Power Diodes and Rectifiers

Power Diodes and Rectifiers
Power Diodes are semiconductor pn-junctions capable of passing large currents at high
voltage values for use in rectifier circuits a semiconductor diode conducts current
in one direction only when forward biased from anode to cathode, but not in
the reverse direction acting a bit like an electrical one way valve. One widely
used application of this feature and the power diode in general is in the
conversion of an alternating voltage (AC) into a pulsating voltage (DC). In
other words, Rectification.
We could use small signal diodes in low-power, low current (less than 1-amp)
rectification and power supply applications. However, were larger forward bias
currents or higher reverse bias blocking voltages are required, the PN junction
of a small signal diode would eventually overheat and become destroyed.
Then for high power applications larger more robust Power Diodes must be
used instead.
The power semiconductor diode, known simply as the Power Diode, has a
much larger PN junction area compared to its smaller signal diode cousin,
resulting in a high forward current capability of up to several hundred amps
(KA) and a reverse blocking voltage of up to several thousand volts (KV).
a semiconductor diode conducts current in one direction only when forward
biased from anode to cathode, but not in the reverse direction acting a bit like
an electrical one way valve. One widely used application of this feature and
the power diode in general is in the conversion of an alternating voltage (AC)
into a pulsating voltage (DC). In other words, Rectification.
We could use small signal diodes in low-power, low current (less than 1-amp)
rectification and power supply applications. However, were larger forward bias
currents or higher reverse bias blocking voltages are required, the PN junction
of a small signal diode would eventually overheat and become destroyed.
Then for high power applications larger more robust Power Diodes must be
used instead.
The power semiconductor diode, known simply as the Power Diode, has a
much larger PN junction area compared to its smaller signal diode cousin,
resulting in a high forward current capability of up to several hundred amps
(KA) and a reverse blocking voltage of up to several thousand volts (KV).
Since the power diode has a large PN junction, it is not suitable for high
frequency applications above 1MHz, but special and expensive high
frequency, high current diodes are available. For high frequency, low voltage
rectifier applications, Schottky Diodes are generally used because of their
short reverse recovery time and low voltage drop in their forward bias
condition. Power diodes provide uncontrolled rectification of power and are
used in applications such as battery charging and DC power supplies as well
as AC rectifiers and inverters. Due to their high current and voltage
characteristics they can also be used as free-wheeling diodes and snubber
networks.
Power diodes are designed to have a forward “ON” resistance of fractions of
an Ohm while their reverse blocking resistance is in the mega-Ohms range.
Some of the larger value power diodes are designed to be “stud mounted”
onto heatsinks reducing their thermal resistance to between 0.1 to 1oC/Watt.
If an alternating voltage is applied across a power diode, during the positive
half cycle the diode will conduct passing current and during the negative half
cycle the diode will not conduct blocking the flow of current. Then conduction
through the power diode only occurs during the positive half cycle and is
therefore unidirectional i.e. DC as shown.
Power diodes can be

used individually as above or connected together to produce a variety of
rectifier circuits such as “Half-Wave”, “Full-Wave” or as “Bridge Rectifiers”.
Each type of rectifier circuit can be classed as either uncontrolled, half-
controlled or fully controlled where an uncontrolled rectifier uses only power
diodes, a fully controlled rectifier uses thyristors (SCRs) and a half controlled
rectifier is a mixture of both diodes and thyristors.
The most commonly used individual power diode for basic electronics
applications is the general purpose 1N400x Series Glass Passivated type
rectifying diode with standard ratings of continuous forward rectified current of
about 1.0 ampere and reverse blocking voltage ratings from 50v for the
1N4001 up to 1000v for the 1N4007, with the small 1N4007GP being the most
popular for general purpose mains voltage rectification.
Half Wave Rectification

A rectifier is a circuit which converts the Alternating Current (AC) input power
into a Direct Current (DC) output power. The input power supply may be either
a single-phase or a multi-phase supply with the simplest of all the rectifier
circuits being that of the Half Wave Rectifier.
The power diode in a half wave rectifier circuit passes just one half of each
complete sine wave of the AC supply in order to convert it into a DC supply.
Then this type of circuit is called a “half-wave” rectifier because it passes only
half of the incoming AC power supply as shown below.
During each
“positive” half cycle of the AC sine wave, the diode is forward biased as the
anode is positive with respect to the cathode resulting in current flowing
through the diode.
Since the DC load is resistive (resistor, R), the current flowing in the load
resistor is therefore proportional to the voltage (Ohm´s Law), and the voltage
across the load resistor will therefore be the same as the supply
voltage, Vs (minus Vƒ), that is the “DC” voltage across the load is sinusoidal
for the first half cycle only so Vout = Vs.
During each “negative” half cycle of the AC sinusoidal input waveform, the
diode is reverse biased as the anode is negative with respect to the cathode.
Therefore, NO current flows through the diode or circuit. Then in the negative
half cycle of the supply, no current flows in the load resistor as no voltage
appears across it so therefore, Vout = 0.
During each “positive” half cycle of the AC sine wave, the diode is forward
biased as the anode is positive with respect to the cathode resulting in current
flowing through the diode.
Since the DC load is resistive (resistor, R), the current flowing in the load
resistor is therefore proportional to the voltage (Ohm´s Law), and the voltage
across the load resistor will therefore be the same as the supply
voltage, Vs (minus Vƒ), that is the “DC” voltage across the load is sinusoidal
for the first half cycle only so Vout = Vs.
During each “negative” half cycle of the AC sinusoidal input waveform, the
diode is reverse biased as the anode is negative with respect to the cathode.
Therefore, NO current flows through the diode or circuit. Then in the negative
half cycle of the supply, no current flows in the load resistor as no voltage
appears across it so therefore, Vout = 0.

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