Experiment 5

Experiment No: 05
Experiment Name: To design and study the operation of a full–wave bridge rectifier circuit
Objectives:
After completing this experiment we are able to know about-
i. Function of DC power supply

ii. How to use filter circuit with rectifier
iii. Wave shape of AC and pulsating DC signal
iv. About ripple factor and bridge
v. To calculate and draw the DC output voltages of full-wave rectifiers
Theory:
A rectifier is an electronic device that converts an alternating current into a direct current by using
one or more P-N junction diodes. A diode behaves as a one-way valve that allows current to flow
in a single direction. This process is known as rectification.
A rectifier can take the shape of several physical forms such as solid-state diodes, vacuum tube
diodes, mercury-arc valves, silicon-controlled rectifiers, and various other silicon-based
semiconductors switches. Rectifiers are generally classified into two types:
i. Half wave rectifier
ii. Full wave rectifier
Full wave rectifier:

A full wave rectifier is defined as a rectifier that converts the complete cycle of alternating current
(AC) into pulsating DC signal. When we use a half-wave rectifier, a significant amount of power
gets wasted as only one-half of each cycle passes through, and the other cycle gets blocked.
Moreover, the half-wave rectifier is not efficient (40.6%), and we can not use it for applications
that need a smooth and steady DC output. For a more efficient and steady DC output, a full wave
rectifier is used.
We can further classify full wave rectifiers into:
• Centre-tapped Full Wave Rectifier
• Full Wave Bridge Rectifier
Full Wave Bridge Rectifier: A full wave bridge rectifier is a rectifier that will use four
diodes or more than that in a bridge formation. A full wave bridge rectifier system consists of-
1. Four Diodes 2.Resistive Load

We use diodes, namely A, B, C, and D, which form a bridge circuit. The circuit diagram is as
follows-
The four diodes labeled A to B and also C to D are arranged in “series pairs” with only two
diodes conducting current during each half cycle. While we apply an AC across the bridge.
During the positive half-cycle, terminal 1 becomes positive, and terminal 2 becomes negative.
Positive Half cycle:

During the positive half cycle(Figure-2) of the supply, A and C become forward-biased, and the
current will flow through them. Meanwhile, diodes B and D will become reverse-biased and
block current through them. The current will flow from 1 to 4 to 3 to 2.
Figure-3
Negative Half cycle:

During the negative half-cycle(Figure 3), terminal 1 will become negative, and terminal 2 will
become positive. This will cause the diodes B and D to become forward-biased and will allow
current through them. At the same time, diodes A and C will be reverse-biased and will block the
current through them. The current will flow from 2 to 4 to 3 to 1.
As the current flowing through the load is unidirectional, so the voltage developed across
the load is also unidirectional during both half cycles. Thus, the average dc output
the voltage across the load resistor is double that of a half-wave rectifier circuit, assuming no
losses
2𝑉max
Vdc = 𝜋 = 0.637Vmax
Ripple Factor:
Ripple factor is the ratio of AC signal output and DC signal output. It is the measure of purity of
the DC output of a rectifier and is defined as
Figure-4.1
Where Vrms is the RMS value of the AC component, and Vdc is the DC component in the
rectifier. The ripple factor of a center-tapped full-wave rectifier is equal to 0.48 (i.e. γ = 0.48).
Note: To construct a good rectifier, we need to keep the ripple factor as minimum as possible.
We can use capacitors or inductors to reduce the ripples in the circuit.
Rectification Efficiency:
Rectifier efficiency (η) is the ratio between the output DC power and the input AC power. The
formula for the efficiency is equal to:
Figure-4.2
The efficiency of a center-tapped full-wave rectifier is equal to 81.2% (i.e. ηmax = 81.2%)
Filter Circuit:
The full-wave rectifier circuit with a capacitor filter is shown in Fig. 5. To convert the pulsating
DC voltage to pure DC voltage, we use a filter circuit as shown below. Here we place a capacitor
across the load. The working of the capacitive filter circuit is to short the ripples and block the
DC component so that it flows through another path, and that is through the load.
During the half-wave, the diodes A and C conduct and current flows. Therefore, a waveform is
created. During the negative cycle, the diodes B and D start conducting, and the above process
happens again. This causes the current to continue to flow in the same direction across the load.
Circuit components/Equipment:
i) A step-down transformer
ii) 4 junction diodes
iii)3 Load resistors
iv) Capacitor,
v) Oscilloscope
vi) Multimeters
vii)Connecting wires
viii)
Breadboard
Circuit Diagram: As shown in Fig 1,5 and 6
Experimental Table:
Table(1) Full-wave rectifier without filter:
SL Supply Load Maximum Vdc Vrms Rf

No. Voltage Resistance Voltage (Vm)
(RL)
Cal Mea Cal Mea Cal Mea Cal Mea
01 12 2.2 16.97 20 10.803 12.5 5.226 6.16 0.484 0.49

Table(2) Full-wave rectifier with filter:
Supply Load Filter Time Frequency Vdc Vm Vrms Rp

voltage(Vac) Resistance period
(RL)
volt ohm Second Hz Cal Mea Cal Mea Cal Mea
12 2.2 470 10 100 - 16.77 16.97 0.775 - 0.0068 0.0013
Result and discussion:

From Tables 01 and 02 we find that the ripple factor is high without a filter. But when we add a
filter or capacitor then the ripple factor is lower than the previous one and we get the desired
approximate direct current. We can see, the measured values are different from the calculated
value because of some fault of human eyes or instruments.
Precautions:
1. The circuit component is to be connected in the proper way.
2. Reading data should be accurate.
Limitations:
1. When compared to a half-wave rectifier and a center-tapped full-wave rectifier, the circuit
of a full bridge rectifier is more complicated. Half-wave rectifiers and center-tapped full
wave full bridge rectifiers employ only two diodes, while full-bridge rectifiers use four
bridge rectifiers four.
2. When more diodes are utilized, there is a greater loss of power. Only one diode conducts
during each half cycle in a center-tapped full-wave rectifier. In a full bridge rectifier,
however, each half cycle is conducted by two diodes. As a result, the voltage drop in a full
bridge rectifier is larger.
3. The voltage loss in the internal resistance circuit is twice that of the center tap circuit.
4. We may be able to do without a transformer if voltage stepping up or down is not required.

Applications:
The important uses of the full-wave bridge rectifier are given below.
• Mobile phones, laptops, charger circuits.
• Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) circuits to convert AC to DC.
• Our home inverters convert AC to DC.
• LCD, LED TVs.
• Car Alternator to charge the batteries during the running of the car.
• LED Driver Circuits
• Audio Amplifier, Radios

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Experiment No: 05

i. Function of DC power supply

Full wave rectifier:

1. Four Diodes 2.Resistive Load

Positive Half cycle:

Negative Half cycle:

Table(1) Full-wave rectifier without filter:

SL Supply Load Maximum Vdc Vrms Rf

Cal Mea Cal Mea Cal Mea Cal Mea

01 12 2.2 16.97 20 10.803 12.5 5.226 6.16 0.484 0.49

Supply Load Filter Time Frequency Vdc Vm Vrms Rp

volt ohm Second Hz Cal Mea Cal Mea Cal Mea

12 2.2 470 10 100 - 16.77 16.97 0.775 - 0.0068 0.0013

Result and discussion:

bridge rectifier is larger.

4. We may be able to do without a transformer if voltage stepping up or down is not required.

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