rmsR
power factor ：Pf=1
R-L load： Fig.4-3
 
v ( wt )  Vo  Vn cos( nwt   )
0 n2,4‧‧,

2Vm  1 1 
Vo  2Vm Vn    
   n 1 n 1

Vn
Io  Vo In  Vn 
R Zn | R  jnwL |

If L is relatively large, the load current is essentially

dc. ( L >> R )

Vo 2Vm 
i( wt )  Io 

R R  　for　L >> R

　　　　　Irms  Io 
Source harmonics are rich in the odd-numbered harmonics.
Filters：reducing the harmonics.
R-L source load： Fig.4-5
 For continuous current operation, the only modification to
the analysis that was done for R-L load is in the dc
term of the Fourier series .The dc component of current
in this circuit is.

2Vm
 Vdc
Vo  Vdc
Io   
R R

The sinusoidal terms in the Fourier analysis

are unchanged by the dc source, provided
that the current is continuous.
Discontinuous current is analyzed like
section 3-5.
Capacitance output filter: Fig. 4-6
Assuming ideal diodes | Vm sin wt | 　 , 　one diode pair on　
v0 ( wt )   ( wt  ) /( wRc )
Vm sin  e , diodes off
 ：the angle where the diodes become reverse biased,
which is the same as for the half-wave rectifier
and is
  Tan 1 ( RC )  Tan 1 ( RC )  
wt    

Vm sin  e (  ) /( RC )  Vm sin(    )

(sin  )e (  ) /( RC )  sin   0

 =？ solved numerically for 

Peak-to-peak variation(ripple)：

Vo  Vm | Vm sin(    ) | Vm(1  sin  )

In practical circuits where ωRC  
  2 ,  
2
,

minimal output voltage occurs at wt    

 
(    ) /( RC )
v0 (    )  Vm e 2 2
 Vm e   /( RC )


Vo  Vm  Vm e   /( RC )  Vm 1  e   /( RC ) 
‧    
 Vm1  1  
‧
  RC  x x2 x3
e  1 
x
  ...
Vm Vm 1！ 2！ 3！
 
RC 2 fRC w  2f

is half that of the half-wave rectifier.

Fig. 4-7 (a) Voltage doubler

Fig. 4-7 (b) Dual voltage rectifier

=full-wave rectifier(sw. open)+
voltage doubler(sw. closed)
L-C filtered output： Fig.4-8

C holds the output voltage at a constant level, and the L

smoothes the current from rectifier and reduces the peak
current in diodes.
Continuous
Vx  Vo  2Vm
   VL =0 , full-wave rectified 
Current：
I L  I R  Vo  2Vm , Ic  0
R (R)

The variation in i L can be estimate from the first

Ac term (n=2) in the Fourier series.
The amplitude of the inductor current for n=2 is

V2 V 4Vm / 3 2Vm
I2   2  
Z 2 2L 2L 3L

2Vm  1 1 
where Vn     , n2
  n 1 n 1

For Continuous current, I2  IL

2Vm 2Vm

3L R 3L
R 1
L 
3 R
Discontinuous current：

When iL is positive
, ( Vm sin wt  Vo at wt   )

 Vo 
  sin  1

 Vm 

vL  Vm sin wt  Vo

iL ( wt ) 
1 wt
 Vm sin wt  Vod (wt )
L 


1
Vm(cos   cos wt )  Vowt   
L
for   wt   ,    ,

iL (  )  0 ,   ?
 Procedure for determining Vo：

(1) Estimate a Value for Vo slightly below Vm, and solve  ?

(2) Solve  numerically, iL ( )  0  Vm(cos   cos  )  Vo(   )

(3) Solve 
1
I L   i L ( wt )d ( wt )

1  1
  Vm(cos   cos wt )  Vo( wt   )d ( wt )
 L


(4) Slove Vo= ILR

(5) Repeat step (1)~(4) until the computed Vo in step(4)

equals the estimated Vo in step(1)

Output Voltage for discontinuous current is larger than

for continuous current.(see Fig4-8(d))
4-3 controlled full-wave rectifiers

Resistive load： Fig.4-10

 1 
Vo   Vm sin( wt )d ( wt )   delay angle
 
Vm
 ( 1  cos  )


Vo Vm
Io   (1  cos  )
R R

1  Vm
I rms 
  (
R
sin wt ) 2 d ( wt )

Vm 1  sin( 2 )
  
