Chapter 10 - Diode rectifiers

Abstract

This chapter describes the application and design of diode rectifier circuits. It covers single-phase rectifier circuits, three-phase rectifier circuits, poly-phase rectifier circuits, and high-frequency rectifier circuits. The high-frequency rectifier waveforms given are obtained from PSPICE simulations, which take into account the secondary effects of stray and parasitic components. In this way, the waveforms can closely resemble the real ones. These waveforms are particularly useful to help designers determine the practical voltage, current, and other ratings of high-frequency rectifiers. There are two types of single-phase diode rectifier that convert a single-phase ac supply into a dc voltage, namely, single-phase half-wave rectifiers and single-phase full-wave rectifiers. There are two types of single-phase diode rectifier that convert a single-phase ac supply into a dc voltage, namely, single-phase half-wave rectifiers and single-phase full-wave rectifiers. Full-wave rectifier circuits with resistive load do not produce harmonic currents in their transformers. In half-wave rectifiers, harmonic currents are generated. Filters are commonly employed in rectifier circuits for smoothing out the dc output voltage of the load. They are classified as inductor-input dc filters and capacitor-input dc filters. Therefore, capacitor-input dc filters are suitable only for lower-power systems where close regulation is usually achieved by an electronic regulator cascaded with the rectifier. In high-frequency converters, diodes perform various functions, such as rectifying, flywheeling, and clamping. One special quality a high-frequency diode must possess is a fast switching speed. In technical terms, it must have a short reverse recovery time and a short forward recovery time.