R 2 2 4

The power delivered to the load P  I 2 rmsR

The rms current in source is the same as the rms current in

the load.
R-L load : Fig.4-11
discontinuous current :

io ( wt ) 
Vm
Z

sin( t   )  sin(    )e ( t  ) /(  )  for   t  

Z  R 2  ( L )2
L
  tan 1 ( ) , L
R R

For discontinuous current   

Analysis of the controlled full-wave rectifier operating in the

discontinuous current mode is identical to that of the controlled
half-wave rectifier, except that the period for the output current
is  .
continuous current
wt     , i (   )  0
sin(      )  sin(    )e  (   ) /( ) 0

sin(    ) 1  e  /( )  0
sin(  -  )  0 
v0 ( wt )  Vo   Vn cos( nwt  n)
( - )  0 n 1

L 1   2Vm
    Tan (
R
-1
) Vo 
  Vm sin wt d ( wt ) 

cos 

for continuous current

Vn  an  bn
2 2

2Vm  cos( n  1) cos( n  1) 

an   
  n 1 n  1 
2Vm  sin( n  1) sin( n  1) 
bn  
  n  1 n  1 
 bn
n  Tan -1 ( )
an n  2,4,6,....
Fig 4-12
In  Vn  Vn
Zn | R  jnwL |


In
Irms  Io  2

n  2 ,4...
(
2
)2

Io  Vo
R
 R-L Source load ： Fig.4-14

The SCRS may be turned on at any time that they are

forward biased, which is at an angle

  sin 1 (Vdc Vm)

 For continuous current case, the average bridge output voltage is

2 Vm
Vo  cos 

Vo  Vdc
Io 
average load current is R

The ac voltage terms are unchanged from the controlled rectifier

with an R-L load. The ac current terms are determined from
circuit.
Power absorbed by the dc voltage is

Pdc  Io Vdc

Power absorbed by resistor in the load is

P  I 2 rmsR  Io 2 R if L is l arg e
 Controlled Single-phase converter operating as an inverter：
seeing Fig 4-14. 4-15

.
For inverter operation, power is supplied by the dc source,
and power is absorbed by the bridge and is transferred to
the ac system.

 Vdc and Vo must be negative

0 0    90 0  Vo  0 rectifier operation

900    1800  Vo  0 inverter operation

Pbridge  Pac   IoVo

4-4 Three-phase rectifiers

Resistive load : Fig 4-16

 上、下半部Diode，每次僅一個ON；同相上、下Diode不可同時ON；
Diode ON由瞬間最大線電壓決定。
A transition of the highest line-to-line voltage must take place
every 360 0 / 6  60 0
.
Because of the six transitions that occur for each period
of the source voltage, the circuit is called a six-pulse
rectifier.

vo(t)之基頻為3  電源頻率之6倍

Diode turn on in the sequence 1,2,3,4,5,6,1,..

ia  i D1  i D 4
i  i  i
 b D3 D6
ic  i D 5  i D 2
Each diode conducts one-third of the time, resulting in

1
I D ,avg  I o ,avg
3
1
I D ,rms  I o ,rms
3
2
I S ,rms  I o,rms
3

Apparent power from the three-phase source is

S  3 VL L ,rms I S ,rms

 
v0 ( t )  Vo  V n
n  6 ,12 ,18..
cos( nw0 t   )

1 2 / 3 3Vm ,L  L
V0 
/3   / 3
Vm ,L  L sin wtd( wt ) 

 0.95Vm ,L  L
6 Vm ,L  L
Vn  , n  6 , 12, 18, ...
( n  1 )
2

Since the output voltage is periodic with period 1/6 of the ac

supply voltage, the harmonics in the output are of order 6kω,
k=1,2,3,…

Adevantage：output is inherently like a dc voltage, and the high-

frequency low-amplitude harmonics enable filters to be effective.
For a dc load current (constant I0) --- Fig4.17
 2 3 1 1 1 1
ia  I o (cos w0 t  cos 5w0 t  cos 7 w0 t  cos 11w0 t  cos 13w0 t ....
 5 7 11 13
which consists of terms at fundamental frequency of the ac
system and harmonics of order 6k  1, k=1,2,3,…

Filters(Fig.4-18) are frequently necessary to prevent harmonic

currents to enter the ac system.
Resonant filters for 5th and 7th harmonics.
High-pass filters for higher order harmonics.
4-5 Controlled three-phase rectifiers
 2
1 
Vo 
 3

Vm, L  L sin wtd ( wt )
3 3
3Vm, L  L
( ) cos 


Harmonics for output voltage remain of order 6k, but amplitude are
functions of 

.  seeing Fig. 4-20

Twelve-pulse rectifiers：using two six-pulse bridges
 The purpose of the    transformer connection is to introduce
phase 30 0 shift between the source and bridge.
This results in inputs to two bridges which are 30 0
apart. The two bridge outputs are similar, but also shifted by
30 0
.
The delay angles for the bridge are typically the same.

3Vm, L  L 3Vm, L  L 6Vm, L  L

Vo  Vo,Y  Vo,  cos   cos   cos 
  

The peak output of the twelve-pulse converter occurs midway

between alternate peaks of the six-pulse converters. Adding the
voltages at that point for   0 gives

Vo, peak  2Vm, L  L cos(15)  1.932 Vm, L  L for   0

 Since a transition between conducting SCRs every 30
, there are a total of 12 such transitions for each period of the
ac source. The output has harmonic frequencies which are multiple
of 12 times the source fre. (12k k=1,2,…)

2 3 1 1 1 1
iY (t )  I o (cos w0t  cos 5 w0t  cos 7 w0t  cos 11w0t  cos 13w0t  ....)
 5 7 11 13
2 3 1 1 1 1
i (t )  I o (cos w0t  cos 5 w0t - cos 7 w0t  cos 11w0t  cos 13w0t  ....)
 5 7 11 13
4 3 1 1
iac (t )  iY (t )  i (t )  I o (cos w0t - cos 11w0t  cos 13w0t  ...)
 11 13
iac , harmonic order  12k  1 , k  1,2,...

Cancellation of harmonics 6(2n-1)  1 , n=1, 2, … has resulted

from this transformer and converter configuration.
 This principle can be expanded
number by incorporating increased
with transformers which have the
The characteristic ac harmonics
pk  1 , k=1,2,3…
to arrangements of higher pulse
number of six-pulse converters
appropriate phase shifts.
of a p-pulse converter will be

 More expense for producing high-voltage transformers with the

appropriate phase shifts.
Three-phase converter operating as a inverter：
seeing 4-22.
The bridge output voltage Vo must be negative.

0    90 , Vo  0 - -  Rectifier operation

90    180 , Vo  0 - -  Inverter operation
4-6 DC power transmission
․ By using controlled twelve-pulse converter (generally).
․ Used for very long distances of transmission lines.

Advantages：(1) X L  0 , voltage drop↓ in lines

(2) X C   , line loss (  line current  )

(3) Two conductors required rather than three

(4) Transmission towers are smaller.
(5 ) Power flow in a dc transmission line is controllable
by adjustment of delay angles at the terminals.
(6) Power flow can be modulated during disturbances on
one of the ac system.  System stability increased.
(7) The two ac systems that are connected by the dc
line do not need to be in synchronization.

Disadvantages：costly ac-dc converter, filter, and control system

required at each end of the line to interface
with the ac system.
Fig.4-23 using six-pulse converter
  , 0    90 rectifier 
Vo1 ,Vo 2   
 , 90    180 inverter

For current being ripple free

Vo1  Vo 2
Io 
R
3Vm1, L  L
Vo1  cos  1

3Vm 2, L  L
Vo 2  cos  2


Power supplied by the converter at terminal 1 is P1  Vo1 I o

Power supplied by the converter at terminal 2 is P2  Vo 2 I o

Fig.4-24 using twelve-pulse converter
(a bipolar scheme)
 One of the lines is energized at  Vdc and the other is energized
at - V dc . In emergency situations, one pole of the line can operate
without the other pole, with current returning through the ground path.
4-7 commutation ：effect of source inductance ( Xs)
Single-phase bridge rectifier: Fig.4-25
 Assume that the load current is constant Io.
Commutation interval starts at ωt=  ( Source polarity changed )

1 t
i s ( wt ) 
Ls 
Vm sin wtd( wt )  I o

Vm
 ( 1  cos wt )  I o
Ls

Commutation is completed at ωt=  +u

 Vm
i(   u )   I 0  1  cos(   u )  I 0
Ls
=> Commutation angle：

1 2I o Ls 1 2I o X S
u  cos ( 1  )  cos ( 1  )
Vm Vm

X S  Ls
 Average load voltage is
1  Vm
Vo 
 u
V m sin wt d ( wt ) 

( 1  cos u )

2Vm Io X s
 (1  )
 Vm

Source inductance lowers the average output voltage of full-

wave rectifier.
Three-phase rectifier： Fig.4-26
 During Commutation from D1 to D3 , The voltage across La
is
v AB Vm ,L L
v La   sin wt
2 2
Current in La starts at I0 and decreases zero in the
commutation interval
1 u Vm ,L  L
i La (   u )  0 
La  2
sin wt d ( wt )  I 0

1 2La I 0 1 2X s I0
u  cos ( 1  )  cos ( 1  )
Vm ,L  L Vm ,L  L
 During the commutation interval from D1 to D3 , the converter
output voltage is

v BC  v AC v AB  vBC  vCA  0 , v AB  v AC - vBC

vo 
2 .
vo  v AC  vL a  vL c  v AC  v AB
. 2
v AC  vBC v AC  vBC
 v AC  
2 2
Average output Voltage： 類似 Single-phase rectifier

3Vm ,L  L X s I0
Vo  (1  )
 Vm ,L  L

Source inductance lowers the average output voltage of three-

phase rectifiers.